Olompali State Historic Park

Olompali State Historic Park Welcome to the California State Parks!

Join us on Wednesday, October 15, 8am to noon, to explore for fall migrants and year-round residents at Olompali State H...
09/20/2025

Join us on Wednesday, October 15, 8am to noon, to explore for fall migrants and year-round residents at Olompali State Historic Park!

Bird enthusiasts of all experience levels are welcome. We expect to see and hear thirty or more species – including woodpeckers, raptors, sparrows, and more – as we walk along the old ranch road, exploring grasslands, historic gardens, savannah, and up to the riparian zone by the park’s small reservoir.

We’ll walk at a fairly slow pace, about 2 miles roundtrip, on gravel and well-packed dirt trails, with moderate slope in portions. There are several picnic tables to rest at along the partially shaded route. Because the walk is a slow out-and-back, folks are welcome to leave early as needed. Note that the only restrooms are at the parking lot.

Wear layered clothing, walking shoes, bring snacks, sunscreen, plenty of water, and binoculars and a birding field guide if you have one. We’ll also have two binoculars to loan.

There is no charge for the trip, but parking is $8, payable by cash, check, or via smartphone with QR code at the parking lot. No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from your local public library.

Friends of Olompali

[Image Description: Photo of a perched Say's Phoebe, showing its lovely silver to pale to rust front plumage gradation. Text reads "Olompali Fall Bird Walk; October 15, 8am - noon"]

On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, Olompali State Historic Park will be limiting access and implementing partial closures due...
09/17/2025

On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, Olompali State Historic Park will be limiting access and implementing partial closures due to a private event at the park. During this time the Olompali parking lot and main entrance to the park off of Redwood Blvd will be closed.

This closure will restrict access to the park for most visitors. Though trails will remain open and accessible from the Burdell open space entrance at the top of Mt. Burdell, other access points will not be available.

This partial closure will not restrict access to the SMART/Great Redwood Trail that runs adjacent the park along HWY 101.

The park will return to its regular operations the following day, Saturday, October 4th, 2025.

Happy World Beard Day, from Olompali State Historic Park!    [Image description: Bearded park employee with straw "flat ...
09/06/2025

Happy World Beard Day, from Olompali State Historic Park!



[Image description: Bearded park employee with straw "flat hat"]

CANCELED - unfortunately we are canceling this Sunday's nature walk, and hope to schedule for a later date.
09/03/2025

CANCELED - unfortunately we are canceling this Sunday's nature walk, and hope to schedule for a later date.

Just another beautiful day at Olompali State Historic Park!Images: A Great Horned Owl (which was pointed out to us by a ...
08/15/2025

Just another beautiful day at Olompali State Historic Park!

Images: A Great Horned Owl (which was pointed out to us by a pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks screaming in the tree just above it). Peeling bark on a Madrone limb, showing the shiny cool bark below. Two adorable fawns (looking somewhat like a two-headed fawn ;-). And the view from near the top of Mt. Burdell, looking across the bay to Mount Diablo State Park in the distance.

Friends of Olompali

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate a wonderful evening of community, nature, art, and fun at Olompali Bat Nigh...
08/10/2025

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate a wonderful evening of community, nature, art, and fun at Olompali Bat Night! And thanks to park staff from around the district who helped run the event, to NorCal Bats with their fun and educational presentation, and - last but certainly not least - to the hundreds of wild bats who flew over our heads as the sun set over Mt. Burdell!

Friends of Olompali

[Image descriptions: Close up of a bat's face, held in gloved hands; a small table with children coloring bat shapes; state park worker at a table with assorted items and information about bats; large tree with people, picnic blankets, and folding chairs underneath; people sitting on the ground or in chairs, watching a projected program while state park staff narrate; Corky Quirk holding a small bat that is projected on a large screen behind her; fuzzy image of an unrecognizable bat flying above, against the twilight sky.]

Saturday, August 9, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Join us for this popular evening of batty activities and live bats at Olompali St...
08/06/2025

Saturday, August 9, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Join us for this popular evening of batty activities and live bats at Olompali State Historic Park!

Do you see the bat's meal in this photo? In the dark of night, bats may not see it either, but bats use echolocation to hunt insects including grasshoppers like the one in the bottom right of this photo.

Join us Saturday evening to learn more about bat flight, bat feeding strategies, bat habitats, and bat conservation. There will be bat crafts, nature walks, bat info, snacks, and a chance to meet live bats with NorCal Bats.

Bring a flashlight, chair or blanket to sit on, and picnic dinner if you’d like. With luck we’ll watch the flight of the bats at twilight. Come celebrate these amazing flying mammals, and learn about their role in our ecosystem!

Parking is $8 per vehicle, payable by cash, check, or via smartphone with QR code at the parking lot. No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from Novato or other public libraries. The event is free!

Accessibility: There is one van accessible parking space and two additional reserved accessible parking spaces. The primary event location is located along a level, well-packed decomposed granite path, a level concrete pad, and at the Visitor Center which has accessible restrooms, all within about 100 yards of the parking lot. Some activities and walks will also involve gravel and dirt roads with slopes up to about 6 percent.

Friends of Olompali

[Image Description: Graphic with an illustrated bat on top, text "Bat Night: Sat Aug 9" in the middle, and a photo below with a grasshopper well-camouflaged in the leaf litter.]

Birds from Behind: Here's the front view of yesterday's hidden bird. Whoo is it? An American Barn Owl! Like most owls, t...
07/31/2025

Birds from Behind: Here's the front view of yesterday's hidden bird. Whoo is it? An American Barn Owl! Like most owls, they hunt at night and sleep during daylight hours. While they typically roost out of sight, they can sometimes be seen in trees or - as the name suggests - the rafters of barns. If an owl looks into your eyes, it's likely scared. You should whisper "sweet dreams and thanks for eating the rodents" and tiptoe away so it can get its beauty rest.



[Image description: An owl with a heart-shaped face and speckled chest, partially obscured by the tree it is perched in.]

Birds from Behind: This is a tough bird to photograph from behind! They are not only hard to spot, but also more likely ...
07/30/2025

Birds from Behind: This is a tough bird to photograph from behind! They are not only hard to spot, but also more likely to turn or fly away than to offer this cryptic rear view. Tune in tomorrow for the species reveal, or comment below if you see enough clues to guess who this is!



[Image description: A perched, calico-looking bird, seen from below and behind. The view is largely obscured by foliage.]

The Grateful Dead lived at Olompali State Historic Park (known then as Rancho Olompali) for six weeks in 1966 , returned...
07/22/2025

The Grateful Dead lived at Olompali State Historic Park (known then as Rancho Olompali) for six weeks in 1966 , returned to jam later in the 60's, and shot the back cover of Aoxomoxoa under an iconic oak here. Just a half-hour north of SF, it's the perfect place for a pilgrimage, picnic, or hike.

Come feel the magic and see where the Dead lived and played (just a short walk from the parking lot), explore the nearby historic gardens, continue past the grasslands, into the secluded oak woodlands, or hike as far as 4.5 miles to the top of Mt. Burdell.

The park is open 9am-5pm daily. Parking is $8 per vehicle, payable by cash, check, or via smartphone with QR code at the parking lot. No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from Novato or other public libraries!

Grateful Dead

[Image description: Collage including photos of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, a hand-drawn flyer for the Grateful Dead, and a loose crowd of people on the grass watching a band play in front of the Olompali mansion. Text reads "Olompali State Historic Park. 'More happened to me [here] than would happen to me in a thousand lifetimes' -Jerry Garcia"]

Bat fans of all ages are welcome to join us at Bat Night, at Olompali State Historic Park, Saturday, August 9, 6:00 PM –...
07/21/2025

Bat fans of all ages are welcome to join us at Bat Night, at Olompali State Historic Park, Saturday, August 9, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

There will be bat crafts, nature walks, bat info, snacks, and a chance to meet live bats with NorCal Bats. Bring a flashlight, chair or blanket to sit on, and picnic dinner if you’d like. With luck we’ll watch the flight of the bats at twilight. Come celebrate these amazing flying mammals, and learn about their role in our ecosystem!

Parking is $8 per vehicle, payable by cash, check, or via smartphone with QR code at the parking lot. No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from Novato or other public libraries. The event is free!

Accessibility: There is one van accessible parking space and two additional reserved accessible parking spaces. The primary event location is located along a level, well-packed decomposed granite path, a level concrete pad, and at the Visitor Center which has accessible restrooms, all within about 100 yards of the parking lot. Some activities and walks will also involve gravel and dirt roads with slopes up to about 6 percent.

Friends of Olompali

[Image description: Photo of two hands with fanciful bat crafts made of construction paper, colored cotton balls, and googly eyes, with text: Bat Crafts, Bat Walks, Bat Talks, and Bats! Saturday, August 9, @ Olompali]

Address

8901 Redwood Boulevard
Novato, CA
94945

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14158923383

Alerts

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