Jewell Trail
Trail length: 1.0 mile, connector between the Cross Marin Trail and Bolinas Ridge Trail.
Terrain: rolling hills, oaks, bays
Restroom? No
Parking: roadside on Platform Bridge Rd for Cross Marin starting point or on Sir Francis Drake Rd for Bolinas Ridge Trail starting point
Dates visited: 12/13/18
Favorite plants on this trail:
The Jewell Trail is a short sloped trail connecting the Bolinas Ridge Trail with the Cross Marin Trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). As you ascend you’ll be treated to views of the surrounding hills.
Combine it with nearby trails for a loop or hike it as an out and back trail. For a 5-mile out-and-back, start at either the Bolinas Ridge trailhead near Olema or the Cross Marin trailhead near the intersection of Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Platform Bridge Rd. Both start points are about the same distance to the Jewell Trail. The Bolinas Ridge Trail is a sloped ascent and fully exposed to the sun while the Cross Marin is flat and shaded.
Loop hike: Bolinas Ridge
A vigorous 10-mile hike in the Golden Gate Recreation Area with beautiful views of Tomales Bay. Starting at the Leo T. Cronin parking lot in Lagunitas, ascend the forested Shafter Grade (1.7 miles) to the Bolinas Ridge Trail. Turn right (north) on the Bolinas Ridge Trail and hike (3.8 miles) toward Tomales Bay to the Jewell Trail. This section is mostly flat or descending and fully exposed to the sun. Turn right (east) on the Jewell Trail and hike down (1.0 miles) to the Cross Marin Trail. Turn right (south) on the Cross Marin Trail and hike (3.9 miles) back on this flat bike path to the Cronin parking lot.
History of Jewell Dairy Ranch
Omar Jewell (1821-1875), a native of New York who farmed in Illinois for years, came to California in 1861. By 1864, he bought property to start a dairy ranch and along with his wife Viana built a large two-story house on the property (no longer exists). In 1870, the dairy had 40 cows and produced 8500 pounds of butter. Read more about Jewell’s ranch in Point Reyes historian Dewey Livingston’s A good life: Dairy farming in the Olema Valley (pages 389-396 in the ebook)
Volunteer Opportunity: Habitat Restoration
Join the Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) at Point Reyes National Seashore to help protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat at Abbotts Lagoon, the Lighthouse Bluffs, the Estero area, and other high-value habitat areas at Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit some of the most beautiful areas in the park and learn about local plant ecology while you work alongside park staff to carry out ecological restoration projects. Get involved, meet new people, and make a positive impact on your environment!