Olema Valley

• The Bolinas/Fairfax road is often closed in winter due to landslides and in summer due to fire hazards.
• Olema Valley has limited public facilities so please carry water and other necessities when hiking.
• To experience the region’s ranching past, drive down Highway 1 between Wilkins Ranch and the town of Olema.

The San Andreas Fault
A rift zone containing many faults and lines of geologic activity, the San Andreas Fault slices straight through Olema Valley. The west side and Point Reyes sit on the Pacific plate and the east side and rest of the continent on the North American plate. A good place to learn more about the quake zone is the educational trail from Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center.

Scouring Rush
Growing along the creeks in Olema Valley is an ancient plant species called “scouring rush,” also known as horsetail. Pioneers discovered silica in the plant and used it to scour pans. The plant is also a good cure for rash caused by stinging.