Lake Ranch Trail
Trail length: 3 miles (plus 2+ miles to reach the trail), connector between the Palomarin (Coast) Trail and the Ridge Trail.
Time: depends on which route you take to get to the trail
Terrain: fir forests, pond, coastal scrub
Restroom? Yes, at the Palomarin trailhead or the Five Brooks Trailhead.
Parking: Yes, two options. Palomarin parking lot is full by 10am on weekends; Five Brooks parking is easier.
Kid friendly? No, due to the long distance.
Dates visited: 6/28/18
Favorite plants on this trail: the non-native Indian Strawberry (Potentilla indica)
Favorite spots: the pond
The Lake Ranch Trail runs between the wildly popular Palomarin Trail and the Ridge Trail. It’s about the same distance starting from the Palomarin Trailhead (2.2 miles along the Coast Trail to Lake Ranch Trail) or the Five Brooks Trailhead (2.3 miles on the Olema Valley Trail to the Bolema Trail to the Ridge Trail intersection where Lake Ranch Trail begins). The big difference is parking and crowds—Five Brooks has significantly fewer visitors than Palomarin so parking is better and the trails are less crowded.
Loop Trail: Palomarin (Coast Trail) - Lake Ranch - Ridge
This is a lovely, mostly shaded 10-mile loop. Starting at the Palomarin Trailhead, hike 2.2 miles on the Coast Trail to the Lake Ranch Trail. The first segment of the loop follows the coast providing scenic views of the ocean before heading inland to the Lake Ranch Trail. Lake Ranch ascends slowly for 3 miles to the Ridge Trail. Turn right (south) on the Ridge Trail which parallels the Lake Ranch Trail closely in the beginning, so it feels like you are backtracking in the same direction. Hike on the Ridge Trail for 2.5 miles to the intersection with the Teixeira and Pablo Point Trails. Continue on the Ridge Trail for another 2.3 miles to its end at the road. Walk 0.6 miles on the gravel road back to the Palomarin Trailhead parking lot.
In summer, the Lake Ranch and Ridge trails get overgrown with tall grasses interspersed with thorny brambles, stinging nettle, and poison oak reaching threateningly into the trail, so be prepared and cover your legs. It can feel like you’re wading rather than walking through the dense green grasses. On the positive side, the trail has delicious huckleberries and the shaded forests are filled with birds.
Butterflies and other bugs and slugs
The swampy pond area is teeming with life — dragonflies, butterflies, amphibians, insects, and birds. Take a moment to stop and watch.
Volunteer Opportunity: Palomarin Trail Steward
The park service is looking for volunteers to help visitors on the busy Palomarin trail from April to October when visitation is at its peak. I volunteered in 2017 as a Palomarin Trail Steward and it was a tremendous experience. I learned CPR from the Bolinas fire chief, learned how to use a park service walkie talkie to talk with dispatchers and rangers, and became intensely familiar with the area. I greeted hundreds of visitors at the information table - told them about the trail, showed them what poison oak and stinging nettles look like, and suggested alternative hikes if they brought their dog (no dogs allowed.) The program is managed by park rangers, Jose and Emily, who are easy and fun to work with. After working at the trailhead information table for a couple of hours, I struck out on the trail to monitor if visitors needed help, to answer questions and to pick up trash. One of the best parts was training and working with other volunteers -- it was a great way to meet people who love Point Reyes and hiking.