Ride the Ridge

Mountain bike or hike the Bolinas Ridge Trail in Point Reyes

Galloping green hills, grazing cattle, great vantages … Bolinas Ridge Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is a challenging yet visually rewarding intermediate-level mountain bike ride (you can also hike this multi-use trail). Winter and spring are ideal for an adventure here: The landscape is lush, the air crisp for clear scenery, and seasonal features like wildflowers can pop early.

woman biking bolinas ridge trail point reyes

woman biking bolinas ridge trail point reyes

woman biking bolinas ridge trail point reyes

This is an 11-mile (one-way) out-and-back trail that starts at the northern trailhead at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and ends at Bolinas-Fairfax Road. Mountain bikers and hikers can turn around at any point and return the way they came (or map out a return route via connecting trails and roads). We recommend a 10-mile (round-trip) out-and-back mountain bike ride or hike up to a scenic picnic table beside a giant rocky outcropping.

woman mountain bike bolinas ridge trail point reyes

You’ll start with a steady climb up to the ridge, and your first bit of scenery is likely to be pure Cowlifornia: Cattle nosh on grasslands here (give them space and be respectful; they’ll return the favor). Take in the big views of the loping grasslands as you ride up a dirt trail vacillating between wide open with some rutted sections and singletrack through forest, including some redwoods.

woman mountain bike bolinas ridge trail point reyes

This trails flows, but there are some steeper grades as you make your way up and along the ridge (there’s no shame in walking your bike on these sections!). Keep going past the first picnic table you spy on the route, aiming for the second one higher on the ridge. It’ll clock you in at around 5 miles. The return trip is where you’ll find some flow on the downhill, with beautiful views of Marin’s Barnabe Peak and expansive Point Reyes—all the way out to Bodega Bay.

The Bolinas Ridge Trailhead is along Sir Francis Drake Blvd. There are pullouts for parking. Note: The entrance to the trail is a cattle trap L shape, so hikers can pass through, but bikers will have to hoist their bike over the fence. Mountain bikers should wear a helmet. The trail is 11 miles one way, so you can turn around at any point and retrace your route. Dog-friendly (dogs should be leashed as cattle are common).

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View