As it is not visible from the main fire roads, Barth’s
Retreat is the least visited of the four picnic areas on Mt.
Tamalpais. I have never had anyone resting here when I’ve
passed through, and I’ve only once had somebody pass through
while I was resting here. This picnic area is unique in that it has
a nearby spring that is piped to a tap. The water is labeled
“untreated, non-potable”, but I’ve been drinking
it for years, with no ill effects.
Emil Barth was a musician and music teacher. He starting hiking
the mountain shortly after his arrival in Marin County from Germany
in 1886. He built a cabin here, named Casa Escondida, that he lived
in, part time, until his death in 1926. His obituary in
“California Out Of Doors”, said: “No one knew the
trails and unfrequented paths as he did, no one loved them more,
and few have done as he to find beauty spots and build trails to
reach them.”
There are many ways to reach this spot, but my favorite is to
park at rock spring parking lot. Hike the Cataract Trail 0.1 mile
to the Bernstein Trial. Take the Bernstein Trail 0.1 mile to the
junction of Simmons Trail. Follow Simmons Trail to Barth’s
Retreat.
Simmons Trail is one of my top ten favorite on the mountain. It
passes through many plant communities from riparian, mixed
broadleaf/coniferous forest, serpentine Sergeant Cypress, and
Douglas Fir forest.
After finding the cache, and taking a rest at Barth’s
Retreat, there are a many, many loop options to take you back to
Rock Spring. Look at a map, and pick the one that meets your
desires in terms of distance and terrain.