This preserve on the slopes above the town of Larkspur is composed
of three separate pieces of land. The northernmost parcel (which is
roughly bisected by the Citron Fire Road) is the scene of an ongoing
battle between the dedicated volunteer corps known as the Green Gorillas,
and a host of tenacious invasive, non-native plants. It is not uncommon
to visit this area and find one or more of these hard-working folks
sawing down an Acacia or Eucalyptus tree, or pulling broom plants.
This area was slated for development at one time, and in some places
you can see the curbs and sidewalks that remain from this failed effort.
The west end of Citron Fire Road leads to the King Mountain Loop Trail,
a public trail easement that crosses through private property, circles
the top of the mountain, and intersects the Contractors Trail leading
to Larkspur Creek. These trails (although not actually on the preserve)
are considered the heart of the King Mountain Open Space, as they
wind through quiet forests relatively free of the non-native plants
that cloak the lower slopes. The Contractors Trail re-enters District
property just above the Dawn Falls Trail. Hiking south on this trail
leads to the adjacent Blithedale Summit Preserve, the trail to the
north leads up the canyon to the Baltimore Canyon Preserve.
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Featured Species at this preserve:
Steller's Jay
Hairy Woodpecker
Fetid Adder's-tongue
Nutmeg
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