Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Fern Creek Trail Loop, 5 sights is a 3.6-mile loop in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Kent Woodlands, CA. The route reaches Verna Dunshee Viewpoint. It climbs 1,283 ft, with sections as steep as 54% grade. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,099 – 2,405 ft · steepest grade: 54%3.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Plank Walk Trail 37.92786, -122.57925
Nearest town Kent Woodlands, CA
Directions
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Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Fern Creek Trail Loop, 5 sights
3.6 mi · ▲ 1,283 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Elevation 1,098–2,405 ft
Loop · Mount Tamalpais Watershed
Trailhead: Plank Walk Trail · 37.92786, -122.57925
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 91°F / low 73° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Plank Walk Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear left onto Fern Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading S.
- 1 miSharp left onto Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Fire Road, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Wheeler Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Indian Fire Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Verna Dunshee Viewpoint.
- 300 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
54% dirt20% gravel8% paved18% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 91°F73°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity38%
Hourly temperature
95°70°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:19 PM
Tue
79°64°
Wed
74°49°
Thu
65°47°
Fri
69°46°
Sat
69°45°
Sun
61°45°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:57 PM for the 8:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Plank Walk Trail Trailhead
- Fern Creek Trail & Hogback Road via Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 2.8 mi · ▲ 1,296 ft
- Mount Tamalpais West Point via Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 3.1 mi · ▲ 998 ft
- Miller Trail & Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 1,401 ft
- Dawn Falls–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 4 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 1,907 ft
- Pilot Knob–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 3 summits 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,997 ft
- Temelpa Viewpoint–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 5 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 2,547 ft
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