Marin County Hikes

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...

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 sing...

I’m Tim Kizirian—Chico resident, ex-CPA at Ernst & Young, long-time hiker, and steady believer that you squeeze the most from a Saturday by pairing simple logistics with guaranteed views. Angel Island’s Perimeter Road is my go-to loop when I have visiting relatives who want a “Bay panorama” without a punishing climb. The circuit clocks in at 5.9 miles, 820 feet of rolling gain, and because it’s on an island, traffic is capped by ferry capacity—automatic crowd control. Ferry timing Vallejo and San Francisco both run morning boats; I favor the 9:20 a.m. from Tiburon. That means leaving Chico by 5:45. Early, yes, but the schedule works: I’m back on Interstate 80 by late afternoon and still home for dinner. If you’re parking in Tiburon, Sixth & Main garage offers $8 all-day weekend rates—cheaper than many hikes that require state-park permits. Lap clockwise or counter? I always walk clockwise, stepping off the ferry dock and turning right toward Ayala Cove bathrooms. The gr...

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 ...

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...