Tim Kizirian - Bolinas Ridge South: A Straight Shot for Trail Runners Who Like Firm Fire Road

I’m Tim Kizirian, still keeping the miles honest and the write-ups practical. Bolinas Ridge is often driven past by people gunning for Point Reyes, yet its southern half gives trail runners ten fast miles round-trip on all-weather fire road. Today I’ll map a routine out-and-back from the Ridgecrest–Sir Francis Drake junction to the Olema Valley overlook.

Why this stretch
Surface is crushed rock over clay, so even after storms it drains faster than single-track. Grade holds under six percent for long stretches—a good place to test tempo pace or simply cruise without ankle traps. Wide tread allows side-by-side running if you’re coaching a first-time visitor.

Parking solution
Tiny pullout at the Ridgecrest gate holds six cars. Arrive before 8 a.m. on weekends. No pass required. I leave a printed note on the dash with return time; small courtesy if rangers check occupancy.

Outbound metrics
First 1.2 miles trend south, micro-undulations, redwood pockets. Fog often coats the west side; temperature 10 degrees cooler than valley. At mile 2.5 a clearing opens to Point Reyes Station and the Pacific; this is where new runners usually stop for a phone photo. I log splits here: about 24 minutes at moderate pace.

Mid-point turnaround
Olema Valley overlook hides at mile five—no bench, just a notch between pines showing farmland checkerboard. I take a 90-second hydration pause, about the length of time it used to take my students to settle after a quiz hand-back. Quick stretch, gel if needed, then reverse.

Return strategy
Pace naturally rises on the northbound because minor climbs become descents. Watch slippery eucalyptus leaf patches in shady corners. I finish the ten miles in 1:35 on an ordinary training day; adjust as needed.

Gear specifics
Lightweight trail shoes, 1.5-litre bladder, wind shell if fog persists, one gel or half sandwich. That’s it. Poles unnecessary; gradient never spikes. After six visits I’ve never needed more.

Stewardship note
Cattle sometimes graze near the trail. Gates must stay exactly as found—open or closed. It’s not virtue signaling, just basic land-use respect so permits don’t vanish.

Why runners from inland should care
From Chico, Bolinas Ridge is a two-and-a-half-hour drive under normal traffic. You get double the coastal climate you’d get on a Bidwell Park loop, plus a clean data set to compare pacing on real elevation without technical hurdles. Out, back, coffee in Fairfax, and home by dinner—simple ledger that balances time vs. reward.

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