Completed: December 16, 2023 | Elevation: 1,466′ | Trail: Barnabe Road > Bill’s Trail Loop | Distance: 6 miles
Saturday was a stunningly bright, blue day and the last opportunity to enjoy the sun before several days of rain was expected to hit the Bay Area. Since we hadn’t hiked the previous weekend (Chris was sick, I was recovering from surgery), we felt like we had to seize the moment and get out there.
I picked Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. While we had driven through here many times, it was our first time stopping at the park. It was a lovely drive that took us about 8 miles past where we had parked on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to hike Loma Alta and White Hill peaks. We found a spot in the parking area across from Devil’s Gulch Road Trailhead.
We decided to hike the loop counter-clockwise; without our poles, we thought it would be easier to go up the steeper Gravesite Road and come down the gentle switchbacks of Bill’s Trail. The first 0.20 mile of the hike was on the road, before we turned onto a small trail paralleling the creek. Then we crossed a bridge and turned right onto Gravesite Road to start our ascent. For the next 0.5 miles we hiked slowly up through the forested trail before breaking out into the open on Barnabe Trail. The summit and its fire tower were now in view.
About a mile later we reached the junction with Bill’s Trail and continued a short distance up the hill to the summit. We had seen no one else except a pair of mountain bikers. From the top we had sweeping views of Marin out towards Tomales Bay. Dickson Lookout was boarded up; I could only imagine the 360° views to be had from up there.
For our return we took Bill’s Trail, a longer but more gradual route that wound its way through the forest interspersed with redwood trees. I’m glad we took this route going down, because while it was easy, at times it felt endless and we kept wondering when we’d finally get back to the first junction. I recalled reading a trip report where the author talked about the monotony of going up Bill’s Trail and now I understood why.
Eventually we arrived at the junction, crossed back over the bridge and reached the car. It had been a great hike and it had felt wonderful to be outside in the fresh air. I made a note to myself that next time, this would be the perfect trail for a really hot day.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.