Marin Trails Hiking Biking Books Maps Photos Nature Related Links Site
Map
Your Guide To Wilderness Trails In Marin County, California
Hiking
Ridge Trail to Mt. Barnabe
Distance: 7.4 miles
Hiking
Riding Time: 1.5-2 hours
Hiking
Elevation Change: 1400'
Hiking
Difficulty: moderate
Hiking
Technical Rating: : 8 Hairy fire road descent. This ride in SP Taylor State Park makes a steep climb to bag Mt. Barnabe. Views of Tomales Bay, Point Reyes and west Marin. Change in ecosystems is dramatic - redwood forest to open grassland hillsides.
0.0Start at the main entrance to Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Ride into park past kiosk and bear left over a bridge. Turn left again and follow signs towards group picnic ground. Continue on this former railroad bed, now the Hiking and Riding Trail as it parallels the creek, then crosses over Sir Francis Drake on a small bridge.
1.6Junction 1. Take the Barnabe Peak Ridge trail to the left at the signpost. The trail climbs in steep, terraced sections winding out of the trees into the open grassland towards the summit.
3.66 Mt. Barnabe and Junction 2 at 1466'. Head up to the fire lookout for spectacular views of uninterrupted wilderness and distant peaks: Tomales Bay to the west, Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa County to the east, and Mt. St. Helena in the north. Go right down Barnabe trail as you come off the peak, a steep tricky fire road descent with off-camber corners. You'll pass by Bills trail to Devils Gulch on the right at 3.8 miles.
4.8Junction 3. Madrone picnic area is to the left. This is a quick way back. This ride continues to the right towards Devils Gulch.
4.9Junction 4 (440'). Taylors Grave (surrounded by a white picket fence) lies on a knoll directly ahead . Continue right towards Devils Gulch, ford a small creek and head up and over a short steep hill..
5.7Junction 5 T-junction of Bills trail and Devils Gulch trail. Go left to cross the bridge, then up to the paved road, Devils Gulch trail. Go left again and zip down to Sir Francis Drake Hwy.
5.9Junction 6 with Sir Francis Drake Hwy. Go right and carefully ride along the highway (towards Olema) for 0.3 mi. Cross the green bridge and head left to ride back along the Hiking and Riding trail. The first papermill on the west coast was built near the bridge in the 1870s. Back in the picnic area, look for a billboard that displays some great historical photos of the papermill, railroad and Camp Taylor.
7.3Junction and Bridge. Cross the bridge and take the paved road back to the park headquarters (7.4 miles).
Back to List of Mountain Bike Rides
in Marin County, California


Where can I find more rides like this one?

Map of China Camp-Ride 25 Mountain Biking Marin Book

Download This Ride Here:
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader


[Home | Top | Hiking | Rides | Books | Maps | Photographs | Nature | Links | Site Map]
Marin Trails is property of Martin Press LLC. All Rights Reserved