Tim Kizirian - Rodeo Beach to Tennessee Valley on the Coastal Trail: A Direct Out-and-Back for Edge-of-Ocean Air

I’m Tim Kizirian. When fog skims Marin’s sea cliffs and I’ve only half a day to spare, I default to the Coastal Trail from Rodeo Beach north to Tennessee Valley and back. It’s 8.2 miles round-trip, 1,400 feet cumulative climb, and all on durable tread. No navigation games, just point north, turn around, and breathe.

Prep and start

Rodeo Beach lot charges nothing and rarely fills before 8 a.m. I arrive 7:30 with a small waist-belt: 750 ml water, wind shell, and the same blueberry muffin I buy from Grace Coffee on Lincoln Boulevard each visit. Consistency helps compare split times across seasons.

Southbound vs. northbound winds

Going north first means I fight typical NW winds outbound, then cruise back. It mirrors a principle I used in budgeting lectures: handle the tough variable early, reap the smoother ride later.

Key segments

  • Rodeo to Battery Townsley climb—0.8 mile, 400 feet gain, bench at the top.
  • Coast cut to Pirates Cove—1.5 miles undulating; stairs near the cove are the steepest stretch.
  • Cove to Tennessee Valley overlook—1 mile, moderate grade; cell coverage strong if you need a check-in.

I reach the Tennessee Valley trail junction in 52 minutes at conversational effort. Quick break, then reverse.

Environmental sidenote

Trail erosion crews installed new log-step water bars last winter. Step in the center to avoid widening the tread; saves them repair hours, keeps our footing solid.

Wildlife commonalities

Deer graze bluff edges mid-morning; harbor porpoise sometimes surface offshore. I carry binoculars only on slower days—weight trade-off goes back to the ledger concept: is the extra gear multiplying value or just mass?

Gear checklist

Trail shoes, cap, 750 ml water, shell. Extra water optional; there’s a fountain at Tennessee Valley parking lot if you want to top up.

Elapsed time

Out-and-back takes about 1:50 moving. With two five-minute breaks, you’re under two hours. I log that, slip on dry socks at the car, and head north for lunch with family.

Friendly nudge

Pick up a stray gel wrapper if you see one. Future you will appreciate the cleaner vista without even knowing why.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tim Kizirian - Point Reyes North Beach to Abbotts Lagoon: A Straight-Line Outing Without the Crowds

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...
Read more

Tim Kizirian - Mount Burdell Preserve: Dawn-to-Desk Loop for Mid-Week Fitness

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—...
Read more

Tim Kizirian - Ring Mountain Preserve: A Short, Steep Circuit with Top-Tier Wildflowers

Tim Kizirian reporting from Marin’s eastern edge. Ring Mountain Preserve above Tiburon is small—just 367 acres—but it’s a powerhouse for serpentine wildflowers and wide-angle bay views. When April or early May bloom windows align with a free morning, I run a 3.9-mile circuit here that climbs 600 feet and still leaves time for lunch meetings back in the city. Entry point Park along Taylor Road at the Phyllis Ellman trailhead. Respect driveways; it’s a neighborhood. I start at 7 a.m. to beat dog-walker traffic and valley heat drifting over from the Central Valley. Trail notes Ellman Trail climbs 0.8 miles through chamise and manzanita. Serpentine outcrops appear on the right; that ultramafic soil supports rare species like Marin dwarf flax. I note bloom dates every year in a Google Sheet—same compulsive data capture I used preparing audit evidence. Pass Turtle Rock, angle left on Fire Road to the summit boulder stack. From here you see Mount Tam, San Francisco skyline, and Mount ...
Read more