<p>THE YOLANDA TRAIL near Fairfax offers an excellent autumn trek through mixed woodlands and forested hillsides on Marin Municipal Water District land.</p><p>This moderately difficult 7-mile loop created by stringing together the Deer Park Trail, Yolanda Trail, Phoenix Lake Road, Shaver Grade and Deer Park Road provides a hike through wild lands and an opportunity to enjoy lunch beside Phoenix Lake.</p><p>Begin this hike at the Deer Park in Fairfax. Walk around the left side of the school and turn left immediately past the school. Look for the trail sign the edge of the small meadow and follow the Deer Park Trail into the trees and up switchbacks to the crest of the ridge. Along the way, you pass lots of buckeye trees that have already lost their leaves. Looking across the deep ravine there are views of the tree-covered north side of Bald Hill and the meadow beside the school.</p><p>Where the Deer Park Trail reaches the fire road on the summit of the ridge, turn right, follow the fire road and enjoy views of San Anselmo, San Rafael, San Pedro Ridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Mount Diablo and San Francisco Bay.</p><p><a href="http://www.marinij.com/healthandfitness/ci_24227711/hike-week-enjoy-autumns-changes-from-deer-park">Keep reading...</a></p>