BRT Insights - WW Kayaking & Hiking

The winter spawning run of coho salmon can be viewed at Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The largest remaining run of Central California Coho Salmon "The largest remaining run of Central California coho is found in the Bay Area, in Marin County's Lagunitas watershed." Coho Salmon in West Marin County - Bay Nature Institute

Coho Salmon jumping up Inkwells Falls on San Geronimo Creek. Picture by Paola Bouley.

"SPAWN, the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network works to protect (the) endangered salmon in the Lagunitas Watershed and the environment on which we all depend." Salmon Protection And Watershed Network "The Lagunitas Creek Watershed (LCW), located in west Marin County, California currently supports California's largest wild population of Central Coast coho salmon and at least its second largest population of steelhead trout. It has been identified as one of the most important waterways left for wild California coho, federally listed as endangered." The Coho of Lagunitas Creek Watershed - SPAWN

Plan your trip to see the Coho Salmon Run in Lagunitas Creek

Carrie Sendak, Watershed Biologist at Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, said that the Coho Salmon run in Lagunitas Creek goes from "mid-November to mid-January typically, with peak two weeks (during the) last week of December (through the) first week of January."

1. At the start of our winter rainy season it takes a few rainstorms to get enough water flowing in Lagunitas Creek to enable the fish to make their way upstream to the spawning grounds.

Real-time flow data for Lagunitas Creek.

USGS Real-Time Water Data for Lagunitas Ck at SPTaylor St Pk

2. During and immediately after a rainstorm the creek will be cloudy with silt. The best time for fish viewing is 2 or more days after the last significant rainstorm. Check the recent local rainfall at Lagunitas, CA and the local weather forecast to help decide when to plan your trip to see the salmon run.



3. Call the SPAWN office (415-663-8590) for up-to-date information about when the salmon spawning run is occurring.

Map of Locations for Viewing the Salmon Run

• Instructions for online interactive topographic river maps & road maps.
• Click on Map button for road map, Topo button for topographic map.
• Full-Screen Lagunitas Creek Map - landmarks in and near Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
• Names of landmarks (A, B, etc.) - DoubleClick or point on the red markers.



Geographic coordinates - Landmark name (marker on map above)
N 38.08485 W 122.82887 - salmon leave Tomales Bay and enter Lagunitas Creek (A)
N 38.02981 W 122.73612 - Devil's Gulch Trail in Samuel P. Taylor State Park (B)
N 38.01899 W 122.73316 - North Creek Trail in Samuel P. Taylor State Park (C)
N 38.00450 W 122.70875 - Shafter Bridge over Lagunitas Creek (D)
N 38.00479 W 122.70868 - Inkwells Falls - entrance to San Geronimo Creek (E)

More about:
• California Coho Salmon at risk of Extinction - Bay Nature 23dec2010.
• Viewing Coho Salmon at Samuel P. Taylor State Park - nps.gov.
• Summer Salmon Institute 2011 - Environmental Education Training Workshop.
• Samuel P. Taylor State Park
• Samuel P. Taylor State Park - KQED QUEST Defective website - must be viewed with Internet Explorer.
• Samuel P. Taylor State Park hiking - BRT Insights
• California Hiking Trails Directory.
• Hiking & Camping Trip Reports - BRT Insights.
• California Maps - Atlas & Gazetteer by Delorme, 2008.

IceRocket Tags: hiking, trail, Samuel P Taylor State Park, Lagunitas CA, Marin County, California.
Tags: coho salmon, Lagunitas Creek, San Geronimo Creek.

Labels: hiking