Marin hike: An easy jaunt through San Geronimo Valley

Roy’s Redwoods Preserve in the San Geronimo Valley has a rich history. Initially a ranch, the 293-acre area became a hippie commune in the 1960s before being set aside as a preserve during development of the valley in the 1970s. Most interestingly to pop-culture aficionados, it served as a filming location for the bizarre 1980s “Star Wars” spinoff “Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure,” being only a few miles down the road from George Lucas’ ranch. The preserve was previously accessible only through a network of small unofficial trails, but a system of new trails opened this year, making it much easier to traverse this small but densely forested preserve.

I arrived hoping to hike the newly installed Boardwalk Trail, but it was closed due to storm damage when I arrived. Luckily, the Roy’s Redwood Loop Trail was still open. This is an easy and moderately short loop that winds through varied scenery without much substantial change in elevation. Despite its name, Roy’s Redwood Loop Trail does not pass through the redwood grove but splits into several smaller trails that allow access to the redwoods. Horses and leashed dogs are allowed on this trail, but no bikes.

• Summary of hike: Roy’s Redwood Loop Trail is a 2.4-mile trail that follows Nicasio Valley Road and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard before curving inland through grassland and redwood forest and ending a few hundred feet up the road from where the trailhead started.

• How to get there: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Nicasio Valley Road and go north on Nicasio Valley Road for 0.4 miles. The trailhead will be on the right with a very conspicuous roadside shoulder that provides parking. A porta-potty is located near the trailhead.

• The hike: The trail winds south, closely following the shoulder of Nicasio Valley Road. This section of the trail is mostly dirt and may be muddy after it rains. The trail curves left and begins to follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, offering views of the San Geronimo Valley. This area is not wooded except for a brief segment that passes beneath an overhanging arch of branches and crosses a bridge over a stream. Some hikers report not enjoying this stretch of the hike due to the noise from the nearby road, but I didn’t find it to be particularly intrusive.

Look for great egrets hunting in the fields. Scan the skies for red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, turkey vultures and other local raptors.

After about 0.5 miles, the trail curves left away from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and the vegetation grows denser as the grassland transitions into California bay forest. The trail narrows and begins to wind uphill through the forest; this is the only part of the trail that requires any uphill walking, though it’s far from strenuous and should be a piece of cake for most hikers.

When I hiked the loop, a branch had fallen across the trail, likely during a recent storm. While the branch did not seriously impede the path, it’s best taken as a warning not to hike this trail during or shortly after inclement weather.

The trail levels out near a bridge over a stream that leads to a gorgeous clearing adjacent to the redwood grove. Look for trailheads for the David Hansen Trail and the Mossy Rocks Trail, which  go inside the grove and allow close communion with the nearly 300-year-old trees. Keen-eyed birders may see pileated woodpeckers or black-throated gray warblers among the foliage.

The trail ends at the intersection with Dickson Ridge Fire Road. Go downhill on Dickson Ridge Fire Road and you will almost immediately find yourself back on Nicasio Valley Road a few hundred feet north where you started, having completed the loop. The shoulder of the road is wide enough to allow you to walk back to your car easily. Giaco’s Valley Roadhouse in San Geronimo is a great option for a post-hike meal or drink.