Tim Kizirian - Phoenix Lake to Mount Baldy Ridge: A Compact Loop with Consistent Ups and Downs

I’m Tim, still filing my weekends with trail mileage instead of audit memos. Phoenix Lake above Ross is the starting point for dozens of Mount Tamalpais variations; my favorite is the 7.1-mile loop that tags Mount Baldy Ridge, swings by Hidden Meadow, and circles the reservoir on return. It delivers 1,500 feet of gain in bite-size increments—ideal for runners and hikers aiming for continuous effort without a massive single climb.

Arrival and parking

Parking at Phoenix Lake’s lot is capped at 30 spaces and fills by 8 a.m. I pull in at 7:15, jot plate number on a dashboard card (parking patrols appreciate clarity), and step out with a 12-liter pack: two liters water, soft-shell jacket, and one Clif bar.

Route outline

  • Fire Road to Five Corners (0–1.6 miles): warm-up grade, filtered views of the lake.
  • Baldy Trail to Ridge Spur (1.6–3.2 miles): intermittent 12 percent pitches—heart-rate zone 4 for me.
  • Hidden Meadow descent (3.2–5.1 miles): rolling single-track shaded by bay trees.
  • Lake loop return (5.1–7.1 miles): flat dirt road, quick finish.

Climb management

On the Baldy ascent I use a simple breathing ratio: four steps in, four steps out. It’s a pattern learned guiding students on outdoor labs—keeps chatter down and oxygen up. I reach the ridge spur in 55 minutes, snack for four, then continue. The summit “view” is limited by brush, but a short east spur grants a clean sight line to San Pablo Bay.

Crowd mitigation

Most hikers stop at Five Corners before looping back, so the ridge sees lighter foot traffic. Even at 10 a.m. on Saturdays I pass maybe ten people. Polite greetings consume zero energy and prevent headphone collisions.

Return leg

Hidden Meadow single-track narrows to 24 inches in spots—yield to uphill hikers. The grade softens; quads recover. Back on the lake road, I shift into a relaxed jog, hitting the lot at 10 exactly—local café lines still manageable.

Minimal gear, maximum function

Trail runners, collapsible poles (optional for steeper segments), 16-ounce flask refillable at the lake’s spigot. I wear a bright vest even on these wide fire roads; habits from night commutes in Chico translate to daylight safety in Marin.

Trail care note

Stick to tread in Hidden Meadow: serpentine soil hosts rare plants you could crush inadvertently. “Stay inside the cells” applies here as it did in accounting spreadsheets.

Why this loop?

It’s the right ratio of time vs. elevation: challenging enough to register as a hard workout, short enough that you still manage family afternoon plans. And if you’re a Chico-area resident like me, the round-trip drive plus hike totals under 12 hours—an efficient ledger entry for cardio and scenery. 

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