Roy's
Redwoods Open Space Preserve, 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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