Olompali State Historic Park

History

Being a state historic park, you'd expect Olompali to have a number of features of historic interest in addition to trails, and you'd be right. Olompali was the site of possibly the largest Coast Miwok village in what is now Marin County. The park boasts a recreated "Miwok Village" showing examples of the structures built by the Miwok for shelter and storage. A garden nearby includes descriptions of the medicinal and food usages of numerous native plants along with both the Bodega and Marin Miwok names for them.

Camilo Ynitia built an adobe home here and became village head man. He garnered the support of General Mariano Vallejo and with his help secured a land grant of almost 9,000 acres from the Mexican government. Ynitia was the only Native American to secure a land grant in Northern California. Under later U.S. administration, Ynitia's land grant was called into question despite General Vallejo's support. In a shrewd move to prevent confiscation of the land he sold the bulk of the acreage to Marin County assessor James Black.

Black's daughter Mary married Galen Burdell in 1863 and the two transformed Olompali into a working ranch. Many of the buildings remaining today are the result of their efforts. Between 1943 and 1977 ownership changed hands numerous times with some interesting owners and tenants residing here at times. In the 1960's the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Grace Slick were known to have spent time here. A group known as the "Chosen Family" attempted to set up a commune. The state purchased the property in 1977 to preserve it as the park we know today.

The Trails

The trails at Olompali can be broken up into three sections, each providing a different level of difficulty for the visitor.

The farm

The walkways and dirt roads in and around the Burdell farm buildings requires the least amount of effort in the park. At this level some of the trails could also be considered ADA compliant.

The Loop

At the back of the farm area the Loop Trail and the Miwok Trail together form a loop that ascends partway up Mount Burdell.

Mount Burdell

Extending from the top of the Miwok Village Loop, the trail leading up to the top of Mount Burdell presents the most difficult mileage in the park.