AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Kent Lake–Caterpillar Trail, 5 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,497 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Kent Lake–Caterpillar Trail, 5 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Lagunitas, CA. The route reaches Kent Lake at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 1,497 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi279 – 1,017 ft · steepest grade: 33%5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 38.01156, -122.70020
Nearest town Lagunitas, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Kent Lake–Caterpillar Trail, 5 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 1,497 ft · 2 hr 29 min

Elevation 278–1,018 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: 38.01156, -122.70020

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard & West Cintura Avenue stop 128 m from the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.7 miSharp right onto Caterpillar Trail, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miBear right onto San Geronimo Ridge Road, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Continental Cove Road, heading SW.
  6. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Upper Peters Dam Road, heading SW.
  7. 0.7 miReach Kent Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Continental Cove Road, heading E.
  9. 0.8 miContinue straight onto San Geronimo Ridge Road, heading NE.
  10. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right onto Caterpillar Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  13. 0.7 miArrive 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/kent-lake-out-back-8-km-2981

Trail surface

33% dirt67% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard & West Cintura Avenue stop 128 m from the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lagunitas, California