Marin County Hikes

Tim Kizirian here. Many folks think the Marin Headlands trail map starts and ends at Rodeo Beach, yet the northern pocket called Gerbode Valley hides a six-mile loop where you can count other hikers on one hand after 9 a.m. Here’s how I tackle it, plus why it slots nicely between breakfast in Sausalito and an afternoon crossing back to the East Bay. Access and parking Pull into the Conzelman Road gravel turnout just east of the big Hawk Hill roundabout by 7:45 a.m. Fourteen spots only. Trail drops north via the Julian Fire Road gate. I jot odometer reading in my field notebook—old habit from mileage logs back in audit days. Route outline Julian Fire Road descends gradually for 1.8 miles into Gerbode Valley. Tall grass hides early-season coyotes; keep kids close. At the valley floor, hang right onto Bobcat for a one-mile rise. Temperatures increase quickly away from fog; wind shell off after first climb. At the junction with Miwok Fire Road, turn south and follow a second ridge....

Long stretches on Northern California trails have an uncanny way of clearing the static. Somewhere between the rustle of manzanita and the steady burn in my calves, I hear questions more plainly: How does integrity shape audit evidence? What control gaps invite fraud? Those questions return to the office with me, demanding documentation rather than daydreams. Hiking is not the subject of my academic work, but the solitude of a ridge walk is the spark that keeps my curiosity burning long after the boots come off. In that spirit of curiosity, I’m sharing the key papers and teaching materials I’ve helped produce or contribute to over the years. Each project reflects my twin loyalties: first, to rigorous scholarship that pushes the profession forward; second, to the students and practitioners who have trusted me to guide them—whether in a classroom at Chico State , a seminar at UC Davis , or a client meeting drawn from my Ernst & Young experience. Celebrating a Former Student’s Ac...

I’m Tim Kizirian, still keeping the miles honest and the write-ups practical. Bolinas Ridge is often driven past by people gunning for Point Reyes, yet its southern half gives trail runners ten fast miles round-trip on all-weather fire road. Today I’ll map a routine out-and-back from the Ridgecrest–Sir Francis Drake junction to the Olema Valley overlook. Why this stretch Surface is crushed rock over clay, so even after storms it drains faster than single-track. Grade holds under six percent for long stretches—a good place to test tempo pace or simply cruise without ankle traps. Wide tread allows side-by-side running if you’re coaching a first-time visitor. Parking solution Tiny pullout at the Ridgecrest gate holds six cars. Arrive before 8 a.m. on weekends. No pass required. I leave a printed note on the dash with return time; small courtesy if rangers check occupancy. Outbound metrics First 1.2 miles trend south, micro-undulations, redwood pockets. Fog often coats the west si...

Welcome back. I’m Tim Kizirian : Chico resident, former CPA, and a guy who still trusts a spreadsheet but prefers a dirt track. Today’s post reviews the well-known yet never dull Matt Davis–Steep Ravine loop on Mount Tamalpais. If you only have one daylight block in Marin and want a sure thing—waterfall ladder, ocean view, redwood shade—this 7.3-mile circuit checks every box. Starting logistics Park in the paved lot in Stinson Beach by 7:30 a.m. If you’re coming from the valley, that means leaving Chico a little after 5—which hurts less when coffee is already in the cup holder. My wife and I make the drive a few times a year; predictable parking is worth the early alarm. Drop a five-dollar bill in the lot envelope, shoulder a light pack, and head up the quiet side street to the Matt Davis trailhead sign. Climb strategy Matt Davis gains 1,400 feet over 3.4 miles, but the grade rarely passes ten percent. Switchbacks slice through Douglas-fir, then chaparral as elevation rises. Ocea...

I’m Tim Kizirian—Chico resident, former Ernst & Young auditor, ex-Chico State professor, and ongoing mileage accountant. When a weekday client call lands at 11 a.m. in San Rafael, I squeeze in a pre-meeting climb on Mount Burdell. The preserve’s basic loop—San Andreas Fire Road up, Cobblestone down—delivers 6.3 miles and 1,400 feet gain, all before most commuters pick a podcast. Parking and start Pull up to the San Andreas Drive gate (Novato) by 6:40 a.m. Weekdays you’ll find curb space; weekends fill by 8. I log odometer and start time—old habit from audit mileage sheets—then step through the cattle gate onto a hard-packed road. Up-track details (0–3.1 miles) First mile : grade 6 percent, shaded live oaks, footing like compact gravel. Mile 1–2 : steeper switchbacks (10 percent) through open grass; sunrise paints Big Rock Ridge opposite. Water trough at Mile 2.3: seasonal; I still carry two litres. Summit spur at 3.1: short detour to the Big Tank and radio towers—...

My name is Tim Kizirian. Long before I spent evenings polishing audit worksheets at Ernst & Young or mornings breaking down cost allocations for students at Chico State, I was out on coastal trails trying to figure out how far a ham-and-cheddar sandwich could fuel me. That hasn’t changed; only the sandwich is better, and I now write a short blog so fellow hikers can avoid wasted weekends. Today’s post covers a lesser-used slice of Point Reyes—North Beach down to Abbotts Lagoon and back—simple navigation, big sky, and solitude if you time it right. Why I like this route North Beach to Abbotts Lagoon is a straight 6.8-mile out-and-back on firm sand and a short boardwalk. Most visitors aim for the lighthouse or Alamere Falls and leave this section untouched. That means fewer dog tracks, cleaner tide lines, and wildlife that still acts like you’re not there—plovers darting at your boot tips, harbor seals bobbing just offshore. Getting there Park at the North Beach lot before 8 a.m. o...