Olompali Trail is a 2.9 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Novato, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Horses are also able to use this trail.
Explore this easy loop in the Olompali State Historic Park. Hike through grassland and oak woodland. This loop connects the Miwok and Lower Mt. Burdell trails. Olompali comes from Coast Miwok words meaning southern and village or people. Researchers believe that Olompali was one of the largest villages in what is now Marin County.
Park at the Historic Conservation Site Parking Area
Nice trail with wildflowers. Cool history. Beautiful calla lilies.
Fallen tree during the loop. Very hard to go around. Some up hills. Beautiful tress and flowers. Saw many squirrels, turkeys and butterflies. Park rangers on site. Fee for parking. Some shade and some sun. Very nice! Wear mosquito spray!
Really pretty. Did counter clockwise loop, wasn’t hard. Not too many people for a Sunday but lot was filling up by noon.
No dogs allowed :( The first half was pretty rough for someone out of shape like me! But once you get through that, it's pretty easy. Beautiful views!
This is definitely NOT an "easy" loop! I chose this park based on that fact hoping to socialize with friends, but I was "working-it" the entire time. It was at least Moderate+. I can usually do moderate hikes anyway. Granted I'm not an experienced hiker, but after passing the Miwok village we were pretty much walking up hill for about 0.5 miles before turning around because we were tired; it was shaded mostly so that was a pleasant surprise for an oak woodland. ALSO... parking is $8, and they only take cash (no attendant, it's envelope and drop slot), so make sure you have the exact amount (credit card machine is broken). Lots of picnic tables near the parking lot.
Great trail. Have lived in Novato for 26 years and have talk about doing this hike the whole time. Finally did it and it was fantastic. Did the lowland loop and part of the upper Burdell loop. Next time will make sure to have time to go to the top.
Great hike for kids and family. Wish had brought lunch for picnic. Lots of picnic tables throughout and in shade.
I wouldn’t describe this as an easy trail. At the park base are the historic buildings and that is flat and easy, but when you start going up the trail it is a gradual uphill to the top and then downhill to the bottom. I would rate it moderate. I hiked in early October so things were mostly brown except for the trees. Still beautiful in a different way. The history was interesting to read/learn.
It was my first hike in at least a year or two so chose it because it was rated as easy. You can take the trail clockwise or counterclockwise and I chose counter which has a steep rise during the first 40 minutes of walking and I did get pretty winded but overcame it quickly once that was over. It was good exercise and very pretty, though as it's late August, everything is pretty dry, not many flowers, but still very peaceful and pretty. I passed lots of turkey families and some deer. I agree with what others have said that bug spray is a good idea. The trail is near a boggy creek and lots of flying buzzy. things. I will definitely go again, even if just to sit and/or picnic in the meadows where there are lots of picnic tables because it's so peaceful.