A svelte 13 miles!! The longest and most impressive circuit in the headlands that is well worth the time and energy. Found in the Gerbode and Tennessee Valleys in the Marin Headlands, Svelte is my extended version of Buteo jamaicensis. Sublime vistas, craggy coastlines, abrupt cliffs, luxurious beaches, and superb trails are all stars of this run. I can't wait to do this one again! Just past the Waldo Tunnel I take the Spencer Ave. off ramp and find parking anywhere along the street or in the lot next to the overpass. Across the street from this lot is the entrance to the trail system. It takes about 5 minutes to reach the starting point for this curcuit (001). The climb serves well as a pre-run stretch. Heading along Alta I find the juction to Bobcat (002). I get on it, head left and start my way down. This path offers some great views of the valley floor and the Pacific. I also look for interesting wildlife like dear, bobcats, snakes and various raptors. At the next junction (003) I get on Miwok, stay to the right and begin a long trek uphill. The grade here is not too bad and it never gets to be an extremely hard challenge. That is coming soon though, just wait! Once it levels off a bit I find the trailhead for Wolf Ridge (004) on the left. Here is where the real fun begins! After running along this track I reach a hilltop (005) that opens up and presents an amazing unobstructed view of the ocean and the illustrious Northern California coastline. This is what it's all for folks. I take some time to fuel up and indulge in the show. At this point (005) I also discover the entrance to Coastal. It is a small trailhead to my right that moves downward and ushers me out to Tennessee Valley (006). At Tennessee Valley I go left and move along this path for a short distance till I reach another intersection (007). On hot days I may go straight out to the cove for a quick dip in the waves, but for now I head right and start uphill again. Just up ahead to the left is an unmarked trailhead that I guessed to be Coastal. I took it and followed it up. Whew!! I was right. The next stretch of this circuit skirts along the hillside and extends out to Muir Beach. One day when I feel up to it I may just venture out that far. For now I stay my course and join up with Fox (010), head right and get back to the ascent. Fox is a toilsome uphill climb at this stage of the run and by the time I reach the top I am ready for some fuel. After a brief hiatus at this jucture (011) I go right, down Coyote for about 100 yards and get back on Fox which brings me out to Tennessee Valley Road. Here is where I must deal with a bit of pavement before getting back on the soft, pillowy terra firma. I follow the road past the stables, out through the parking lot and find the entrance to Oakwood Valley on the right (013). From here is it a straight shot up to Alta and the road home. Point (014) marks a small bridge where after crossing, I head right and deal with an operose climb up a scraggy and weathered path. At the next juncture (015) I head right, hit another intersection (016) where I go right again and follow it out to the finish (001). Suave, clean, and lithe!

Distance and Elevation Profile
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