The St. Hilary Church Preserve – A Top Bay Area Hike
By Carrie Green Zinn
Wondering if the Old St. Hilary’s Open Space Preserve hike is worth it?
As a Bay Area local, I’m always looking for new hikes. When I found the St. Hilary hike, I kept coming back!
Old St. Hilary’s Open Space Preserve is a 122 acre Marin County Park that overlooks the Bay with spectacular panoramic views of all three bridges – The Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.
The Preserve is just 15 miles from San Francisco.
If you’re looking for a bigger hike in Marin County, then don’t miss the Dipsea Trail Loop. It’s amazing!
How to get to the St. Hilary Open Space Preserve
To access the Heathcliff Fire Road trail head, put Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Nature Preserve into your GPS.
Directions
~ From Hwy 101 in Mill Valley, take the exit for Tiburon Blvd (Hwy 131) east 3.5 miles.
~ Turn left onto Lyford Dr., right onto Vistazo West St., and follow to the end (dead end).
~ Drive through the gorgeous Tiburon neighborhood to Vistazo St., West Belvedere.
~ Find parking on the street very close to the trail. You’ll be parking in front of homes, so be mindful and respectful of the lucky people who live in the neighborhood.
~ The Heathcliff Fire Road Trail, or the northern part of the preserve, is accessed from Vistazo St.
~ From the Heathcliff Fire Road trail, as a hiker, you can descend to the southern part of the preserve, the Vistazo Fire Road Trail, which will lead you to the church parking area.
Tips
~ Prepare for wind! Bring layers!
~ No need for hiking boots, sneakers will do.
~ Always bring water.
~ Your cell phone should work and the area is contained enough to find your way back to the car.
~ There are no public restrooms on the Preserve.
What is the Tiburon Jewelflower?
The nature preserve is not only known for the perfect panoramic views of the entire Bay, but also for its rare wildflowers, the most famous being the Tiburon Jewelflower. This endangered flower blooms May through June.
The History of St. Hilary’s Church
The Miwok tribes transferred the land to a Mexican land grant.
That grant was then purchased by an immigrant from Ireland.
That Irish immigrant later married the daughter of the Mexican commander of the Presidio.
They had a daughter who married a Canadian.
That couple allowed the archdiocese of San Francisco to build a church on their property.
And all this happened before 1888!
Later, in the 1960’s the people of Belvedere and Tiburon formed a trust to protect the church and its surroundings. Because of them, it’s now a well taken care of spot for everyone to enjoy.
Marin County Bonus Activity!
We always add a little bonus to this hike by stopping at our favorite juicer, Sun Life Organics in the Larkspur Landing, Marin Country, shopping area.
If you’ve never had a Sun Life Mint Chocolate Chip smoothie, can you even say you’ve lived?
Some of my other favorite Bay Area Hikes that you might enjoy:
Ready to hike the
St. Hilary Church Preserve?
In a nutshell…
The St. Hilary Church Preserve is a great hike in the Bay Area. Its easy, family-friendly, and just spans over a mile. There are stunning panoramic views of the iconic bridges around the Bay.
This hike is not just a chance to enjoy nature but also to appreciate the culture and history of the area.
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the St. Hilary Church Preserve is a beautiful destination that we love to return to time and time again.
xx,
Carrie
Carrie Green Zinn is the owner and author of Carrie Green Zinn – A Travel Blog, which helps travelers become inspired to explore and step out of their comfort zones. Carrie focuses on family vacations, empty nest travel, and girlfriend getaways. Her work is informed by her life as a former dancer, therapist, and school psychologist. She brings her passion for writing, photography, and making the world a smaller place to her ever growing blogging audience.
