Kent Pump Road: A Pretty Out-and-Back Hike
Mount Tamalpais Watershed, California
If elevation isn’t your forte, but you want to have some scenic views, then the Kent Pump Road hike might be for you! An 8.9 mile hike with only 387 feet of elevation gain, this hike can be considered more of a walk than a hike because it is so flat, but you still get to have really nice views of the lake at the end of the trail. This hike is an out-and-back that takes you from Alpine Dam to Kent Lake, which is located within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.
View of Alpine Lake right above the dam at the beginning of the hike
The hike begins from the trailhead at Alpine dam, which is one of the major reservoirs of fresh drinking water in Marin. There isn’t much in terms of parking – just a large shoulder by the water for a few cars. However, contrary to the AllTrails post, there is no parking fee (we confirmed there is no fee with a steward at the Sky Oaks headquarters). There is a porta potty available at the trailhead, which I highly recommend using before starting the hike. There is no other bathroom on the hike, and it is generally discouraged from using nature as your bathroom on this hike since you are in close proximity to drinking water reservoirs. It can get hot and sunny on this hike, so bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and water. Snacks can also be nice since it is a relatively long hike.
The path is very wide and well maintained, making for an easy hiking experience
The hike is fairly straightforward. You begin with a brief descent past the dam and follow the well-maintained gravel road/path for the entirety of the hike to the end. The hike is quite flat, which makes it easier on the joints, but you still get some nice views of the creek down below. The path winds around the sides of many hills. All throughout the hike, the trees are quite tall, so there are sections where you won’t be able to see too far into the valley below.
Peering over the side of the path provides glimpses of the creek below; some sections were stagnant
The views of Kent Lake appear as you approach the descent
Eventually, you “descend” (reminder that there is only 387 total feet of elevation for the entire hike) to Kent Lake where you will see a really interesting area. The lake was once forest and was flooded to be made into a reservoir, so you can still see tall dead trees sticking out of the water. The lake is very peaceful because it is relatively untouched and there are no other people out there. You may see another hiker out there, but the capacity is very limited due to the lack of plentiful parking space back at the trailhead. There were many bird species out around the lake, and I could see many holes in the tall trees in the lake – evidence of acorn woodpeckers. After enjoying your time at the lake (friendly reminder that swimming is not allowed because it is a reservoir), you return the same way you came.
The trunks of trees sticking up out of the water at Kent Lake
On this hike we didn’t see too much wildlife with the exception of some birds, many lizards, and a rattlesnake. Please be aware of snakes on this hike, as they can be out sunbathing on the path. We heard the rattle of a snake off to the side of the trail on our way into the lake. If the snake hadn’t used its rattle, I don’t think I would have seen it because it was so well camouflaged. Generally, rattlesnakes are not aggressive, but maintain a safe distance if you see any. They tend to not want anything to do with humans, so they will give advance warning of their presence if you get too close.
The rattlesnake that we saw on the side of the path
Overall, this hike was pretty nice! It was not very challenging elevation-wise, but the length made it a good workout. The views were decent along the path to the lake, but the real gem was the lake itself. I could totally see myself bringing a lunch out there to enjoy at the lake. Based on the difficulty, I would recommend this hike to people of all ages. It is not too strenuous, so it can be enjoyed by everyone. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message via email or Instagram DM.
Happy hiking!
The views at Kent Lake are incredibly beautiful