Meadow–Horse Trails Loop

Meadow–Horse Trails Loop is a 6.5-mile circuit from Bear Valley Trailhead, climbing Inverness Ridge and returning by Z Ranch, Horse and Morgan trails. Allow two to four hours. You get dense Douglas-fir forest, a broad meadow and, when the weather clears, west-facing views toward the Pacific. Most climbing comes early: Meadow Trail gains about 840 feet in 1.6 miles.

Bear Valley Trail is broad and nearly flat for the first 0.8 mile. Meadow Trail climbs through woods and crosses the meadow; the 2020 Woodward Fire mostly burned the understory, leaving much of the canopy. Nearby hills keep views close until the ridge. After a short stretch on Sky Trail, take Mount Wittenberg toward Z Ranch. At a clear gap, frame the firs against the Pacific. The optional summit spur reaches 1,407 feet, but thick fir blocks the old views. Z Ranch runs through dense fir; Horse Trail descends east, with gaps toward Inverness Ridge, Bolinas Ridge and Tomales Bay. Morgan Trail skirts the horse ranch to close the loop.

Use the free gravel Trailhead and Picnic Area lot east of the access road, beside Bear Valley Trailhead; it is closer than the paved visitor-center lot. Water and restrooms are at Bear Valley, with no facilities on the loop. Pets are prohibited. Expect compacted dirt, occasional roots and rocks, and narrow sections that may overgrow in early summer.