Loma Verde
Loma Verde, located in Marin County, California, stretches across 320 acres of open land and connects to the Ignacio Valley, Pacheco Valle, and Indian Valley preserves. Together, these areas create a large section of undisturbed open space that covers almost all of the northern slope of eastern Big Rock Ridge.
Throughout all of the preserves, hikers will find steep slopes and beautiful but treacherous canyons, as well as a large expanse of woodlands. Not for the faint of heart, the access routes are challenging and the trails are even more so, but the views keep visitors coming back time and time again.
There are multiple trails to choose from, but the main one in Loma Verde is a moderately strenuous loop that passes through the Pacheco Valle neighborhood. Along your hike, you and Fido will traverse rocky terrain with some steep inclines (exact elevation unknown), but the hard work will pay off as you "ooh" and "ahh" over the spectacular views of Mount Burdell, San Pablo Bay, and Mount Tam, all depending on which direction you are facing.
You will be in untouched nature, which makes these trails and canyons a refuge for wildlife. The sandstone trails are the perfect natural habitat for madrone trees, creating many forests. These trees produce berries that ripen in winter and attract many birds and other animals.
Starting out in Loma Verde, you will be on fire roads. These fire roads connect to many of the trails in the extensive preserve system, and following them through the whole way takes you through over 3,000 acres of publicly accessible trail.
Dogs are permitted on the trails if they are on a leash, but on the fire roads, they can be off-leash if they are under voice control.
To get there from Hwy 101 in Novato, which is the main used area, you need to take the Ignacio Blvd/Bel Marin Keys Blvd exit west on Ignacio Blvd approximately for about a half a mile, then turn left onto Fairway Drive. Take another left at Alameda de La Loma, and then turn right at Pebble Beach Drive until you go through the gate at the end.
