Barnabe Peak Loop Hike at Samuel P. Taylor State Park
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Date and Time:
Sat, Jul 12, 2025; 9:00 AM
- 2:00 PM
(Pacific)
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07/12/2025 9:00 AM
07/12/2025 2:00 PM
America/Los_Angeles
Barnabe Peak Loop Hike at Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Loop hike to Barnabe Peak (1,466 ft) via Bill's Trail. Ascent is shaded through the woods, gradual incline. Fire road for last 0.3 mile to peak. Descent via Barnabe Fire Road, exposed, open grasslands. Approx. 6 miles and 1,350 ft elevation. Meet 9:00 a.m. at Devils Gulch trailhead at Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Devil's Gulch Fire Road Trailhead at Sir Francis Drake Blvd
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38.02960400,-122.73641100
Sahna Danish
sahna917@gmail.com
MM/DD/yyyy
amOUuwqNAzpGSXwtHmnd12740
Organized By: SF Bay Chp Hiking
Location: Devil's Gulch Fire Road Trailhead at Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Map | Directions
Event Organizers:
Sahna Danish
sahna917@gmail.com
(415) 294-0996 (text preferred)
DESCRIPTION: Samuel P. Taylor State Park is a small gem of the California State Parks system located in Marin County 15 miles west of San Rafael. On this hike we will climb to Barnabe Peak (1,466 ft) via Bill’s Trail, which is closed winter and spring but is currently open. Bill’s Trail offers a lovely hike through the woods, almost all in shade, with a gradual increase in elevation over a series of switchbacks. It is 4 miles to the top. Towards the end we will emerge from the woods to wide open vistas and the contrast is refreshing. The last 0.3 mile is a fire road and somewhat steep, but not overly so, and most noticeably in the last 0.1 mile. Expansive 360-degree views at the peak include Bolinas Ridge, Inverness Ridge, Tomales Bay, Black Mountain, Mt Tam, Mt Diablo.
After a break for lunch we will return via Barnabe Fire Road. It is exposed and can get warm, but we’ll have our climb behind us and will be descending, except for a brief uphill bit. The terrain is open grassland. The last stretch of the hike will be back in woodland again with shade. Some modifications may apply depending on trail and weather conditions.Approx. 6 miles and approx. 1,350 ft elevation gain.STARTING POINT: Devil’s Gulch Fire Road Trailhead, approx. one mile west of the main park entrance (after you pass the Camp Taylor sign).PARKING: Roadside pullout on the south side of Sir Frances Drake Boulevard. Please park perpendicular to the road and avoid leaving large gaps between cars so others can park.RESTROOMS: Flush toilets are near the main park entrance, one mile east of our starting point. Use the 15-min parking otherwise there is a day-use fee of $8. There are pit toilets at the Devil’s Gulch Horse Camp about 0.3 mile into the hike. No other restrooms along the route.GOOD TO KNOW: Mountain bikes may pass us on the route. A few sections of trail have quite a bit of poison oak but nothing that can’t be avoided. The downhill on Barnabe Fire Rd is somewhat steep in sections. It’s very manageable, particularly if you hike regularly. If you have knee problems it may not be suitable. (An option in this case is to sign out of the group hike and return along Bill’s Trail to the starting point.) We will gather for 10-15 mins before starting the hike, if you are late you can try to catch up to us on Bill’s Trail.Link to the route on AllTrails:https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bill-s-trail-to-mount-barnabe-peak-loop
Level: Moderate(2B)
Bring: 2L of water, hiking boots or sturdy hiking shoes with good tread, hat, sunscreen, layers (e.g., cool morning, windy at peak), hiking poles if you use them, snacks/lunch. Optional: bug spray, something to sit on.
Cancellation Policy: Excessive heat, poor air quality