Marin Headlands: Coastal Trails to Black Sands Beach
SUMMARY:
Length: ~ 5 miles
Difficulty: Medium - Difficult (various inclines and declines)
Duration: 2.5 - 3 hrs
Link to more info: Okay, so technically was trying to do this loop: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rodeo-beach-coastal-trail-loop
But my mom and I ended up getting a little confused with the signs and we lost cell phone service for chunks of the hike. We parked at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center and started with the Costal Trail which ended up leading us to a bunch of other trails and all I really wanted was to find our way to the beach, so saw signed for Black Sands Beach!
It's been a lllooooonnnggggg while since my last hiking post. Been loving NYC night life, the food, the performances on subway platforms, etc. BUT I seriously have missed nature. Simply put, I miss California. I miss home. This break has been so nice so far and I am sad to see it come to an end very soon. Yesterday, I was walking the streets of downtown SF, weird odors waft up and seconds later I am smelling scents from the kitchen of a Thai restaurant. Looking up at skyscrapers, trying the new coffee shop that just opened up right in Financial District.
And today... just a few hours ago, I was amongst scurrying bunnies, horses, blue jays, and listening to the majestic sound of the Pacific Ocean. God I love the Pacific Ocean. I loved inhaling the scent of eucalyptus leaves, listening to the ocean waves, hearing the gravel brush up against my hiking shoes. Most of all, I love doing these hikes with my mom. She is tiny, but boy can she trek! I am embarrassed to say that I think she can outlast me on any hike.
Somehow, my mom and I ended up at Black Sands Beach instead of trailing our way to Rodeo Beach, but I was TOTALLY okay with that! Firstly, the way to the beach was closed off -- but some nice folk said they just went down last weekend, so the path is manageable. There were some tricky parts that were kind of slippery, but getting down was doable. The beach was beautiful!
I believe the last real hike I did with my mom was last year for her birthday, so it was nice to be able to take the time to do that again with her this year for her birthday!
LOVE YOU MOM!
Sincerely,
Meagan