Randall Trail

Trail length: 1.7 miles each way, out and back
Time: 2-3 hours
Terrain: oak, fir, bay forests, sloped
Restroom? No
Parking: Park across the road at the Olema Valley trail. There’s a small pullout area that fits 3 or 4 cars.
Dogs allowed on leash
Dates visited: 7/2/17, 6/28/19, 2/8/20
Favorite plants on this trail:
Favorite spots:

The Randall Trail begins in a grassy pasture, ascends gradually through a fir and bay forest to its end at the Bolinas Ridge trail. Dogs on leash are allowed on this trail which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This trail does not have the dramatic landscape shifts of its neighbor, the McCurdy Trail, but it’s a pleasant trail with shade-loving flowers.

It’s easy to miss the trailhead and parking area when driving along Shoreline Hwy 1. If you’re coming from Olema, it’s a couple of miles past Five Brooks. Drive slowly and pay attention for the parking turnout area at the Olema Valley Trail on the right. The Randall Trailhead is across the road from the parking. Some directions/map applications give you the wrong directions if you search on Randall Trail.

Loop: Randall, McCurdy, Olema Valley

An 8.6 mile loop option is to start at the Randall Trail (parking across the road). Ascend the Randall Trail to the Bolinas Ridge Trail; go right on the Bolinas Ridge Trail until the McCurdy Trail. Descend the McCurdy Trail and cross the road to the Olema Valley Trailhead. Go right and hike the Olema Valley Trail to the Randall Spur. Take the short Randall Spur back to Shoreline Hwy 1 where you parked.

Randall Spur

On the Olema Valley (west) side of Shoreline Hwy 1 is a short section of the Randall Trail called the Randall Spur. It’s a 0.5 mile connector to the Olema Valley Trail. It’s fully exposed to the sun and a great place to spot butterflies.

Volunteer Opportunity: PRNSA Field Institute

The Point Reyes National Seashore Association needs assistants for their Field Institute classes. You will spend a day training with PRNSA staff, then a couple of times a year you'll select the classes you'd like to help with. Shortly afterwards, you'll receive a confirmation of which ones you've been assigned. As a facilitator, you get to take the class for free. Normally, two facilitators help with every class. Duties include signing in class participants, making coffee (for indoor classes), talking briefly about PRNSA, and generally helping out as needed. I've been volunteering for about a year. It's a great experience to work with other facilitators and get to know the amazing field institute instructors.