Star Lily,
Milk Maids,
Hound's Tongue.
It is a 2.2 mile hike along the sunny edge of Lake Lagunitas, and then through oak mixed evergreen
woodlands to the top of Pilot Knob. At the top, you jog off the main trail and end up on the rocky
grass half of Pilot Knob. The extra huffing and puffing is worth it. You usually get a super view of
the Bay, Mt. Diablo, and Lake Lagunitas and Bon Tempe Lake. It's usually windy. Today it wasn't.
In fact you could see (hmm) smog on the Bay. My daughter Elizabeth and her friend Jonathan found
lots of lizards in the rocks and a few salamanders under rotting logs. All to the delight of the East Bay
tourists. Susie the puppy and I just enjoyed walking in the sunshine. Johnny thought the bright blue
of the Stellar's "looked like a peacock". Here's what we saw:
Birds
Mallard,
Turkey Vulture,
Red-tailed Hawk,
American Coot,
Acorn Woodpecker,
Stellar's Jay,
Scrub Jay,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
Mammals
Black-tailed deer.
Mushrooms
Western Grisette, White Russula.
Reptiles & Amphibians
Pacific Pond Turtle, California Slender Salamander, Sagebrush Lizard.
Wildflowers
Star Lily,
Milk Maids,
Hound's Tongue.
Return to [hikes95]
-- Michael Paul Thoma
I'd value your comments. Email me at mike@thoma.com
Last updated 31 Dec, 1995.