Roy's Redwoods
Open Space Preserve

Featuring the Roy's Redwoods Loop Trail

Length 3.0 mi · Climbing 400 ft

California > San Francisco Bay Area

Roy's Redwoods (wooded hill at left), Thorner Ridge (small wooded hill at right), and the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course seen from French Ranch Fire Road

Background

Sir Francis Drake Boulevald runs from San Rafael to Point Reyes. As you approach Point Reyes, the road passes through a very attractive valley of redwoods, grassy hills, and small towns. The region is becoming increasingly developed, mostly with high-end houses, and is taking on a decided suburban feel. To offset the development, Marin County has set aside Roy's Redwoods and two neighboring preserves. Set among a golf course, mansions, and schools, the three preserves have a certain resemblance to European hiking areas like the Cotswold Way.

An enjoyable 3.5-mile loop hike through all three parks is possible, using the Barnabe Mountain Fire Road (which passes through private land, but is apparently open to hikers), French Ranch Fire Road, and Thorner Ridge Trail. This scenic walk has 770 feet of climbing. The hike described below, however, stays within Roy's Redwoods.

Roy's Redwoods contains a creekside grove sheltered behind a hill just off Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Although the preserve does have some big trees, it doesn't have the attractive and healthy appearance that's normal for lowland old growth. The canopy is dense and there are a lot of small trees in the grove, suggesting it may have been partially logged, although there are few stumps. The grove also lacks the dense understory of shrubs and trees normally found in southern redwood groves, which may be result of people living in the grove before it became a preserve.

Just to the east of Roy's Redwoods, and connected to the preserve by a trail, is a horse stable. The trails in the preserve are heavily used by horses.

Click map to enlarge; click again to show all trails

Roy's Redwoods Loop Trail

The loop trail circles the small hill in the center of the reserve. Starting from the main entrance, the loop heads south, then turns left at a golf cart bridge. The trail runs along the base of a grassy hill near a parking lot, the golf course, and busy Sir Francis Drake Blvd. This section of the trail is not that enjoyable, but things improve once the trail turns left and starts climbing through a shallow canyon, leaving the road noise behind.

The trail enters the woods, then emerges. At the top of the hill, two spur trails to the right lead to scenic viewpoints; Roy's Redwoods Nature Trail branches off to the left.

The redwood grove from an unofficial trail

The nature trail climbs to the top of the wooded hill. There are a few redwoods along the trail but it's mostly hardwoods. Because of the woods there's no view.

The main trail descends toward Dickson Ridge Fire Road. Turn left at the Meadow Trail, which passes brefly through the redwoods and then enters a redwood-bordered meadow which is more scenic than the actual grove. To really see the grove you'll have to leave the Meadow Trail and explore the unofficial trails that run through the grove. It's hard to get lost because the grove is small and you can always head for the near-constant traffic noise to get back to your car.

Also in the preserve, but not part of the hike as shown on the map above, is Dickson Ridge Fire Road, which from the meadow climbs at a steep and unrelenting 17% grade for 780 vertical feet, eventually offering superb views over the rolling hills and the valley below. This is by far the most scenic part of the park. The main drawback of this trail is that it dead-ends at private property.

More information

For another description of this hike see Jane Huber's Bay Area Hiker web site.

Sir Francis Drake Blvd from Dickson Ridge Fire Road