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Sports

Bolinas Ridge: Time to Stop Hiding

Easy to Moderate out and back hike in open rolling grassland. Fantastic views of Tomales Bay. All welcome. Dogs on leash OK.

The rain is finally taking a break and we get to enjoy the sun and warmth. The last month has been a challenge for the outdoor adventurer, finding sheltered places with minimal mud. Now, it's time to break out into the open and enjoy the vistas, sun and warmth.

Bolinas Ridge is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), which stretches from the the Golden Gate Bridge to the southern end of Tomales Bay. Marin has so much open space that there are numerous different agencies that manage the lands, and they do so differently. In this case, the GGNRA allows cattle ranching on the Bolinas Ridge portion of the open space.

Cows aside Bolinas Ridge is a "Sound of Music" kind of place on a clear sunny day. In addition to the vast rolling fields of green grass and wild flowers, we enjoy this area so much for the amazing view of Tomales Bay you get looking north. The ridge parallels the San Andreas Fault, which continues north under Tomales Bay. The view of the bay go north straight up the center and out the end by Dillon Beach if it is a clear day.

This time of year it is like two hikes in one. The first part of the hike is heading uphill (south) along the ridge through the green grassland covered in wildflowers. The open area means numerous species of raptors can be seen hovering or perching on fence posts looking for a meal. Cows are sometimes in your path, so be careful passing them. The second part is head back down looking north. The view of the bay is captivating and we found ourselves stopping at the top of each rise to take it all in.

Bolinas Ridge runs more or less north/south for 20 miles. The north half follows the ridge line through vast areas of open grassland. This area is still used by cattle ranchers and there are numerous cows. The south half follows the ridge through mostly Douglas Fir forest, which is beautiful, but for this adventure we are recommending you start at the north end of the ridge trail to stay out in the open.

Bolinas Ridge is most easily accessed from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, about one mile east of the town of Olema, which is located at the intersection of Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. You will most likely see cars parked on the side of the road near an open space gate. The outing is an out and back affair, so head out as far as you like and then turn around. We generally take bicycles on this adventure so we can cover more distance.

See the book "Hiking Marin: 141 Great Hikes in Marin County" for more details. Click here to go the Marin Trails website, where you can find more information about the book.

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