Purple Flowers LbNA #13107

From the parking spot, this box is a short 1-2 minute walk.
This is a very special spot. Take a picnic lunch if you would like to stay for awhile. The views are spectacular.
Note: The spring is when the purple flowers bloom.

This box is located on Mount Tamalpais. My favorite mountain. Here is some history:
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Just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate is Mount Tamalpais, 6,300 acres of redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot peak.

On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the Sierra Nevada's snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away.

Coastal Miwok Indians lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In 1770, two explorers named the mountain La Sierra de Nuestro Padre de San Francisco, which was later changed to the Miwok word Tamalpais.

With the Gold Rush of 1849, San Francisco grew and more people began to use Mount Tamalpais for recreation. Trails were developed and a wagon road was built. Later, a railway was completed and became known as "The Crookedest Railroad in the World." It was abandoned in 1930 after a wildfire damaged the line.

Location-Directions
North of San Francisco's Golden Gate. From Highway 101 take Highway 1 to the Stinson Beach exit and follow signs up the mountain.

Address
801 Panoramic Highway
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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The drive from Hwy 101 will take about 20 minutes or so.
When you take the Hw.1 exit towards Mt.Tam you will come to a street light across from the Oriental Rug House. Turn left and continue up Hwy 1. In approx. 2.4 mi you will see a road split at which point you continue up towards the right on the Panoramic Hwy. In another 0.8 mi you will see a 3-way split and a sign that says Mt. Tam/Stinson Beach. Continue straight up the hill. In 4.4 mi you will see Pantoll Ranger Station on your left. This is where you take a right and continue up the hill. Note: The gates here will close at 6pm. In 1.3 mi there will be a dirt pull off with a wooden trash bin and a recycle container. Park here.

Walk down the little dirt path towards one of the nicest places to have a picnic (w/o table). In the spring there are tons of purple flowers everywhere! Shortly, you will see trees on your right. There is a fallen one. Follow that to the point where that dead branch starts to lift off the ground. There is a piece that jets straight up here as well (like a snake). At this spot, on the side closest to the street, under the dead branch, you will find something. Something that wasn't there until I stopped by. Enjoy.
Walk out further and sit for awhile. It is so pretty here.

Note: This box was replanted on 04/26/08.