Olompali State Historic Park
*HEAT ALERT: With temperatures set to exceed 110 degrees throughout much of the state this week, California is urging everyone to take extra precautions as they celebrate the Fourth of July. Governor Newsom has directed the Office of Emergency Services to activate its State Operations Center. Read about how California is preparing for this heatwave. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of California from 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 7, at 8 p.m. PDT. Please be sure to take extra precautions when heading outdoors and know before you go by checking the park’s webpage ahead of time. Visit our safety tips webpage and get the latest on the weather at weather.gov.
The Park is currently OPEN.
Park Facilities
Parking
Drinking Water Available
Drinking Water Available
Day Use Fee
Parking is $8 per vehicle, payable by cash, check, or via the Yodel smartphone app.* No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from Novato or other public libraries.
If paying by cash, look for the yellow fee payment tube at the west end of the parking lot to deposit your payment. Our automated credit card machine is no longer available. Failure to pay fees may result in citation. *App service fee applies, no discounts or refunds available for payment by app.
General Information
The park overlooks the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay from the east-facing slopes of 1,558 foot Mount Burdell.
The name "olompali" comes from the Miwok language and may be translated as "southern village" or "southern people." The Coast Miwok inhabited at least one site within the area of the present-day park continuously from as early as 6,000 BC, until the early 1850s.
Olompali contains "kitchen rock," a large boulder used as a mortar in which early people ground acorns and seeds into a fine flour for food preparation. Many women would gather near such grinding rocks to prepare food and socialize.
Location-Directions
The park is accessible from both the Northbound and Southbound lanes of Highway 101. Exit at Atherton Ave./San Marin Dr. and follow posted directional signs to the park. The park address is 8901 Redwood Blvd., Novato.
Facilities
Olompali State Historic Park is open every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The gates to the park close promptly, so plan to return to your vehicle and exit the park by 5:00pm.
Visitors will first encounter a picnic area surrounded by the historic Burdell mansion, gardens, and ranch facility. Adventurous visitors will enjoy the hiking and horseback riding trails. Dogs and bikes are prohibited on the park trails. Hike the lower hillside of Mt. Burdell on the 2.5 mile Miwok Loop Trail. Those venturing to the peak of Mt. Burdell will traverse approximately 9 miles round trip, depending on which portions of the loop trail are used. The peak of Mt. Burdell is 1558'. Remember when choosing to set out on a hike that park gate is closed proptly at 5pm. Mt. Burdell is also accessible via county open space trails from the San Marin area of Novato.
Collecting or destroying anything in the park, including mushrooms, is prohibited.
A project is underway to build several structures representative of a Coast Miwok village. The village will be used as an interpretive and educational site. Visitors to the park can see two kotchas (houses), made from redwood bark. There is also a nicely labeled native plant garden.
Seasons, Climate, Recommended Clothing
Summer is hot, spring is warm, and fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is best.
