Five Brooks Loop

Trail length: 5.7 miles, loop (Olema Valley Trail, Bolema Trail, Ridge Trail, Stewart Trail)
Terrain: oak, bay, fir forest
Restroom? Yes at Five Brooks parking area
Parking: Yes, Five Brooks has a large gravel parking area
Dates visited: 9/16/16, 11/27/20, 2/26/21
Favorite plants on this trail: mushrooms
Point Reyes National Seashore has a brief informative webpage on Mushrooms and a list of fungi found in Point Reyes. Learn how to identify a mushroom in my January 2021 blog post.

Loop: Olema Valley Trail, Bolema Trail, Ridge Trail, Stewart Trail

This 5.7 mile, mostly-shaded loop is a gradual ascent from Olema Valley to the top of the Inverness Ridge and back. Hike this loop in either direction. The mixed oak, bay, fir forest at Five Brooks is a great place to spot mushrooms along the trail in the rainy season (November-April). You are allowed to collect 2 gallons plus 1 mushroom per adult per day. The plants along the trails include Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis), Common Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa), Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), and plenty of Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica).

Start at the Five Brooks Trailhead

  1. Follow the Olema Valley Trail past the Mill Pond. Turn left to stay on the Olema Valley trail. Hike 1.2 miles to the Bolema Trail. Turn right.

  2. The trail ascends up the Inverness Ridge. Hike the Bolema Trail 1.1 miles to the Ridge Trail. Turn right.

  3. Hike the Ridge Trail 0.8 miles to the Stewart Trail. Turn right.

  4. Hike 2.6 miles on the Stewart Trail (downhill) to the Five Brooks trailhead.

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Volunteer Opportunity: Morgan Horse Ranch

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Assist in ranch operations, including the care, handling and riding of horses of all ages, as well as the cleaning and maintenance of tack, equipment, fences and buildings. Volunteers may also greet visitors, answer questions and briefly explain their role as a volunteer. Experienced trainers are especially needed to help with the younger horses. The need for volunteers varies greatly throughout the year.