This 115 acre preserve in western Novato protects a ridge that runs between two developed valleys. Several trails originate in these neighborhoods and connect to the Verissimo Hills Trail that runs along the ridge until it dead-ends at the top of the easternmost hill. The Stafford Lake Trail (which is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail) runs along the west boundary and connects to the Little Mountain Preserve in the north and the Indian Tree Preserve across Vineyard Road to the south. The habitats here are predominantly grassland mixed with oak/bay woodlands.
Directions:
From Hwy 101 in Novato, take the Atherton Ave/San Marin Dr exit west on San Marin Ave (San Marin Ave becomes Sutro Ave after Novato Blvd junction) and turn right at Oak Valley Dr. Trailhead is at the end.
Visit walkbikemarin.org, transitandtrails.org, 511.org, or dial 511 to find out about alternative transportation and public transit options from your location.
Many Western Bluebirds hunt this grassland, joined by Say’s Phoebes and Yellow-rumped Warblers in the winter. Scat along the fire roads shows that there are healthy populations of both bobcats and coyotes here, but that’s no surprise – this land is at the end of the “urban zone” – nothing but open rangeland from here to the ocean.