Indian Tree Open Space Preserve
Indian Tree Fire Road & Ship's Mast Trail via Big Trees Trail
7 mi · ▲ 1,514 ft · 3 hr 5 min
Indian Tree Fire Road & Ship's Mast Trail via Big Trees Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back in Indian Tree Open Space Preserve near Novato, CA. It climbs 1,514 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Indian Tree Fire Road & Ship's Mast Trail via Big Trees Trail
7 mi · ▲ 1,514 ft · 3 hr 5 min
Elevation 247–1,182 ft
Out & Back · Indian Tree Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Vineyard Road · 38.10522, -122.63878
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:17 AM · sunset 8:18 PM
- Start on Rent Barn Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Upper Meadow Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Deer Camp Cut Off Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Deer Camp Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Big Trees Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Ship's Mast Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Indian Tree Fire Road, heading NE.
- 500 ftBear right onto Ship's Mast Trail, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Indian Tree Fire Road, heading SE.
- 0.6 miReach Ship's Mast Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Ship's Mast Trail, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear left onto Indian Tree Fire Road, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Ship's Mast Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Big Trees Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Deer Camp Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto Deer Camp Cut Off Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Upper Meadow Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Rent Barn Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 6:52 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Vineyard Road Trailhead
- Deer Camp Trail Loop via Big Trees Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 727 ft
- Big Trees Trail 4 mi · ▲ 868 ft
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Hikes near Novato, California