Roy’s Redwoods Loop Trail

The highlight of Roy’s Redwoods is the renovated redwood grove.

This loop, with an optional inner loop at the hilltop, is lovely regardless of season, with some open trail but mostly redwoods.

Location: Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Length: 2.4 miles (3.1 with the inner loop)
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: mostly shaded
Parking: street parking at trailhead off of Nicasio Valley Rd.
Public Transportation: bus 68 (Stagecoach) stops in San Geronimo, but it’s a 20-30 minute walk from the stop to the trailhead
WC: none
Dogs: allowed

Link to park website

Hiked: Nov 2020, May 2025

A long stretch of the trail is in the open, along the road and old golf course.

Trail Route & Notes

After parking along the road, you can start the loop in either direction. As I usually hike in the mornings, I prefer to do this loop going counter-clockwise because that starts with the open part and ends at the redwood grove. You’ll pass by the old golf course, then eventually come to some shade and a climb uphill.

At the top of the hill, there’s a narrow trail to the right, a short trail with a loop at the end, called the David Hansen Trail. It’s an optional 0.7-mile addition to the main loop, but worth it for the woods. Back on the main loop, follow the main loop trail until you see the shortcut on Mossy Rocks Trail. That’ll take you directly into the redwood grove.

I love hiking Roy’s Redwoods. It’s just the right length and difficulty to feel like it’s exercise without being at all intimidating. And the redwoods are beautiful. I’ve seen a couple taking their wedding pictures there! The entrance and paths around the redwoods have been recently renovated, and it’s much easier to find your way around now – back in 2020, we got lost in there and couldn’t even see the trail.

At this time of year (spring-summer), there’s an awful lot of poison oak on the loop trail, so wear long pants.