Where Butterflies Are Free

Jesse Hamlin, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, April 23, 1999

Here are a few good places around the Bay Area for seeing butterflies this spring:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Marin Headlands: The pipevine swallowtail, an iridescent blue-black butterfly, can be seen along the Coastal Trail from the (defunct) rifle range near Fort Cronkhite and along the road to Kirby Cove beach. The brilliant yellow-and-black tiger swallowtail can be spotted in profusion around Rodeo Lagoon, where some monarchs are now feeding, and along creeks meandering through Rodeo Meadow and elsewhere.

That's where you'll also see the black yellow-edged mourning cloak, which is also fluttering around Tennessee Valley. The valley is also home to the California buckeye and the nickel-size echo

blue (Muir Woods is a good spot to see it and the tiger swallowtail). The buckeye also can be seen along the Miwok Trail that begins near the Marin Headlands Visitors Center.

For all Marin Headlands sites, take the Alexander-Sausalito exit on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, first left at Bunker Road through the tunnel, then follow the signs. For Tennessee Valley, take the Highway 1 exit off 101 and go left on Tennessee Valley Road. Park is open sunrise to sunset daily. No fee. Call (415) 331-1540.

Garin Dry Creek Park, Hayward: A good place to spot mourning cloaks, the orange-and-black painted lady and the red admiral, a black butterfly with some white spots and two bands of red arching across its wings. That's where California Academy of Sciences entomologist Norman Penny sees them. 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward. Take 580 east to Hayward-Foothill Boulevard exit, left on Mission Blvd., left on Garin. Open 7 a.m. to dusk daily. No fee. (510) 562-7275.

Edgewood County Park and Preserve, Redwood City: Walking along the trails through grasslands and oak hills, you might see checkerspots, white butterflies, buckeyes, painted ladies and red admirals. Take 280 to Edgewood exit, east on Edgewood Road for a few minutes and follow the sign. 8 a.m. to sunset daily. $4 fee per vehicle. (650) 363-4020.

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso. Along the trails winding through these South Bay wetlands, you'll probably see the anise swallowtail, monarch and western pygmie blue, the smallest butterfly in North America. You knew that? The refuge is off Highway 237 between Interstate 880 and 101. Take 237 to Zanker Road exit, north on Zanker until it turns into Los Esteros. Look for the sign that says Environmental Education Center. Open sunrise to sunset daily. No fee. (408) 262-5513.