v3/7/09


*******************  DIRECTIONS TO VENUES  ***********************



Hazard codes: wind/put-in/traffic (H/M/L)



        Petaluma River (+1:30)

Highway 37 bridge (H/L/H, 0.0). Take highway 37 towards Vallejo. Take 
Black Point/Atherton Avenue exit, go straight on Harbor Drive one mile 
to public launch ramp underneath the highway 37 bridge.

Santana Road. (M/M/L, >5.0). Take the Atherton Avenue exit off 101, go 
east one mile to a left turn onto Bugeia. This turns into Bahia. Drive 
to the end, then go right onto Topaz, left on Santana. Park at the 
unnamed park at 690 Santana Road.

Channel Drive (H/H/L, >5.5). Take highway 37 towards Vallejo. Take 
Black Point/Atherton Avenue exit, go straight on Harbor Drive one 
mile, past Petaluma River bridge to left on Crest, then straight onto 
Channel Drive to end.

Norton Ave (H/H/L, >5.5). Take highway 37 towards Vallejo. Take Black 
Point/Atherton Avenue exit, go straight on Harbor Drive, right on Bay 
Canyon (Grandview), left on Iolanthus, and left on Norton to end.

Binford Road (H/H/L, >5.5). Take San Marin Drive/Atherton Ave. exit 
off Highway 101 in Novato, then go north one mile along Binford Road 
(east side frontage road) towards county airport. Put-in is on east 
side of road, across from two public storage facilities. Put-in is on 
private land, so get permission before launching.

Petaluma Marina (M/L/M, >0.0). Drive to Petaluma on Highway 101. Take 
Lakeville Highway/Highway 116 East exit off Highway 101, turn left on 
Lakeville at stoplight, go 1/2 block to marina parking lot on right.

G Street (L/M/M, >0.0). Drive to Petaluma on Highway 101. Take 
Petaluma Blvd South exit off Highway 101, drive two miles towards 
downtown on Petaluma Blvd. Turn right on G Street, drive to put-in at 
end of street.

Payran Street bridge (L/M/L, >4.5). Drive to Petaluma on Highway 101. 
Take East Washington St exit off Highway 101. Turn left at stoplight 
and drive 1/2 mile towards downtown Petaluma. Turn right at stoplight 
on Payran, go 1/2 mile to put-in at east end of bridge over Petaluma 
River.

Petaluma Outlet Mall (L.H/L, >5.0). Drive north past Petaluma on 
Highway 101. Take Petaluma Blvd North exit. Turn left at stoplight and 
drive two miles towards downtown Petaluma on Petaluma Blvd. Turn left 
on Outlet Street into outlet mall, cross bridge, then turn right at 
stop sign, then turn right and drive to far southwest corner of 
parking lot.


        Gallinas Creek (+1:11)

Buck's Launching, 665 North San Pedro Road. (H/L/H, >3.0). Take North 
San Pedro Road exit off 101 in Terra Linda. Go east two miles, past 
civic center and 7-11, until road goes over a slight rise; look 
for unmarked dirt driveway to boatyard on left, just before bay 
comes into view.

South fork:

Santa Margarita Island (M/H/L, >3.0). Take North San Pedro Road exit 
off 101. Go east one mile past civic center to stop sign by 7-11. Left 
on Meadow Drive; go six blocks to gate at end of street.

Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium (M/L/L, >5.0). Take Freitas Parkway 
exit off 101. Make immediate right onto frontage road and go south towards 
Civic Center. Auditorium is on the left; meet in parking lot by memorial 
statues.

North fork:

McInnis Park boat dock (M/M/L, >3.0). Take 101 north to Lucas 
Valley/Smith Ranch exit; east on Smith Ranch Road one mile past 
theatre to McInnis Park; boat ramp is on right as you enter park, just 
past softball field.

Boggeri building (L/M/L, >4.0). Take Freitas Parkway exit off 101. 
Make immediate right turn to frontage road and then go left (north) a 
quarter mile to Boggeri building, 4270 Frontage Road.


        San Rafael Creek (+1:00, 101 off-ramp <2.0)

Beach Road (H/M/L, >4.0). Take central San Rafael exit off 101, make 
immediate right on Second St. Follow this three miles past Loch Lomond 
marina to right on Beach Road. Go one block to put-in.

Front Street ramp (L/M/H, >3.0). Take central San Rafael exit off 101; 
make immediate right on Second St., then right on E Francisco Blvd. Go 
four blocks to left on Harbor, then one block to Front St. 

Loch Lomond marina (H/M/H, >2.0). Take central San Rafael exit off 
101; make immediate right on Second Street. Follow this three miles to 
Loch Lomond marina. Turn right into marina, then go left to end of 
parking lot.

Sea Way (M/L/H, >1.0). Take central San Rafael exit off 101; make 
immediate right on Second Street. Follow this 1.5 miles to a right 
turn on Sea Way, just past the Marin Yacht Club tennis courts. Park by 
the footbridge on the left at end of street.

Pickleweed Park (M/L/M, >3.5). From 101, take 580 exit, then exit on 
Bellam Blvd. Go left four blocks, then left on Kerner. Follow Kerner 
to end, then right on Spinnaker Point Road three blocks to 
intersection of Spinnaker Point and Portsmouth.


        Corte Madera Creek (+0:37, marsh >5.0)

COM lot (M/M/L, >4.0). From 101, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west two 
miles to light at College Ave. Turn left and go five blocks to stop 
sign in front of gym. Turn left into gym parking lot; bear right into 
unpaved lot. Park at far end of unpaved lot, by the footbridge.

Bon Air Landing. From 101, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west one mile 
to light at Bon Air Road. Turn left and go past the hospital; turn 
left on South Eliseo just before crossing Corte Madera Creek bridge. 
Go 3/4 mile to a small signed waterfront park on the right at 575 
South Eliseo, at the intersection of South Eliseo and Via Belardo.

Meadowood Drive (M/M/L, >5.7). From the Lark Theater in downtown 
Larkspur, drive one block towards Corte Madera on Magnolia, then turn 
left at the stoplight onto East Ward Street. This turns into Meadowood 
Drive. Follow this a hundred yards or so to the bridge just before the 
intersection with Niven Way.

Larkspur boat dock. small dock for hand-launched boats is at 
intersection of Lucky Drive and Doherty Drive in Larkspur, across 
street from Redwood High School east parking lot.

San Quentin. From 101, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. east one mile, 
past Larkspur Landing, to small unregulated roadside parking area just 
past a small waterfront park and before the first San Quentin gate.

Corte Madera canal (L/M/L, N/A; dry for two weeks at daylight time 
change; drained Thursday, filled Friday. CM public works: 927-5069). 
From 101, take Tamalpais Ave. exit in Corte Madera. Go west up 
Tamalpais 3/4 mile. Turn right at fire house onto Pixley Ave. Go two 
blocks; put-in is on right, just past the park.


        San Clemente Creek (+0:30)

Echo Ave (H/M/L, >5.0). From 101, take Tamalpais Ave./Paradise Drive 
exit in Corte Madera. Go east (past CHP office) on San Clemente Drive 
to stop light at Harbor Drive, just before Paradise Cove shopping 
center. Go left on Harbor, then left on Echo Ave. Follow Echo to the 
turn-around at end of street.

Corte Madera Fire Station 13 (M/M/L, >4.0). From 101, take Tamalpais 
Ave./Paradise Drive exit in Corte Madera. Go east (past CHP office) on 
San Clemente Drive one mile to Paradise Cove shopping center; fire 
station is across street. Park in shopping center; do NOT park at fire 
station!


        Tiburon Peninsula (+0:20)

Paradise Cay. From 101, take Tamalpais Ave./Paradise Drive exit in 
Corte Madera. Go east (past CHP office) on Paradise Drive two miles; 
turn left into Paradise Cay on Antilles Way. Turn onto Martinique, 
then immediate left onto Trinidad. Follow this to the end.

Paradise Beach County Park. From 101, take Tamalpais Ave./Paradise 
Drive exit in Corte Madera. Go east (past CHP office) on Paradise 
Drive four miles; turn left into Paradise Cove County Park. There is a 
very fast current from Paradise Cove to Bluff Point during the last 2 
hours of a 6' tide drop.


        Richardson Bay (+0:15, marsh >4.5)

TVIC cabin (L/L/L, >4.5). Take highway one exit from 101, go through 
first light towards Tam junction, then left on Tennessee Valley Road 
just before crossing bridge. Go two blocks; Tam Valley recreation 
cabin is small building with parking lot on right.

Surrey Avenue (L/M/L, >4.7). Take 101 to Blithedale exit, go towards 
Mill Valley, turn left at light onto Camino Alto, right at next light 
onto Sycamore, then immediate left onto Surrey Avenue; follow this two 
blocks to the end of the street.

Schoonmaker Beach. Take Sausalito/Marin City exit off 101. Go south on 
Bridgeway about 1.5 miles. Take left onto Marinship Way, at stop light 
with 7-11 on right; look for bay model signs. Go down ramp and turn 
right onto Liberty Ship Way (one block south of the bay model). Follow 
this to private parking lot at end of street; beach is just beyond 
lot. You might have to go back out to Marinship Way to find parking.

Dunphy Park (H/L/H, >0.0). Take Sausalito/Marin City exit off 101. Go 
south on Bridgeway about 1.75 miles. At intersection of Bridgeway, Napa,
and Caledonia streets, turn left on Napa Street, then right into parking 
lot.

Main Street (H/L/H, >0.0). Take Alexander Avenue exit off 101 (last exit 
before the bridge) and drive 1.5 miles into Sausalito. At the bottom of 
the hill, go right on Main Street to dead end.


        Bolinas Lagoon (-0:11)

Hwy 1 put-in #1 (H/M/L, >5.0). Follow Highway one north 0.8 miles from 
the stop sign in Stinson Beach, to a small pull-off on west side of 
highway.

Hwy 1 put-in #2 (H/L/L, >4.0). Follow Highway one north 1.8 miles from 
the stop sign in Stinson Beach, to a shaded pull-off on east side of 
highway, opposite lagoon.


        Drakes Estero (+0:20?)

Limantour Beach. From Olema, go north 1/4 mile on Highway one, then 
turn left onto Bear Valley Road. Drive one mile past Bear Valley 
Visitor Center; turn left onto Limantour Road. Follow this eight 
miles to parking lot at beach.

Johnson's Oyster Company. Follow Sir Francis Drake Blvd. five miles 
past Inverness into Point Reyes National Seashore. Just as Drakes 
Estero (large bay) comes into view on the left (and just before 
crossing bridge over small creek), turn left onto dirt road to 
Johnson's Oyster Co. Follow dirt road 1/4 mile to parking lot.


        Tomales Bay (+0:40)

Figure at least an hour's drive to get to any of these put-ins from 
southern Marin.

White House pool (M/L/L, >3.5). Take highway one south from Pt. Reyes 
Station, cross bridge, go right on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. towards 
Inverness; go one-half mile to signed parking area just east of 
intersection of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Bear Valley Road.

Chicken Ranch Beach(M/L/L, >3.5). Go through Inverness on Sir Francis 
Drake Blvd.; easily-missed beach is on right, just past Blue Waters 
Kayaking, right before road turns away from Tomales Bay.

Marconi (M/L/L, >3.5). Small parking lot on highway one, 200 yards 
south of the entrance to Marconi Conference Center, about seven miles 
north of Pt. Reyes Station.

Miller Point (M/L/M, >0.0). Signed county boat launch ramp is on 
highway one, 2.5 miles north of Marshall, right next to Nick's Cove 
restaurant.

Walker Creek (L/L/L, >4.2).  On highway one, two miles north of Miller 
Point, 4.5 miles north of Marshall, and 1.5 miles south of the town of 
Tomales; pull-off with parking is 1/2 mile south of Walker Creek Bridge.


        Estero Americano (+1:00, H/M/L)

Fallon put-in (M/M/L, >5.0). Take highway one north through hamlet of 
Valley Ford; left on Valley Ford-Estero Road; go 1/2 mile to bridge 
over estero.


        Richmond Inner Harbor (+0:25, M/L/H)

Miller-Knox Shoreline beach (M/L/H, >0.0). Take 580 east across 
Richmond-San Rafael bridge. Take second exit, Canal/Garrard Blvd.; go 
right at light, then immediate right on Cutting. Follow Cutting three 
blocks to stop sign; go left through tunnel on Dornan Drive. Follow 
Dornan to last parking lot on right at end of road, by abandoned ferry 
terminal.

Cutting boat ramp (M/L/H, >0.0). Take 580 east across Richmond-San 
Rafael bridge. Take second exit, Canal/Garrard Blvd.; go right at 
light, then immediate left on Cutting. Go 1-2 blocks to a small, 
easy-to-miss public boat ramp on right, just before marina office.


        Russian River

Forestville River Access. (google map address: 9000 River Road, 
Forestville 95436). Take Fulton/River Road exit off Highway 101 in 
Santa Rosa (or follow Highway 116 through Sebastopol to River Road if 
you know the way). Follow River Road west about 10 miles from Highway 
101. Look for River Drive, a small side road on right, just before 
reaching a convenience store (on left), and 1/4 mile before crossing a 
bridge over the river. Turn right on River Drive, then immediate right 
into signed parking lot; put-in is 100 yards west along the road.

Boats can also be launched and recovered at free public beaches in 
Guerneville and Monte Rio.