Road & Trail System Designation

Marin County open space preserves include over 249 miles of unpaved roads and trails, Many were originally built as logging and ranch roads, fire and emergency access roads, or for utility access. Informal trails also developed from repeated recreational use. These roads and trails evolved without balancing the need to optimize recreational experiences while protecting natural resources and maintaining community safety.

In 2015, the MCOSD began a collaborative public process to formally designate a road and trail system in Marin County's preserves. This process is taking place on a region by region basis. The objective is to map all designated roads and trails, and identify permitted uses, and provide a basis for annual review of open space road and trail projects.

Region 1: Six Preserves in South Marin
Includes Alto Bowl, Baltimore Canyon, Blithedale Summit, Camino Alto, Horse Hill, and King MountainPreserves. The first formal designation of Region 1 is complete.

Region 2: Seven Preserves in West Marin
Includes Cascade Canyon, French Ranch, Gary Giacomini, Loma Alta, Maurice Thorner Memorial, Roy’s Redwoods, and White Hill Preserves. The first formal designation of Region 2 is complete.

Region 3: Five Preserves in Central Marin
Includes Indian Valley, Ignacio Valley, Loma Verde, Lucas Valley, and Pacheco Valle Preserves. The first formal designation of Region 3 is complete.

Region 4: Six Preserves in North Marin
Includes Deer Island, Indian Tree, Little Mountain, Mount Burdell, Rush Creek, and Verissimo Hills Preserves. The first formal designation of Region 4 is complete.

Region 5: Five Preserves in Central Marin
Includes Bald Hill, San Pedro Mountain, Santa Margarita Island, Santa Venetia Marsh, and Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Preserves.The first formal designation of Region 5 is complete.

Region 6: Five Preserves in South Marin
Includes Bolinas Lagoon, Bothin Marsh, Old Saint Hilary’s, Ring Mountain, and Tiburon Ridge Preserves, as well as the Strawberry shoreline and various water lots. The formal designation of Region 6 is complete.

Consistent with the Road and Trail Management Plan pdf (RTMP), the MCOSD is in the process of designating a system of roads and trails in all open space preserves. Roads and trails eligible for consideration as part of the system must have been constructed as of November 2011. Goals outlined in the RTMP include:

• Establish and maintain a sustainable system of roads and trails that meet design and management standards
• Reduce the environmental impact of roads and trails on sensitive resources, habitats, riparian areas, native and special-status plant and animal species
• Improve the visitor experience and visitor safety for all users, including hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.

Two types of system designation maps result from this process. These maps will be updated over time as road and trail projects add to or alter the system, and to allow for changes in the permitted uses of individual roads and trails. When completed, each region will have two maps describing the following:

• Location and status of designated roads and trails
• Permitted uses of the designated roads and trails

Community Meetings
For each region, the MCOSD will hold one or more community meetings where members of the public can review and comment on draft maps, learn the perspectives of a variety of community stakeholders, and engage with open space staff.

Public Comment Periods
For each region, the MCOSD will determine a public comment period, with a specific opening and closing date, where members of the public can offer feedback on a proposed designation via email, phone, or in-person meetings with open space staff.

Open Door Policy
Community groups and individuals are invited to contact open space staff to offer feedback and comments, or arrange a time to meet.

Proposed road and trail project list:

• Public Proposals List pdf

The public may participate in identifying potential road and trail projects. New project proposals must be submitted on this form:

• Road and Trail Management Plan Project Proposal Form pdf

Individuals, organizations, trail user groups, and others interested in submitting a proposal should read the Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP):

• Road and Trail Management Plan pdf

Road and trail projects proposed by the public are screened and evaluated based on these primary objectives of the RTMP:

• Achieve continuous measurable reductions in physical and environmental impacts associated with the road and trail network.
• Enhance visitor experience and safety.

Decision making is conducted in a transparent and collaborative manner, subject to the laws, policies, and goals outlined in the RTMP. RTMP chapter 5 describes the decision-making process the MCOSD uses to determine designation, management, and maintenance of the road and trail system.

In general, Parks staff review all public proposals for completeness. When a proposal is complete it then becomes part of the annual progressive screening and evaluation of all road and trail projects. The highest priority road and trail projects that emerge must then complete for approval and funding in the MCOSD and Measure A budget development processes for the coming fiscal year.