Muddy Hollow & The Estero

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This loop moves through the rolling hills of Point Reyes, offering good views near the coastline.

To get to the parking area from Olema take Highway 1 northbound briefly until you reach Bear Valley Road. From there, drive a little under two miles and turn left at Limantour Road. Continue on Limantour Road for nearly 6 miles until you get to a dirt road with signage for the trail, turn right here and drive 1/4 mile and you'll arrive at the trailhead.

From the parking area head north along Muddy Hollow Road. You'll quickly go over a creek crossing and then intersect with a trail named Bayview. Stay on Muddy Hollow Road and you'll start to gain some elevation. Along the way there are 3 ponds that lie to the south of the trail. 0.9 miles into the hike there is a trail intersection with Bucklin. Be sure to stay on Muddy Hollow Road, which will then cross Glenbrook Creek before arriving at another trail junction with Glenbrook. This time, follow Glenbrook for nearly 3/4 of a mile until that trail ends and you come across a trail known as Estero.

Follow Estero to the south as you move straight ahead. This section of the loop is often pretty sparsely populated and you're bound to feel a bit isolated out there. Along this section of the trail you'll eventually come close to Limantour Spit, a good place to hear seals barking on the shoreline. The path then moves slightly eastward and then north before a bridge crossing over Glenbrook Creek. From here you'll wind up and down the hills of the area, soon coming to another bridge crossing, after which you'll turn left at the trail junction and hike 0.3 miles until returning to the trailhead.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

Along the loop keep an eye out for rabbits in the grass, especially in the Glenbrook section.