Bon Tempe Lake via San Anselmo-Fairfax Bikeway

This route offers a diverse cycling experience, transitioning from paved bikeways to unpaved watershed roads and trails. It's best suited for touring cyclists using hybrid or mountain bikes, rather than traditional road touring setups, due to the varied terrain within the Bon Tempe Lake area and Mount Tamalpais Watershed.

The route features mixed terrain. The initial San Anselmo-Fairfax Bikeway sections are generally paved and easy to ride. However, once you enter the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, the terrain shifts to unpaved fire roads and dirt paths. While the loop around Bon Tempe Lake has minimal elevation changes, its unpaved surfaces require a bike capable of handling off-road conditions. Note that single-track trails within the watershed are generally prohibited for bicycles.

Yes, there is an $8 entrance fee for accessing the Bon Tempe Lake area within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.

Parking is available near the access points to the Bon Tempe Lake area. Given the $8 entrance fee for the lake area, parking is typically associated with these access points within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. For sections along the San Anselmo-Fairfax Bikeway, you can often find street parking in nearby towns like Fairfax or San Rafael.

The San Anselmo-Fairfax Bikeway sections are generally easy to ride and suitable for all skill levels. However, once you enter the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, the terrain becomes unpaved with fire roads and dirt paths, which can be more challenging. While the Bon Tempe Lake loop itself has minimal ups and downs, the overall route's mixed terrain might be difficult for very young children or absolute beginners on road bikes. A hybrid or mountain bike is recommended for the watershed sections.

The route can be enjoyed year-round, but consider the weather. The 'Sunnyside' of Bon Tempe Lake, with its open grassland, can get quite warm in late summer. The 'Shadyside' offers cooler oak and bay woodland. Spring and fall generally offer pleasant temperatures for cycling. Always check the local weather forecast for the Mount Tamalpais Watershed before you go.

The provided information does not explicitly state the rules regarding dogs on this specific cycling route or within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. It's always best to check the official rules and regulations of the Mount Tamalpais Watershed or Bon Tempe Lake before bringing your dog.

You'll experience a rich and varied scenic journey. The initial bikeway sections offer views of suburban and town environments in San Rafael, Fairfax, and San Anselmo. As you enter the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, the scenery transforms into natural beauty with quiet forest inlets, open savannas, and great vistas. Around Bon Tempe Lake, you'll find views across the lake to Mt. Tamalpais, golden rolling hills, Redwood groves, and wooded areas dotted with ferns.

The Bon Tempe Lake area is known for its wildlife, especially various fish-eating birds such as cormorants, common mergansers, and osprey. You might also spot turtles sunning themselves on rocks. The diverse landscape of the Mount Tamalpais Watershed supports a variety of other creatures, though specific sightings are never guaranteed.

Yes, the San Anselmo-Fairfax Bikeway is part of the broader Marin County bicycle network. Within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, the route utilizes designated paved roads and fire roads, which are part of an extensive system of 138 miles of trails and unpaved roads. Specific intersecting trails include sections of the San Francisco Bay Trail, Alex Forman Trail (formerly Sky Oaks), Second Street Cycletrack, Concrete Pipe Road, PumpkinTrail, Shaver Grade Road, Pine Mountain Tunnel Road, Taylor Trail, Bullfrog Fire Road, Florence Path, Sunny Side Trail, Canyon Trail, Moore Trail, Pine Point Trail, and SMART Pathway.

Yes, as the route passes through towns like San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Fairfax, you'll find various amenities including cafes, pubs, and accommodation options. These towns offer convenient stops for refreshments or supplies before or after your ride into the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.