AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Gardner Lookout plaque, wide view.jpg
Harry Cutts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights

15 mi · ▲ 4,488 ft · 7 hr 15 min

Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Fairfax, CA. The route passes Bon Tempe Lake and Verna Dunshee Viewpoint. It climbs 4,488 ft, with sections as steep as 43% grade. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi197 – 2,405 ft · steepest grade: 43%16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Alex Forman Trail 37.95340, -122.60080
Nearest town Fairfax, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Bon Tempe Lake, 11 sights

15 mi · ▲ 4,488 ft · 7 hr 15 min

Elevation 199–2,405 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: Alex Forman Trail · 37.95340, -122.60080

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 94°F / low 56° · precip 0% · wind 0 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Alex Forman Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Bon Tempe Lake.
  3. 0.8 miBear right, heading N.
  4. 300 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miBear right onto Elliot Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NE.
  7. 200 ftBear left onto Elliot Trail, heading N.
  8. 100 ftSharp right onto Shaver Grade Road, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading S.
  10. 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading S.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading E.
  12. 150 ftBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NE.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  14. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Filter Plant Road, heading S.
  15. 150 ftTurn left onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading E.
  16. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading W.
  20. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading SE.
  21. 150 ftContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading SE.
  23. 350 ftPass Verna Dunshee Viewpoint.
  24. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  25. 350 ftBear left onto Fern Creek Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.6 miSharp left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miTurn right onto Hogback Road, heading S.
  28. 0.3 miReach Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading S.
  30. 0.3 miSharp right onto Fern Creek Trail, heading NE.
  31. 0.6 miBear right, heading NE.
  32. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  33. 350 ftContinue straight onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading NE.
  34. 0.1 miTurn left onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading W.
  35. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading SE.
  36. 150 ftContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading SE.
  37. 1.1 miTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading N.
  38. 0.3 miTurn right onto Pilot Knob Trail, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn right onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading W.
  40. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading NW.
  41. 1.3 miTurn right onto Filter Plant Road, heading NE.
  42. 150 ftContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading NW.
  43. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading SW.
  44. 0.4 miBear right onto Hidden Meadow Trail, heading NE.
  45. 100 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading N.
  46. 0.4 miBear right onto Concrete Pipe Road, heading NW.
  47. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  48. 0.1 miSharp left onto Elliot Trail, heading NW.
  49. 50 ftBear right onto Shaver Grade Road, heading NW.
  50. 200 ftTurn right onto Elliot Trail, heading NW.
  51. 0.2 miBear left onto Shaver Grade Road, heading W.
  52. 0.2 miBear left onto Alex Forman Trail, heading NE.
  53. 0.6 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/verna-dunshee-viewpoint-out-back-17-km

Trail surface

45% dirt3% paved52% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 94°F56°
Precip0%Wind0 mphUV8Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:19 PM
Tue 87°55°
Wed 82°52°
Thu 71°53°
Fri 74°51°
Sat 74°51°
Sun 67°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~204 min). Leave by 4:35 PM for the 8:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Alex Forman Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Fairfax, California