Mount Wittenberg from Sky Trailhead

This loop from Sky Trailhead climbs through forest to Mount Wittenberg, the Point Reyes peninsula’s 1,407-foot high point. Published itineraries give 4.5–4.6 miles; the complete connected trail line, including the summit spur and the shared Sky Trail approach, measures just under five miles. Plan for about five miles round trip, two to three hours, and roughly 750 feet of climbing. It is the easier approach to the summit, but the experience is mostly shaded forest and brief coastal openings rather than a panorama from the top.

The walk starts on broad, dirt-and-gravel Sky Trail, an old ranch road through Douglas-fir woods. After about 0.8 mile, turn left onto Horse Trail for 0.4 mile, then right onto Z Ranch Trail. In another 0.7 mile, reach the Mount Wittenberg junction. Take the short summit spur and return to this junction before continuing west; the full summit detour is part of the walk. Dense Douglas fir now blocks the open summit views that existed before trees regrew after the 1995 Vision Fire. The name recalls Peter and Newton Wittenberg, early occupants of Z Ranch in the 1860s.

The western leg of Mount Wittenberg Trail leads to the Sky–Meadow junction. Its occasional openings look west across forested ridges toward the Pacific; this is the place to pause for the coast, not the tree-covered summit. From the junction, head north on Sky Trail through Sky Campground and back to the trailhead. At the campground, eucalyptus and cypress windbreaks and a remnant concrete spring path are traces of the old ranch.

A small gravel lot at Sky Trailhead holds about 10 vehicles; limited overflow parking is on the north shoulder of Limantour Road. Keep every tire off the pavement and leave the westbound lane clear. Day hiking is allowed from 6 a.m. to midnight, with no reservation required. Pets are prohibited. Bicycles are allowed only on Sky Trail between the trailhead and campground. The first 1.4 miles of Sky Trail is a maintained service road, though it climbs about 350 feet; beyond it, narrower trail can be roughly two feet wide and the route does not meet accessibility criteria.