AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Colier Spring–Collier Trail, 11 sights

14 mi · ▲ 3,020 ft · 6 hr 11 min

Colier Spring–Collier Trail, 11 sights is a 14-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Fairfax, CA. The route reaches Colier Spring at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 3,020 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi197 – 1,985 ft · steepest grade: 31%14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bullfrog Fire Road 37.96638, -122.60510
Nearest town Fairfax, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Colier Spring–Collier Trail, 11 sights

14 mi · ▲ 3,020 ft · 6 hr 11 min

Elevation 199–1,983 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: Bullfrog Fire Road · 37.96638, -122.60510

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 150 ftTurn right onto Alex Forman Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading E.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Alex Forman Trail, heading E.
  5. 200 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Alex Forman Trail, heading SE.
  7. 150 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  8. 250 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miBear right onto Elliot Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miSharp right onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NE.
  11. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading S.
  12. 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading E.
  14. 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NE.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  16. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Filter Plant Road, heading SE.
  17. 150 ftTurn left onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  18. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading W.
  22. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading SE.
  23. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Lower Northside Trail, heading W.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Collier Trail, heading W.
  25. 50 ftReach Colier Spring, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Northside Trail, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading W.
  28. 1.5 miContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading NE.
  29. 1.1 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
  30. 0.3 miTurn right onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading W.
  32. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading NE.
  33. 1.3 miTurn right onto Filter Plant Road, heading S.
  34. 100 ftContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SW.
  35. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  36. 0.4 miBear right onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading N.
  37. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  38. 0.4 miBear right onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading NW.
  39. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  40. 0.1 miSharp left onto Elliot Trail, heading SW.
  41. 0.3 miBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  42. 0.2 miSharp right onto Alex Forman Trail, heading S.
  43. 100 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto Alex Forman Trail, heading SW.
  45. 200 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftBear right onto Alex Forman Trail, heading S.
  47. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  48. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/colier-spring-out-back-22-km-9a7e

Trail surface

61% dirt39% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.3 mi in (~171 min). Leave by 3:59 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Bullfrog Fire Road Trailhead

Hikes near Fairfax, California