Roy's Redwoods is a perfect choice when you want an easy ramble through some old growth redwoods. This preserve, which was acquired by MCOSD in 1978, has an unusual (for this part of Marin) small virgin stand of redwoods, with none of the tourist atmosphere you must put up with at, say, Muir Woods. The preserve is small, there are more extensive stands of redwoods elsewhere in the bay area, and Roy's is frequently overlooked in favor of the other parks in the immediate vicinity, Samuel P. Taylor, Loma Alta, and Gary Giacomini. Although Roy's seems to be primarily used by local equestrians, joggers, and dogwalkers, hikers can find pleasant loop and out-and-back treks here. A connection to adjacent Maurice Thorner Memorial Open Space Preserve made in September 2000 allows outdoor enthusiasts to stretch hikes out of Roy's and through Thorner, which is particularly delightful in spring.
     Winter and early spring are usually muddy seasons at Roy's Redwoods. The preserve has a surprising amount of horse traffic, ensuring that trails are pretty churned up during wet months. Summer is hot and dusty, although the woods are cool. Early spring is probably the optimal time for a visit.
     Roy's boasts a loop trail that parallels Nicasio Valley Road (and a golf course), then turns and runs along Sir Francis Drake, and finally cuts north and into mixed woodland, before returning to Nicasio Valley Road through a grove of redwoods. But the grassland portion of this hike is not particularly pleasant; it's sweltering in the summer, noisy and, well, permeated with golfers for about a mile. As Don and Kay Martin advocate in their excellent book, Hiking Marin, the better option is to hike the north and western parts of the Roy's Redwoods Loop Trail, then turn at the bottom of the hill, where the trail enters the grassland, and return the way you came.
       In the past, official trails were tough to discern from the unofficial ones, and although the preserve has better signage now, it's still tough to find your way around on your first visit. You may choose to not really hike at all, but instead wander through the redwoods. To get to the trees, enter the preserve through the open space gate on Nicasio Valley Road, then head north (to the left). Follow the trail through the meadow, which soon enters deep shade of a redwood and California bay forest. Once you're under the trees, there is virtually no undergrowth, and the trails are nearly impossible to pick out. Simply wind your way through the small grove and explore. Some of the redwoods are hollowed out from fire, and primitively decorated with beads and cloth. It's a pleasant place to sit down on the ground and breathe in the old trees. 
     For a short loop through a mixed forest, grassland, and redwoods, begin at the open space gate. Turn left on a trail open to hikers and equestrians only. A few large redwoods hulk at the edge of a meadow. Poison oak and blackberries tangle together in the understory. At about 250 feet, the trail splits. Stay to the left.
      The hiking and equestrian trail climbs easily through California bay. Snowberry, ferns, and poison oak create a lush understory. The trail joins a wide fire road, the only route in Roy's open to cyclists. Bear right. The two trails run together until a signed junction at 0.23 mile, where the fire road continues straight, and the trail veers right. Turn right.
      Winding through California bay, buckeye, and coast live oak at a gentle grade, the equestrian and hiking trail passes through grassland, heads back into the woods and emerges once more into grassland and a signed junction at 0.48 mile. You might see Ithuriel's spear, clarkia, and yellow mariposa lily in late spring. Turn right.
     After a few steps, the trail heads into a forest of California bay and redwoods. The trail seems to disappear, so follow its lead and wander through the deep shade of the woods. When you're ready to continue, aim for the grassy meadow visible through the trees (if you're disoriented, you should be able to hear traffic noise from Nicasio Valley Road; walk toward that). Pick up the obvious but unsigned hiking-only trail, which ends back to a previously encountered junction at 0.69 mile. Bear left and retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Total distance: 0.74 mile
Last hiked: Wednesday, June 6, 2001

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