Ponti Ridge Trail

Converting an unsustainable and steep fire road to a multiuse trail in Pacheco Valle.

UPDATED: May 17, 2021

California Trails & Greenways Merit Awad

At its annual conference in 2021, California Trails & Greenways honored the Ponti Ridge Trail with a Merit Award for Development.

Merit Award Logo

Ponti Ridge Trail is open to visitors. Trail work was completed in December 2020. This project successfully converted an unsustainable and steep fire road to a multiuse trail. The Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) began work on Ponti Ridge, a large scale, long term project, in summer 2019. Work continued through the COVID-19 shelter-in-place during 2020, keeping the project on schedule.

Project Description

Used year-round as a recreational trail, with a lower segment accessible by emergency vehicles, the upper segment of Ponti Fire Road was geologically unstable. A section of the fire road experienced a major landslide in 2005. this project was identified as a potential road to multiuse trail conversion project during the Region 3 proposed designation process in August 2016. In keeping with the MCOSD Road and Trail Management Plan, Ponti Ridge Trail enhances visitor experience, reduced the environmental impacts on sensitive resources by reducing sedimentation and erosion, and is part of a sustainable system of roads and trails that meet design and management standards that provide year-round visitor access.

This project was developed in coordination with the Marinwood Fire Department, Novato Fire Protection District, Marin County Fire Department, Marinwood Community Services District, open space neighbors, and the Marin County environmental community.