Beautiful open space preserve. I had no clue this place existed (new to the area) and discovered it because our photographer recommended it for photos. I'm so glad she did! There's street parking nearby, beautiful easy hikes, and lots of nature. My son loved the open space too. It's not crowded, clean, and I look forward to checking out / exploring more. read more

I visited this Open Space Preserve by accessing the area near the Bay Club Rolling Hills in Novato. On this day, I was on my mountain bike and had only hiked here one time prior as I'm new to the area. I would say this park is better for hiking than mountain biking unless you live nearby. But there are better destination mountain biking choices in the area. For that reason I only give it 4 stars. That said, its a lovely regional park for wildlife viewing, stunning vistas of the bay and just being in a well preserved swath of oak lined rolling hills of Northern California. I really had a nice time exploring the paths on my bike and may have missed one of the better single track sections to the southeast side of the park. Next time! read more

See all

We live 50 ft from Mt Burdell. For the most part the trails and hiking paths are great and well maintained. You can expect grazing cows, starting around April, through May. Please don't let your dogs chase the cows! Especially the calves! The amount of dog poop that people don't tend to is disgusting. Even more disgusting is those that pick it up and leave the bag on the side of a trail. There is no poop fairy or service to collect these bags. Don't be lazy! Take it with you. At the top of San Carlos is a trash can and more bags! I think another one is needed at the top of Sereno Wy too. Overall it's fine, but watch where you step. read more

I always drove past Mount Burdell on the way to Petaluma and never went. Now I wonder why I didn't go sooner as it's so vast with amazing views. 1,500 feet at the top, you can see quite far away. There are many different trails to roam, I still haven't explored them all, but the main one is the Michako/ Middle Burdell Trail loop which is about 3.4 miles. There are also various entry points, the most popular is on San Andreas Dr. There is even an access trail through Ollompi Park but that would add another mile or so. I think it's best to go in winter and spring. In the winter there are a couple streams running and it's very green. In the spring WOW, it pops with color. It's still very green, there are tons of pretty wildflowers, some cows around; it's simply breathtaking. With the depth of field looking out from the mountain at everything it feels like you are in the book Heidi. I'd avoid this place in the summer. San Marin can get quite hot and while there is some shade I definitely wouldn't come here in the middle of the day. The green grass has turned yellow and straw-like. All the bush is really dry and feels very fire hazzardy which is quite the opposite experience as the spring. read more

See all

Beautiful open space preserve with tons of pretty rolling hills and great city views. I hiked here with a friend last year and it was a great little workout for the both of us. The actual preserve is quite expansive but you wouldn't know it by simply looking at the entrance from San Andreas Dr. We embarked on a 5.5 mile loop trail which covers the Deer Camp Fire Road, Old Quarry and Michako trails. We began the hike going clockwise to get steeper hills out of the way. This trail loop is almost completely exposed with very little shade. However, depending on the time of year and day that you come, there may be a cool breeze. The wild life is rampant here. We passed by baby cows, squirrels, and birds on our way through the trails. The initial ascent going clockwise on Deer Camp Fire Road is probably the toughest part of this hike. It isn't super steep, but it does reach a relatively high elevation in a short distance. What's nice is that you'll have 360 degree views of the beautiful rolling hills all round you. So when you need to take those breaks, they'll be met with some killer views. You should definitely watch out for cow pooh and stretches of mud on the trails. This place doesn't seem to get too crowded which is nice. At some of the highest points, you'll have some excellent views of the city down below. Going back down on the Old Quarry trail gets a bit steep and rocky. Definitely bring your hiking poles if you knees bother you on the way down steepish hillsides. This is actually on the backside of Olompali State Park, so you can extend your hike and connect there as well. There's actually lots of different hiking trails tucked within this preserve which isn't noticeable from the start. This was a really enjoyable little discovery. If you're looking for a secluded hike with beautiful rolling hills, city views, and some heart pumping inclines, Mount Burdell has a lot to offer. read more

See all

Fun fact: Almost 85% of Marin County is permanently protected, dedicated open space. Additional Fun Fact: Novato's Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve is the largest of Marin's open space preserves. Who knew? I made my way to Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve today to experience what's on offer and though those living in Central, South, and West Marin rarely head north for a visit to Novato, it didn't take long for me to decide they ought to. Quite a nice, vast preserve is here for hikers to enjoy. There's many entrances to the preserve and I was pleased that I'd printed out a single page map of the trails before heading here. Entering via a fire road off San Andreas Court, it wasn't long before I was experiencing the expansive views encountered on the way to Mt. Burdell's 1550 foot peak. The whole way up I was on a wide trail (San Andreas Fire Road, then Cobblestone Fire Road). Other hikers were present but the it's easy to maintain distance on the fire roads and the higher you get, the fewer people you encounter. Still, without exception, everyone respectfully maintained distance and covered their face on the fire roads. The view from the peak is somehow less stunning or impressive than views you'll notice as you hike up the fire roads. As such, I'd encourage taking your photos when the mood strikes, before you reach the top (which is oddly flat and wide, not what one traditionally thinks of as a peak). From the peak there are several options to get back down but I generally opt for the choice that doesn't have me retracing my steps. I went down the very steep Old Quarry Trail, marveling at those who chose to ascend it instead. I'm not sure which was harder. A hiking pole is definitely recommended on this path, for use as a third leg. Other miscellany: * 5.4 total miles via the route I hiked. * Basically no shade in this preserve; best to visit on a cool day. * Trails are well-marked and easy to follow but having a trail map with you will definitely help guide you. * Dogs permitted, even off-leash (under voice control) on fire roads. * Clean, immaculate in fact. I spotted no trash during my entire 2.5 hour hike. * Free and easy street parking. * Probably not good for small children; the climb might be too much. read more

See all

Lovely open space area just off of San Marin Dr. I have hiked here a couple times now. There is more than one entrance to get to the trailhead from the residential neighborhood. This past weekend I did a loop that took about an hour round trip. There are some pretty steep hills and also flat parts. The trail I hiked had a few shaded areas, but it's mostly out in the open. The view on the top of the hills offers a great view of Novato. I saw a good amount of hikers and a couple mountain bikers throughout my hike. There are some beautiful trees along the trail including a few that had what looked like pears (they aren't). Next time I want to hike a different trail that leads to the Buck Institute. There are cows on the trails sometimes, but I didn't see any this time. read more

Easy access and parking, not crowded in the evenings, gorgeous flowers and nice hiking trails. Fantastic scenery!

Great place to go hiking. There's many routes to go about but it seems like the entrance by San Andreas drive is more popular. It can get rocky depending on which route you take. There's some nice view as well. There's free street parking which is great. More in the residential area. Best to go early in the morning especially if you go on a hot day since it can get hot by late morning/afternoon. read more

In the past I've hiked Mt. Burdell from Olompali State Park and this time started from off of San Marin Drive. Free parking at this trailhead in a residential neighborhood which is appreciated. It is not as woodsy as the other side, but the trail up is more direct and you are able to see bay views earlier. There was quite a lot of wind today, which kept us cool, but without the wind it could get very warm due to the amount of open space. Not very crowded here which was another plus. Did not encounter any benches on our route so not ideal for a picnic. read more

See all

Not sure what this spot is like when it's not quarantine, but I loved how quiet it was on a weekday. We maybe crossed paths with 2 other people during our 1.5hr hike here. The hike is really nice and moderate with mostly unshaded paths. You'll get a view of Novato from the top and probably see quite a few lizards scurry by. In times like this where we're not trying to touch surfaces, I really appreciate that they have fencing that allows you to pass through without opening or touching a gate (hard to explain, but you'll see when you get there). read more

See all

I've eaten here a few times and the menu is just awful, the food nonexistent. The service is worse, with no staff and lots of bugs. And whose idea was it to let COWS walk through the dining room? I've attached a pic of our server. 'Nuff said. read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Hiking Near Me

Nice hiking with panoramic views. Best time of year is when it's not hot and dry or cold and windy or wet. Can have some steep cliffs that are dangerous for young children. Take water with you if you're going for a long walk. read more

This hiking trail was beautiful! All of the trails are really well marked, and you really get a chance you get out in the wilderness. The animals aren't afraid of you and we had cows walking across the path right in front of us. The views once you get higher up are quite wonderful. It was a gorgeous and hot Saturday, and I was shocked that we only came across a few other people. Everyone we saw were with their dogs, so I'm guessing it's a very dog-friendly place. It's easy to park right along the side of the road at the entranceway. If you're looking to Google Map directions, this is the address that my GPS came up with: 483 San Andreas Dr. Novato, CA 94945 We were looking for a moderate hike, and easily found a loop of San Andreas Fire Road - Middle Burdell Fire Road - some smaller marked trails - San Marin Fire Road, which ended up being about 4 miles total. The other trails looked interesting too. The only downfall to hiking this trail is you have to watch your step on the trail to avoid the cow steamers, and possibly related, you should really wear bug spray since bugs are all over the place. My goal for next time is to find Hidden Lake, we were looking for it but it must be really well hidden! read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Map at the trailhead - Hiking Near Me

See all

Nice trails. Great view. Simply beautiful. A great place for couples to relax and enjoy nature. read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Half way there! Almost to the top. - Hiking Near Me

Park on the street at the entrance on San Andreas Drive. Walk up the San Andreas Fire Road to begin your hike. Keep to the right as you hike. Check out the map that I posted. Bring your whole family - this hike is considered easy/moderate. Some hills at the beginning, but nothing too challenging. Furry friends (dogs) are welcome! They can be off-leash as long as you're able to control your dog with voice commands. Enjoy the rolling hills... and bring your camera!! read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Hiking map - Hiking Near Me

Went to Mt. Burdell OSP with Greenbelt Sun 4/7/13. They have no bathrooms, so we used the Harvest Market bathroom (it's in the back, next to the milk, separate bathrooms), there's a Starbucks in the shopping center but didn't want any coffee. Parking is street parking on the Right side & gotta parallel park on San Andreas Dr. I hate parallel parking so if I ever go back there, I'm parking down low & hiking up. Trails we did: San Andreas Fire Road - Deer Camp Fire Road [high point] -Cobblestone Fire Road [downhill to Hidden Lake] -unnamed trail around lake -Middle Burdell Fire Road [downhill] -San Andreas Fire Road -[parking]. We only did like 5 miles, wish it could have been longer. We need to do shuttle hike to get to the summit & to make it longer. The hidden lake is really a vernal pool & not much water, just a tiny puddle is what we saw. We had lunch near it inside the gated area. K. lifted up a rock & found a small scorpion, another hiker find a tiny tree frog, another person found a newt with a slug in its mouth. Many cows seen on the trail. Those were they highlights. There were some wildflowers, not much. Maybe worth a visit if you live nearby, from Fremont, just ok. read more

For a few years, my family lived on San Marin Drive, so we considered ourselves lucky to have this open space preserve so close to home. We treated it like the best backyard we never owned! Every season of the year has its own special touches upon this place- but late summer/ early fall is a personal favorite of mine. The dry golden fields are picturesque, the temperature is warm enough to hike around without a jacket (but there are tick warnings, so protect your legs), and the clear skies allow you to see all of northern/ central Novato, with the rare glimpse of Mount Diablo far into the distance. I've only encountered friendly folks on the numerous trails here. Those trails can take you up the mount to the hidden lake at the top, which I am told is worth it. For those who don't live within walking distance to the numerous entrances to the preserve, there is street parking on the quiet residential roads along San Marin Drive. read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - A great sunset in early fall. - Hiking Near Me

Mt. Burdell is a huge open space tucked away in Novato. It has multiple entrances along San Marin Drive. The reason I love this space is how is changes through out the year. In the summer, it's a great place to work up a sweat and get some exercise in. When the rainy season hits, creeks kick up and a lake is formed. The views are amazing from the top and it leads right into Olompali park as well, which also has a really easy and beautiful hike. One thing to look out for: Fast bikers, horse riders and of course, the cow herd that grazes during moo moo season. It's the place to go in the area to get away from the noise if you need to talk to the trees. Sometimes there are interesting people out there like this couple sitting in a tree singing to each other in the middle of nowhere. Looking back it was pretty pimp actually. read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Burdell nearing the end of the rainy season. - Hiking Near Me

A recent stopover in town found us with time for a little hike before continuing on our journey north home. Following directions and a map from fellow yelpers we were very close to this beautiful open space preserve. This preserve has some great trails for walking/hiking that are moderate to low stress, and it made for a wonderful mornings stroll through nature to encounter free ranging live stock - that's right there are cows on this preserve and we encountered a few the morning of our visit. This preserve passes through some residential areas and parking is relatively easy on the street - in the early morning we had no issues at all parking. It offers some nice views of Mount Burdell and the surrounding area. This early morning fall excursion made for a nice way to start the day on our journey home, it was very cool, peaceful and refreshing. Glad we found it and had the chance to explore this neat preserve. Well worth the effort and time to pull off, get out into nature and enjoy. A solid 4 stars. 00162 read more

This is a great place to go hiking! It is fairly steep and the path has a lot of rocks. I do recommend having shoes with some traction that are more designed for trails as you run a risk of slipping going downhill if you walk too fast. It is a pretty hike and a good workout. I typically do between a 3-4 mile loop. People frequently bring their dogs, bike, and some even ride a horse. There are other options to extend the hike if you are wanting more. There is no parking lot here but you can park on the road with the line of cars. read more

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve - Hiking Near Me

How can you not give an awesome place to hike 5 stars. Located in the more affluent northern side of Novato, get off on Atherton and drive west til you see San Andreas. Drive a half mile and you can't miss the trailhead. This hike has a quick feeling of isolation and you quickly leave the Novato burbs behind. Great views, wildflowers in the springtime and lots of artsy oaks dotting the land. Tip if you want a better workout-hike up to the top via Old Quarry trail and down any assortment of fire roads. 2nd tip: Get on the trail before 8. We saw lots of people starting as we were finishing. Mountain biking is allowed on fire roads. I will come back with my night riding group. read more

I had a great experience yesterday on my hike to the top of Burdell. Thank you Josh Gilmore, aka Happy! What a great treat it was and it wasn't even Halloween yet. Gilmore was doing his job protecting the mountain, yet took time to chat with me and my friend and give us tons of information and goodies...we got a nice map, some water, a keychain, some stickers, and emergency identification for our wrist. Also, he showed us some great nature pics of owls and snakes. As the sun set on our hike...did I mention we used our map to hike up to the top via the Quarry Trail?? Anyways, it was a perfect hike and an ending to a perfect day in Novato! Thank you Josh. Keep up the good work. Hope to see and your fun pictures on the trail again. read more

On a beautiful sunny morning during the winter months my friend and I decide to tackle the trails of Mt. Burdell, specifically a 5 mile loop starting at the San Andreas Fire Road. I was surprised to find the trail head in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in fact it's across the street from some homes. Parking is easily available on the street, but it can get more difficult to find a spot later in the day. Hikes on this mountain are best completed on a cool day or when it's not too warm. The trails are completely exposed and shade was nowhere to be found. Sunblock and hats are a must. The trails are on rolling hills and I would consider them to be easy, as there were no steps, ditches, steep inclines or narrow paths with steep drop offs. A more moderate trail is available on the Old Quarry Trail. The trails are on fire roads and are well maintained and wide. I mistakenly left my hiking shoes behind and hiked in my running shoes with no issues. The views of the surrounding area are pretty spectacular and homes can be found around the perimeter of the park. Hikers will have to pass through cattle gates from time to time. On the day of my visit I was disappointed not to have seen any cattle. Moo! I want to see some happy cows! I would suggest making visits when the ground is not saturated and when we are not going through one of our weird heatwaves. Trekking poles aren't needed. I found this trail to be somewhat easy and good for beginners or those looking for a walk more so than a hike. read more

ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER Okay, maybe not forever, but for sure you can see Mount Diablo, the Bay, the lights of Novato, and lots of other spectacular panoramic views. You'll also see babbling brooks, cows (and their dung!), coyotes, jack rabbits, beautiful wild flowers in the spring. Overall, it's dog friendly too. Never had a problem with dogs...owners with rowdy dogs are good about leashing them up. Those with well-mannered dogs don't pose a problem. There are many trails and many trail heads. Pretty much any street coming off San Marin Drive to the north will end up at a trail head to this open space area. You just have to go out here, and start hiking. Even if a beginning hiker, you'll be able to find a trail that's perfect for right now, and plenty more to give you challenge as you get in shape. read more

This is a fabulous place if you have a dog & great even if you don't. Open grassland, oak groves, raptors riding the hot air pockets, happy dogs romping around, happy people hiking & mtn. bike riding. This was our first visit, but it won't be our last. Sonoma county open space doesn't allow dogs off leash like Marin county does, so we were super excited to bring Asia here. She loved meeting other dogs & people, rolling in a cow patty (don't I smell pretty? Ugh), and being off leash the whole time. Ticks were even minimal - only pulled 2 off her. Dogs allowed off leash on all fire roads, and there are lots of those. Best on a cool day as there isn't much shade & there is lots of up hill & down hill. We had lunch on a grassy ledge with fabulous views of the valley & bay. If the day had been clearer we would have been able to see SF. We probably hiked about 6 miles, but you can easily do more or less. The map available on line is very accurate & very helpful. Check this place out. read more

I really enjoy hiking here, beautiful views. Plus is a great exercise. So many different hikes to choose from.

There's so many trail heads to this Mountain. There is so many different levels of difficulty. You get great views when walking up of Marin, Mt diablo, S.F. ect.. Great place to see Marin rolling hill. read more

See all

A wonderful place to go for a hike without the normal crowds! Just a short 30 minute jaunt north of SF, Mt. Burdell has a beautiful vista set among homes outside of Novato. On the way I went, the view was clear and we could see the Bay and more! We did a 5 mile loop (~3 hours) and ate lunch that we picked up at the Harvest Market - conveniently located less than 5 minutes away from the trail head. The trails vary with parts that are shaded and parts that are exposed. The trail is dog friendly and parts of it are mountain-bike friendly. You may also run into a few cows on the way up, but they're very friendly. read more

Wish I'd kept a count of the number of times I've hiked/biked my butt to the top of Burdell...definitely in the hundreds. Burdell is a nice little regional park with a network of trails and fire roads that you can mix and match to make different routes. It always amazes me that, on the border of a city of more than 50,000 , you can sometimes go to the top and back and see maybe two other people. Excellent place for for an after work or weekend hike to clear your head and watch the seasons change. If you're up for a REALLY long day hike, you can do a car drop over at Olompali (off 101) and hike from Burdell over the top and down to Olompali. One gripe though: People walk straight ip the face of Burdell. Yeah, it's a killer workout but it's NOT a trail. It's scarring the face of a town landmark and creating erosion problems that are only going to make it worse. Stick to the trails people! read more

Pristine. On a clear day you can see for miles. The preserve offers short, long, easy and hard trails. We've come across cows, coyotes, bobcats, no mountain lions but we see their kills, turkeys, humming birds, humans, and all manner of wildlife. The trails are quiet, open, peaceful and beautiful. read more

Gorgeous sweeping views of Novato and surrounding area from Mt. Burdell. You need not go all the way up, but the higher you go, the better the view. Path is not technical, so enjoyed by trail runners, dog walkers, and hikers. You can also see distant Diablo if you get high enough. Go in the mornings when it's cool, it heats up quick and very little shade to be found. read more

See all

Mt Burdell is amazing! Has beautiful views, challenging hikes, solitude, awesome oak trees, lots of nooks to explore, and an incredible amount of history. The rock wall which extends the length of the crest, the quarry, and of course the spectacular rock carvings! The only reason this is not a five star location for me is the inaccessibility to Olympali, the legal accessibility. Plus the fact that someone thought it a good idea to build the modern border fence directly on top of the historical rockwall. read more

See all

This hike can be easy or very difficult level..I usually go here few times per year..Burdell is very steep but is a great workout!

C took me here on a Saturday afternoon. We parked along the street by the entrance. It wasn't that crowded and it's easy to park. Dog and horses friendly. The hike was fairly easy with some incline. Bring some water to drink. Once you get to the top, you can see the Marin County and Mt. Tam. We also saw cows and a garden snake on our way down. There wasn't too much to this preserve. It was serene and it seems like a lot of locals come here to run and exercise. read more

Mt. Burdell is the best. High in bird life, low on the poison oak, pure heaven for Rose the Wonder Lab. Early morning, late in the day, night hikes, its always great. The bay trees are pungent after the rain and the oaks are incredible. Seen Golden Eagles, Red Tails, Merlins, Northern Harriers, Osprey, Flickers, Acorn Woodpeckers, Turkeys the variety is amazing. Mostly good people; coupla cranks about Rose and her exuberance, far more enjoy her as she should be. Love this place, don't miss it. read more

One of our favorite local spots to go for a morning hike. Tucked away in a remote part of Novato, this place is super close to everything but feels a million miles away. We haven't explored the entire place yet, but we have found a nice 3.5 mile loop that we love. The first 20 minutes or so are on an incline that will get you huffing and puffing, but after that it levels out to gentle ups and downs and a mix of sun and shade, until you descend back down to where you started. It has never been crowded when we've been (usually Saturday mornings, but not too early), and we love that our dog can romp off-leash here. The only real negative is the horsesh*t on the shared paths and fire roads. it's easy enough for us to step around, but for some reason on our most recent trip our dog wanted to sample many of the piles we passed, until we finally came up with the right command / treat combo to keep him away from them. Just a warning to other dog owners to give that some thought before coming. (I'll admit to feeling a little resentful that we have to pick up after our dog--which we always do, no matter where we are--while horse owners don't have to pick up after their horses, but I also understand that that's not quite apples to apples...) read more

If you love views and don't mind some steep climbs, Mt. Burdell is a beautiful treasure in Novato.

Beautiful. hot in the summer. wear sunscreen and bring water. intermix of wide open spaces and tree covered parts. cows. scenic. paths. lovely. read more

This area is the jewel of Novato. The view at the top is amazing. Words can not do it justice. It is spectacular. Starting from the bottom, which is the top of San Andreas Dr., it takes about an hour to get to the summit. Try and get here when the sun is just about to set for one of the best views in marin. We took the ultra path up that you could see after a while into the hike and it was absolutely brutal. This is a spot that you should definitely take some time out of your week to explore and enjoy some of the breathtaking views that Novato has to offer. read more