China Camp, part 1 - Feb. 27, 2013

Walking Distance: 2.5 mi. (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 34 min. (12:58 - 3:32 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parking lot, China Camp State Park (Marin County), CA

I skipped ahead almost a mile this afternoon, to take a walk at China Camp, a California State Park. Thanks to Mark for joining me today.

From the parking lot, we walked downhill to a beach and a partially restored Chinese shrimp fishing village (China Camp Village) that had been most active in the 1880s. We made our way through exhibits in one building and passed the Quan Brothers snack bar (open on weekends).

After looking at some historical artifacts on display (old furnaces, equipment, examples of shrimp nets), we walked to the south to end of the beach, and stopped to look at an old stand of fruit trees that were full of white blossoms and buzzing bees -- a sign of early spring in February.

We turned around and headed back along the beach, and back uphill to the parking lot, and through a picnic area along the shore/bluffs. From an outlook (China Camp Point) we had a nice view of Rat Rock (in the Bay) and beyond.

From this outlook area we continued walking, on a narrow dirt path, passing several oak trees; and the dirt path became even narrower, until we decided to make our way back to Point San Pedro Road, the main road running through the Park. (Note: Point San Pedro Road turns into North San Pedro Road, as you head north through the park.)

We crossed this road, from the shoreline side to the hillside, close to a Ranger's Station.

Near the Ranger Station was a trailhead leading slightly uphill to the Shoreline Trail. We followed this trail and made a loop, eventually coming back down toward the car.

Next up: hike the trails in the northern part of China Camp State Park, and the rest of the North Point San Pedro Rd., eventually leading out of the park and toward the Marin Civic Center.

Note: China Camp does have some overnight camp sites. Check the website for more details.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 pelican; 2 sea gulls; 6 little brown jobs (LBJs); 5 crows/ravens; 1 cormorant; 2 Canada geese