Bolinas Ridge Trail (South)
Trail length: 4.9 miles from trailhead at Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Randall Trail
Time: 2.5 hours one way, hiking about 2 miles per hour
Terrain: redwoods, mixed oak, bay and fir forest, madrone, manzanita
Restroom? No
Biking? Yes, it’s a popular biking trail
Parking: Yes, a very small parking area at the trailhead
Dates visited: 3/29/19, 6/28/19, 2/8/20, 7/26/20, 3/12/21, 3/26/21 (small section between Randall & McCurdy)
Favorite plants on this trail: California Fetid Adderstongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)
Favorite spots: deep in the redwoods between the McCurdy Trail and the water tower
The south end of the Bolinas Ridge Trail is a beautiful redwood forest with moss-covered trees and stumps. It’s a great destination for forest bathing and enjoying the peaceful solitude and forest smells. The trail between the south end and the intersection with the McCurdy Trail is a mix of lush Douglas fir and redwood forest interspersed with exposed areas of rocky chaparral terrain.
A great time to hike the south section of the trail is late winter-early spring when early spring wildflowers are blooming in the forest. California Fetid Adderstongue (Scoliopus bigelovii) blooms earliest peaking in February, Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis) peaks in March-April, and Pacific Trillium (Trillium ovatum) in April.
Bolinas Ridge South (Bolinas to Randall Trail)
Moss and Lichen covered trees
In the middle of the Bolinas Ridge Trail is a shady forest of bay, oak, Douglas firs and redwoods with many interesting moss-covered trunks and stumps. Perhaps they stood out because the moss is vibrant green against a background of mostly brown trees? Regardless, I felt they were particularly noteworthy and enchanting.
Volunteer Opportunity: Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore offers many volunteer opportunities, including:
Coho and Steelhead monitoring
Harbor Seal monitoring
Snowy Plover docent
Winter wildlife docent
Morgan Horse Ranch
Trail Patrol
Visitor Services