Samuel P. Taylor

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=469 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_P._Taylor_State_Park Samuel P. Taylor State Park is a state park located in Marin County, California. It contains approximately 2,700 acres (11 km2) of redwood and grassland. The park contains about 600 acres (2.4 km2) of old-growth forest, some of which can be seen along the Pioneer Tree Trail.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Majestic redwoods, open grasslands, and pristine creeks unite in a stunning display of natural beauty California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (415) 488-9897. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™ SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp Samuel P. Taylor State Park 8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Lagunitas, CA 94938 (415) 488-9897 California freshwater shrimp photo courtesy of Dr. Larry Serpa, The Nature Conservancy © 2009 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) at Samuel P. Taylor State Park. S amuel P. Taylor State Park’s landscape ranges from shady canyon groves to oakstudded grasslands to the rolling hills atop Barnabe Peak. Nestled in the wooded countryside of west Marin County, the 2,882acre park invites visitors to camp, bike, ride horses, and savor a piece of paradise. This redwood forest community enjoys a mild climate varying from dense fog and rain to full sun. Summer temperatures average in the low 80s, while winter days drop to the low 50s with frequent rainfall. PARK HISTORY Native People Archaeological evidence shows that the indigenous Coast Miwok people inhabited the area now known as west Marin County for at least 3,000 to 4,000 years before Spanish missionaries and settlers arrived. The Miwok, one of the most populous native groups in California, have a cultural heritage that includes shamanism and complex, elaborate languages. The Coast Miwok lived on nature’s abundance, sustaining the land and coastal waters by fishing and hunting only for what was consumed and burning the grasslands after their seed harvest to encourage new growth. European explorers began incursions into Coast Miwok tribal lands in the 1500s. By the 1700s, the Spanish mission builders had forced many Coast Miwok natives into servitude. The land was taken over by Spanish and Mexican land grantees, and many Miwok tribespeople died from diseases introduced by the settlers. Today, Miwok descendants continue to live in or near Marin County. Samuel P. Taylor The 1848 discovery of gold drew fortuneseekers to California. The son of a paper mill owner on New York’s Hudson River, adventurous Samuel Penfield Taylor purchased a schooner with some friends and set sail for San Francisco Bay. Upon arrival in 1849, 22-year-old Samuel found a wooden cask filled with eggs floating near shore. He cooked the eggs and set up a food stand on the beach. Food sales proved profitable. With his earnings, Samuel P. Taylor Taylor and a partner opened a lumberyard in San Francisco; two years later he left for Hawkins’ Bar, Tuolumne County, to pan for gold. In 1852, at the peak of the gold rush, Taylor shipped just over 21 pounds of gold dust to his San Francisco bankers. The gold dust netted Taylor $5,692; that quantity is worth more than $400,000 today. Taylor found and purchased 100 acres in western Marin County from Mexican land grantee Rafael Garcia. Drawing on his father’s paper mill experience, Taylor opened the first paper mill on the west coast. The Pioneer Paper Mill Company used rags, rope, jute, and wood pulp to make paper. The company grew rapidly due to demand for paper and expense of importing it from the east coast. The bustling community of Taylorville grew up around the paper mill. In 1874 the North Pacific Coast Railroad built a narrow-gauge railroad running from Sausalito through Marin to serve Point Reyes and Tomales Bay. The route was important to commerce and brought tourists to the area. Camp Taylor, one of California’s first recreational camping sites, became an extremely popular northern California weekend destination from the late 1870s to the early 1900s. Guests were encouraged to spend summers in the wilderness, where they could camp, swim in the millpond, fish, hunt, explore the natural wonders, and relax. NATURAL HISTORY Chert and sandstone underlie well-drained soil that hosts profuse vegetation. Shaded, fern-filled groves of coast redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, are found along the canyon bottoms and up the north-facing slopes. The striking Aralia californica, or elk clover, displays immense leaves with huge creamcolored flowers blossoming in early summer. Oak and madrone hardwoods dominate the park’s grasslands. Pioneer Paper Mill Wide, grassy slopes characterize Devil’s Gulch. A succession of native wildflowers adds an ever-

Samuel P. Taylor State Park Camp Taylor Area 8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. • Lagunitas, CA 94938 (415) 488-9897 Samuel P. Taylor State Park’s landscape ranges from shady canyon redwood groves to oak-studded grasslands to the rolling hills atop Mount Barnabe. Nestled in 2,882 acres of wooded countryside in west Marin County, the park invites visitors to camp, bike, ride horses and savor a piece of paradise. The main campground has over 50 campsites with restrooms, hot quarter operated showers and piped drinking water. Some parking spaces can accommodate small trailers, but none have hookups. Four wood cabins, each holding up to 5 people, are also available with electricity, platform bunk beds with mattresses, wood floor, covered porch and a small electric heater. Six group campsites, accommodating 10-50 people, as well as a horse camp, may be reserved. Madrone Group Camp #1 has space for up to 50 people. Three small group sites can accommodate 10-15 people, depending on the site. There are three sites at Devil’s Gulch. Two tent-only sites can each accommodate up to 10 people. The larger equestrian campsite has a corral, hitching racks and water troughs; it can accommodate up to 20 people and is reserved for equestrians only. PARK FEES are due and payable upon entry into the park [CCR 4302]. Use the self-registration system if the entrance station is closed. Campsite fee covers one vehicle. Extra vehicle fees are due and payable upon arrival [CCR 4453]. OCCUPANCY: Maximum occupancy is 6 people per campsite [CCR 4452 (b)]. Group sites and cabins have specific occupancy limits. Contact the park for sitespecific information. VEHICLE PARKING: Vehicles must be parked on pavement and at your assigned campsite [CCR 4355]. Two vehicles maximum per campsite [CCR 4452 (a)]. Additional vehicle parking may be available in the picnic parking area. SPEED LIMIT: The maximum speed limit is 15 mph [CCR 4353 (a)]. CHECK-OUT TIME is noon [CCR 4456]. Please leave site clean and on time [CCR 4310 (a) and 4456]. Check-In time is 2 p.m. or later. FIRES AND FIREWOOD: Fires are allowed only in established fire rings or camp stoves [CCR 4311 (a)]. Do not build ground fires outside the fire rings or leave campfires unattended [CCR 4311]. Firewood is available for purchase in the park. Wood gathering in the park is prohibited [CCR 4306 (a)]. DOGS must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and under control at all times [CCR 4312 (e)]. They may not be left unattended and must be inside a vehicle or tent at night. Dogs are restricted to the campground, picnic area and on the Cross Marin Trail/Bike Path. They are not permitted on any other park trails or fire roads, in the creek, or any undeveloped area [CCR 4312 (f) 1]. Noisy/vicious animals are not allowed [CCR 4312 (c)]. Please clean up after your pet. GENERATORS: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. only [CCR 4320 (c)]. QUIET HOURS: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. [CCR 4320 (a)] NOISE: Radios and other sound-producing devices must not be audible beyond your immediate campsite, regardless of the time of day or night [CCR 4320 (b)]. PLANTS/WILDLIFE: All plants are protected [CCR 4306 (a)]. Do not damage or destroy plants or trees. Hammocks are prohibited. Poison oak is found in nearly all areas of the park. Remember, “Leaves of three; let them be!” Beware of ticks and yellowjacket bees. Wild animals commonly explore campgrounds looking for food. Please store all food in provided food lockers or in your vehicle. Do not keep food in your tent or sleeping area. Improper food storage and/or feeding of wildlife could result in a citation [CCR 4323 (b)]. BICYCLES are allowed on paved roads and dirt fire roads, but are prohibited on park trails [CCR 4360 (a)]. All riders under the age of 18, those using bicycles and trailers, skateboards, scooters and roller skates, must wear a helmet (CVC 21212 (a)]. Please ride safely. CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275). To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov. ALTERNATE FORMAT: If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. MG2 Tomales Bay SP Madrone Cabins Camp Taylor Entrance (15 min. only) Dogs Allowed on Leash Ranger Station Picnic Area F Accessible Campsite Group Campsite r Entrance Station Accessible Feature Group Picnic Area s D r a k e Blvd. Bicycle Trail Hike/Bike Campsite Si (5 miles), Devil’s Gulch, Pt. Reyes and Olema MG1 Bridge Hiking Trail l Trai Cabins Horse Trail Multi-Use Path ran ci Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Camp Taylor Area to Dogs prohibited on trails. Leashed dogs allowed only on the Cross Marin Trail. MG3 in Cross Mar Campfire Center Locked Gate Parking Area/Spur Pioneer Tree Trail Campground Parking © 2013 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) Dirt Road/Fire Road Unpaved Trail Paved Road Pay Showers Restrooms Campsite Numbers LEGEND ## 2-59 For Emergencies Dial 9-1-1.