Big Rock Ridge
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| Big Rock Ridge | |
|---|---|
 Big Rock Ridge, as seen from the Northeast | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,887 ft (575 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,287 ft (392 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 38°3′33″N 122°36′15″W / 38.05917°N 122.60417°W |
| Geography | |
  Big Rock Ridge  Big Rock Ridge  Big Rock Ridge | |
| Location | Marin County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | California Coast Ranges |
| Topo map | USGS Novato |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Big Rock Trail |
Big Rock Ridge is a ridge near Novato, California, and the 2nd tallest point in Marin County.[2] The ridge is 5 miles long, and runs from the northwest to the east, dividing Novato's Ignacio Valley and San Rafael's Lucas Valley, and separating Novato from central and southern Marin County.[3][4] Big Rock Ridge is named after the rock at the base of Big Rock Trail.
Much of the ridge is managed and owned by Marin County Open Space and Marinwood Open Space Districts as well as various ranching families.
Various public trails run up the ridge, with the majority converging at the Big Rock Ridge Fire Road, which runs along the top of the ridge to access the 2 radio towers at the top.[3][5] The easiest way to the ridge's highest point is the 6.7 mile Big Rock Trail, which opened in 2003 when George Lucas donated 800 acres of land to create the Lucas Valley Open Space Preserve.[6]
Geography
Big Rock Ridge is the second-highest point in the Marin Hills, which in turn are a part of the California Coast Ranges. Much of eastern Big Rock Ridge is public land, with the Lucas Valley and Ignacio Open Space Preserves covering much of the foothills. Much of the eastern side also falls within city limits, with the northeastern side being in Novato and the southeastern side falling within Lucas Valley-Marinwood.
The views from Big Rock Ridge are sweeping, with views to Mt. St Helena, Mt. Diablo and on a clear day the Sierra Nevada from the top.