Got this in the e-mail yesterday from Daniel Sonnet:
Marin Conservation League and the County of Marin are attempting to purchase an important trail head that leads to Baltimore Canyon, Blithedale Ridge and Mt. Tamalpais from West Baltimore Avenue in Larkspur. … We’d greatly appreciate it if you would mention this in your blog as we are trying to create awareness and raise the necessary funds. As an interesting note, the property was owned by Janis Joplin at the time of her death, and her old house is still there right next to the proposed trail head.
Here’s where the land is:
A story in the Marin Independent-Journal profiles what’s afoot:
A half-acre slice of Larkspur’s Baltimore Canyon – land that legendary rocker Janis Joplin once called home – is being purchased by the county Open Space District to open a public trail that could take hikers and joggers to the top of Blithedale Ridge.
The pricey property will cost the county $411,500, according to a purchase agreement that gives the county until March 28 to raise the money.
The county started the funding push on Tuesday by dedicating $50,000 for the purchase. The Marin Conservation League also has pledged its help in raising money.
“It’s an opening of a major trailhead,” said Supervisor Hal Brown. He said he’s hopeful a combination of private and public contributions can close the gap.
The property is part of 380 W. Baltimore Ave., Joplin’s redwood-studded home at the time of her death in 1970. The hard-living rocker died at age 27 from a drug overdose in a Los Angeles hotel room.
The Conservation League is leading the push to raise the rest of the money needed to buy the land for the trailhead. From an MCL press release:
Baltimore Canyon Preserve is highly prized and includes Dawn Falls and Larkspur Creek, as well as additional trail connections to Blithedale Ridge and Mount Tamalpais.
Those wishing to make a tax deductible donation to the fundraising campaign to secure this access forever may mail a check to Marin Conservation League / Baltimore Canyon Access, 1623A Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA, 94901 or call 415-485-6257 for more information.
Naturally, Jane at bahiker.com has trod some of the Baltimore Canyon trails. Her writeup is here.