Review Date
October 4, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: s1lv3rsc00by ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I just rode this loop 2 weeks ago (Sept 2008). Park in the Java Hut parking lot. Sunshine Bicycle Shop is right across the street where you can buy a $5 day pass (cash/check only, no credit cards). The bar next door does have an ATM machine so you can get cash there. Ride through downtown Fairfax, through some residential neighborhoods and then up a paved rode. Then it tuns to loose gravel. After a few more turns up hill, you will see the bike rack and trailhead on the left - the alchemist trail.

(for trail map and directions to get there http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/)

All the reviews I read recommended to do the loop clockwise, so that's what my brother & I did. (Alchemist-Serpentine-Goldman-Wagon Wheel-B17-Broken Damn-Goldman-Alchemist.) After riding that way, we think that it might actually be funner to ride it counter clockwise. We didn't have a chance to do the outer Porcupine-White Hill trail. From our ride that day, it seems like about 60% of the clockwise route was climbing. This is pretty much beginner with a little bit of intermediate riding. There are TONS of switchbacks (none too steep or sharp to handle), some roots and some rocks. I believe it's part of the Serpentine trail that has a short mini "rock garden" section. The climbing is gradual for the most part. There are a handful of short steep sections. But nothing most riders can't handle if you just kick it into granny gear and spin.

Recommended Route:
counter clockwise.

Review Date
May 17, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: datenschwanz ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
WOW. That's all I can say if I had one word to describe the park right now. I went out last Saturday and I can't believe how much trail work has been done. A month ago the trail was a wreck or ruts and dug out roots from the near two months of virtually continual rain. Not now! Almost every rut has been broken up and repacked. The switchbacks look groomed like a ski run. All rain damage has been repaired and it's Heaven on the trail from start to finish. $5 a day to ride this is a deal and a half. I'm buying a season pass this year for sure. The route is signposted better than ever and the conditions are bettere than i've ever seen them!

Get out here! There's something for experts and mid level riders too!

Recommended Route:
Park at Java hut thingy in the Albertsons parking lot in Fairfax and ride to the trail from there, less than a mile to the road climb up to the single track. Go across the street to the bike shop (next to the brewery) and get your pass and directions from them at the same time. I always ride this trail clockwise. I've never ridden it the other way.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
soquel demo forest, mr toads, mt rose, and UCSC in Santa Cruz.

Review Date
November 25, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: 13yroldbikerkid ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Sharp hairpins, loose rocks, and roots make up the technical sections of this trail. Depending on where you are on the mountain, you are exposed to many diverse enviornments from open spaces to dense groves of trees. Tamarancho is a popular and well known trail and the favorite of many Marinite weekend warriors.

Recommended Route:
Lots of different backroads you can take through Fairfax to get to the mountain and all of the trails on the mountain are fun. No recommended route.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Shoreline Trail (China Camp), Pine Mountain Loop, and Pine Mountain to Repack.

Review Date
June 27, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: caughtonillegaltrail ,  Downhiller

Summary:
Sweet awesome single track, no hard uphills, if you don't go down the redwood section your stupid and you can take stop reading this review. It is such a fun trail, I haven't done the double loop yet but it could be cool. I biked back to Mill Valley afterwards that was a mother.

I saw a fat, ginourmous rattle snake. Scared me to death. Looked like it just ate something. I was riding and it was lying accross the trail on the uphill at the end. I haven't ever pedaled so fast at the end of the ride before. Watch out, those things are scary as those evil cranky old people who hate the world and most of all, jumps.

Recommended Route:
down redwood section to burgers at M&G's

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Any singletrack you can getaway with.

Review Date
January 10, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: bikemapdude ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
If you're into mountain biking both for the adrenaline and the scenery Tamarancho's one of the best places around. The loop is 95% singletrack, sometimes smooth and fast, sometimes rocky and technical. You go through deep forests as well as open hillsides (some exposure).

Only drawback is the large crowds on weekends. Much better if you can get there on a weekday.