Mt. Burdell Habitat Restoration Work Party: Hike to Hidden Lake!

Mt. Burdell Habitat Restoration Work Party: Hike to Hidden Lake!
Saturday, November 7, 9am-11:30am

Leader: Greg Reza, Marin County Parks and Open Space District Volunteer Program Coordinator
Marin CNPS Coordinators: Stacey Pogorzelski and Caroline Christman
Location: Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve, Novato

Join us for a special educational hike to Hidden Lake, a seasonal pond on the slopes of Mt. Burdell. The 1.2-mile hike winds through grassland and open oak savanna on the way to Hidden Lake. Greg will share details about the unique hydrology and geology at this spot, as well as the important wetland habitat that supports Pacific chorus frogs and other amphibians. Hidden Lake is also home to the rare (List 1B.1) plant Baker’s Navarretia (Navarretia leucocephala ssp. bakeri). It’s unlikely we will see this annual plant in November; we’ll need to return in spring!

After the talk, we’ll transition into work mode to remove pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), an invasive plant in the mint family that threatens our native wetlands. We will use hand tools for this task, and it will involve some stooping, kneeling, or sitting. We’ll work for about one hour and then walk back to the trailhead together to enjoy refreshments.

This hike and volunteer day is part of an ongoing stewardship program at Mt. Burdell, supported by Marin CNPS in partnership with Marin County Open Space District. During volunteer workdays we remove invasive plant species, plant native species, and collect native plant seeds. The hike to Hidden Lake is an opportunity to combine everything we love about Mt. Burdell – hiking, learning about our native habitats, and helping to steward the land.

The hike to Hidden Lake is 1.2 miles each way, for a total distance of 2.4 miles. The trail is a wide fire-road with gentle elevation gain. Marin County staff will provide gloves, tools, and great snacks. Bring a reusable water bottle, sun and wind protection, long pants, and sturdy close-toed shoes.
Heavy rain cancels, cancellations will be posted on Meetup.

Directions: Meet at the San Andreas Drive entrance to Mt. Burdell. There is parking along San Andreas Drive. The trailhead where we’ll meet is on the right near the top of the hill.
Please:

Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2026, if you have not done so already.
Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers
Email [email protected] with questions.
Sorry, no dogs on this trip.