The Marin County Watershed encompasses 5 lakes which dot the base of towering Mount Tamalpais. Among them are Bon Tempe Lake and Lake Lagunitas, which join to form a beautiful 6.25 mile figure-eight loop. The loop hike is easy and peaceful - particularly in the morning when crowds are thin. The 5 watershed 'reservoirs' provide the drinking water for surrounding Marin County and also offer a wide range of family-friendly recreational activites from hiking to biking to fishing.  

Bon Tempe Lake - the widest of all 5 watershed lakes, is an excellent place to fish for stocked trout

Stands of young redwoods along Lake Lagunitas - redwoods get most of their moisture from area fog

A cormorant dries its wings in the early morning sun on Bon Tempe Lake - some cormorant species can dive underwater for up to 150 feet

Two young black-tailed bucks drink along the shore of Bon Tempe Lake - Black tail bucks will only grow up to 3 tines per side of their antlers

View of Mt Tamalpais from the Bon Tempe Lake dam - Beneath the dam lay Alpine Lake, another of the Marin County Watershed lakes

Waterfowl flourish on Bon Tempe Lake - like this group of red-breasted mergansers

Mt Tamalpais rises behind Bon Tempe Lake - Mt Tam has one of the only 2 working fire towers in Marin County