Ridge Trail
Trail length: 6.2 miles in 3 segments (Stewart to Bolema 1.4 miles; Bolema to Teixeira 2.5 miles; Teixeira to Mesa Rd 2.3 miles)
Terrain: oak, bay, fir forest
Restroom? No
Parking: Yes, roadside parking on Mesa Rd at the trailhead in Bolinas. The Ridge Trail trailhead is 0.6 miles from the Palomarin Trailhead.
Dates visited: 9/16/16, 6/26/18, 11/27/20, 2/26/21
Favorite plants on this trail: Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemose)
The ridge in the Ridge Trail refers to the Inverness Ridge which runs along the length of the Point Reyes Peninsula on the west side or the Pacific Plate side. The Ridge Trail is in the deep forest and in summertime, the trail can be overgrown with grasses and flowering plants. Check with the Point Reyes National Seashore before going to see if the trail has been recently mowed. When I hiked it, I slogged through foot deep grasses which makes for slow going. This is a beautiful albeit overgrown trail through the trees and a great place to find mushrooms in the moist winter months.
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.
Mushrooms along the Ridge Trail
These mushrooms were all observed in late January. Consider taking a mushroom identification class with David Campbell at the Point Reyes Field Institute. Several classes are offered every year, typically November through January.
Mushroom photos by Gabe Zentall
Volunteer Opportunity: Habitat Restoration
Join the Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) at Point Reyes National Seashore to help protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat at Abbotts Lagoon, the Lighthouse Bluffs, the Estero area, and other high-value habitat areas at Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit some of the most beautiful areas in the park and learn about local plant ecology while you work alongside park staff to carry out ecological restoration projects. Get involved, meet new people, and make a positive impact on your environment!