## Details
Bon Tempe Lake Cataract Falls loop hike is located on west side of Mount Tamalpais in the Marin Municipal Water District Watershed.
We start at Bon Tempe Lake Trailhead on the west side of Mt. Tamalpais. We'll follow the Kent Trail along the shore of Alpine Lake, take the Helen Markt Trail, and then follow the Cataract Trail as it winds steeply up alongside the falls. After having lunch on a scenic hilltop we take the High Marsh Trail, the Kent Trail, Stocking Trail and Rocky Ridge Fire Road back to our starting point. Not a good hike for racers or stragglers.
HIKING INFORMATION AND ESSENTIALS
HIKING LEVEL/DIFFUCATLY: Hard due to distance and steep hills.
DISTANCE: About 11 miles almost a loop.
ELEVATION: About 1,800 feet overall elevation gain.
HIKING ESSENTIALS: Bring plenty of water at least 2 litters, small lunch, snacks, something to sit on during lunch if needed, first aid kit, a printed map, hiking poles for hills if needed, hiking shoes, and face coverings/masks. I recommend hiking shoes/boots as the trails are steep, rocky and slippery in parts. Poles are good if you have them.
HIKING ROUTE:
- From trailhead gate, take fire road to Bon Tempe Dam and cross dam.
- Turn right at far side of dam.
- Keep to the RIGHT at the next split toward Kent Trail.
- By the lake, the road becomes the Kent Trail.
- After 2 miles on Kent Trail turn right on Helen Markt Trail.
- After 1.7 miles on Helen Markt Trail you reach the Cataract Trail.
- A waterfall into a large pool here, is a good spot to take a break and gather up group.
- Optional waterfall side trip: Some of the most scenic falls are below this spot. To view, take Cataract Trail downhill, cross bridge and proceed down steps. At the SECOND wide viewing area, turn around and return up Cataract Trail.
- Go uphill on Cataract Trail toward Laurel Dell Picnic Area (not all the way to it).
- At about 1 mile, Turn LEFT on High Marsh Trail. THIS IS EASY TO MISS, as the trail sign may actually indicate High Marsh on the reverse side of the sign. WATCH CAREFULLY for it. If you get to the Laurel Dell Picnic Area you have gone too far.
- High Marsh Trail crosses a steep grassy area, then as it rounds the edge of the ridge turn right up a fire road to a grassy knoll with a view for lunch spot.
- After lunch, return to High Marsh Trail and continue on it for about 2 miles. Watch out for unsigned trail splits in this area. If you are ahead of group don’t know which way to go, WAIT.
- Turn left on the Kent Trail.
- After .6 miles, turn right on the Stocking Trail. Watch carefully for the trail sign.
- There is an area on Stocking Trail that is easy to get lost. If you’re not sure, WAIT. The trail often disappears in big puddles here.
- Turn left on the Rocky Ridge Fire Rd., returning to Bon Tempe Dam in 1.4 miles.
- Cross the dam and return to parking area.
Please download and print or download an official map of the Marin Municipal Water District Watershed to your mobile phone on the following link: https://www.marinwater.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/Watershed%20Visitor%20Map.pdf
MEETING TIMES AND PLACES
For carpooling, meet 7:30am at the Enterprise North Park and Ride lot just off I-80 freeway in West Sacramento. Address is 4989 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691.
Suggested carpool gas money, $4 per hour plus share the parking fee.
For those meeting directly at trailhead, meet 9:30am at Bon Tempe Lake Trailhead on Bon Tempe Dam Rd in Fairfax, CA. You have to pay a parking fee at the kiosk. After paying the parking fee at the kiosk to park, watch for a sign to Bon Tempe Lake. Turn right onto a gravel road. If the lot is full, there is an overflow lot a little further down the road. Trailhead is the wooden gate. There is a porta-potty at parking area and another along way at far end of the dam. Type "Bon Tempe Dam Rd, Fairfax, CA 94930" for the address. One of google GPS coordinators for locating the trailhead is 37.959160,-122.609988
