Burdell Mountain Fire Road – Mount Burdell Open Space

Burdell Mountain Fire Road – Mount Burdell Open Space

Burdell Mountain Fire Road – Mount Burdell Open Space

Location: Novato, CA
Difficulty: Moderate
Features: Hiking trails, bike friendly, bird watching, dogs allowed, wildlife observation

The Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve has a number of trails and fire roads. Trails include the Mount Burdell Trail, which leads to the summit of Mount Burdell, Michako Trail and more. Fire Roads include the Cobblestone Fire Road, the San Andreas Fire Road, the San Carlos Fire Road, the Burdell Mountain Fire Road, and more. The Burdell Mountain Fire Road, meanwhile, heads southeast on the 90 degree fork. It connects the Upper Mount Burdell Trail in the Olompali State Historic Park and descends from the mountain.

About the Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve

Managed by the Marin County Parks, the Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve houses the 1,500 feet high Mount Burdell and seasonal pond, Hidden Lake. The preserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna – with increased population of frogs and salamanders during the wet season. Some portions of the preserve are grazed by domestic cattle. The Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve was purchased in 1977 by the Marin County Open Space District. The preserve boasts the titanic Mount Burdell, standing tall and offers stellar view of the entire Bay Area. En route to the summit, visitors encounter lush grasslands and dense forests filled with the finest and oldest oak and bay tree specimens.

Trails at the Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve

The Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve is home to a number of trails and fire roads. It is also proximate to the Olompali Historic State Park. The preserve is surrounded by fire roads, encircling the entire Mount Burdell area. The San Andreas Fire Road leads to the Deer Camp Fire Road, then to the Cobblestone Fire Road and eventually to the Ridge Fire Road where the Mount Burdell Trail is located. The Michako Trail is a popular trail as it dissects the entire preserve in half. The Old Quarry Trail, meanwhile, is a trail that connects the San Carlos Fire Road with the Ridge Fire Road. All in all, there are plenty of trails surrounding the preserve. A map of the area is highly recommended when hiking within the area.

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Use A Comfortable Backpack

Long treks on technical terrain can be very straining. Thus, it is important to use a backpack that fits perfectly and curves according to your spine. You browse our collection of heavily tested hiking backpacks. 

2) Bring Essential Tools

A Swiss knife, multi-purpose tool, flashlight, whistle, and compass are just some of the important tools to bring on a long hike. Be sure to checkout our shop and grab the survival tools needed to get you safely home from a great day of adventuring. 

3) Don’t Get Lost

Trails can go for miles. Of course, you don’t want to get lost! A map, GPS, compass are essential devices that can help you located campsites, water, and an emergency exit route in case of emergency.

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