MCBC 3 Gaps Initiative Liberty Gulch Trail Complete
The Liberty Gulch Trail is complete! Opening May 1st, it represents more than a decade of persistent advocacy and collaboration.
Since 2011, MCBC has championed access to Azalea Hill above the Meadow Club Golf Course, working to create a safer route for mountain bikers by moving them off the dangerous Bolinas-Fairfax Road onto a new Pine Mountain trail connector along Alpine Lake’s edge.
As one of three priority gaps in a car-free route from the Golden Gate to Point Reyes in our 3 Gaps Initiative, MCBC has dedicated years to uniting diverse stakeholders, developing comprehensive plans, and securing essential resources to make this project a reality.
Azalea Hill offers breathtaking views of Mt. Tamalpais and surrounding lakes while supporting numerous rare and native plant species in a relatively pristine ecosystem. The hillside features abundant Serpentinite (California’s state rock), creating unique serpentine barrens that host specialized plant communities, including jewel flowers, rosinweed (Calycadenia multiglandulosa), navarretias, lomatiums, and buckwheats—many of which are rare or locally significant. We have always believed that the goals of preserving these important ecosystems and creating a safer route for cyclists are compatible, and both can be achieved.
(Over) A Decade of Collaboration
This journey began in 2011 when MCBC’s former Off-Road Director Tom Boss met with representatives from the Marin Conservation League, Marin Horse Council, and Tamalpais Conservation Club atop Azalea Hill. While stakeholders recognized the need for a safer biking route to Pine Mountain, concerns emerged about widening existing trails through sensitive terrain.
Through persistent dialogue, a consensus formed in 2015 around repurposing the old Liberty Gulch ranch road as a multi-use connector on Azalea Hill’s west side. Four more years of advocacy followed—building support from a bike-wary Board of Directors at Marin Water District and addressing passionate opposition—before the project received formal approval in 2019 and construction began.
MCBC continued to play a crucial role in the project, showing up with volunteers on trail days, gaining the trust and support of Marin Water staff and Board, and gaining ground with those initially opposed. MCBC helped secure funding from the Hard Yaka Foundation for bridge construction and a Recreation Trails Program (RTP) grant. Additional support came from the Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) and the Emig Trust.
A significant breakthrough in continuing to move this project forward came in January 2023 with the election of three bike-friendly representatives to the Marin Water District Board: Jed Smith (Division IV), Matt Samson (Division I), and Ranjiv Khush (Division III), thanks in large part to our partners at Access4Bikes.
The open minds of the new Board of Directors, along with the long-game strategy of coalition building and lessons learned from this project, have set the stage for future opportunities in the Watershed and beyond.
A True Win-Win Outcome
Liberty Gulch Trail and the restoration of Azalea Hill deliver multiple benefits beyond creating a safer route for cyclists traveling between Mount Tam and Pine Mountain. They significantly reduce sediment deposits in Alpine Lake while restoring substantial areas of sensitive habitat on Azalea Hill. Working collaboratively with the California Native Plant Society and other environmental groups, MCBC is transforming Azalea Hill into a regional model for compatible recreation and conservation.
The Board’s support for last-minute amendments preserving rare plants and implementing a “light on the land” approach ensures Liberty Gulch Trail will serve as a testament to what’s possible when recreation and conservation priorities align effectively.
Members make it happen
All of our work to make Marin more bike-friendly is powered by your generous giving. Join the team fighting on your behalf for expanded trail access today!
