New Dias Ridge Trail Benefits Visitors, Wildlife

Date: May 7, 2010
Contact: Alexandra Picavet, GGNRA, [phone]
Contact: David Shaw, Director of Communications, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, [phone]

Part of a Larger Effort to Revitalize the Redwood Creek Watershed, the Improved Dias Ridge Trail Opens to the Public After Extensive Restoration Work

(San Francisco, CA)—The realignment and restoration of the 1.5-mile segment of the multi-use Dias Ridge Trail in Marin County is now complete after an extensive restoration project completed by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and California State Parks, with support from the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council (BARTC) and California Coastal Conservancy.

A long-time favorite destination for recreation users, Dias Ridge named after one of the Portuguese dairy ranchers who once owned swaths of the West Marin hills is on a ridgeline above Muir Beach and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Marin Headlands. The newly completed segment of the multi-use trail, which bridges a gap in the Bay Area Ridge Trail, replaces an old ranch road and establishes a more sustainable footprint that complements the landscape and reduces erosion impacts.

"The work on the Dias Ridge Trail is part of a larger effort the NPS is taking to revitalize the important Redwood Creek Watershed," said Frank Dean, Acting Golden Gate National Recreation Area Superintendent. "It is through partnerships and cooperation demonstrated during this project that allows for the protection of these valuable resources and offers fantastic recreational opportunities to the public.

The NPS, Parks Conservancy, and California State Parks will continue work on improving the visitor experience on the trail by:

• Enhancing trail safety and multi-user compatibility on the trail by improving drainage and line-of-sight clearings on blind corners
• Monitoring tread improvements
• Assessing trails after recent rains and identifying wet water crossings
• Improving fencing on curves for cyclists and equestrians
• Reviewing signage on trail distances, destinations, park regulations, topography, and alignment
• Restoring vegetation and habitat
• Planting and monitoring approximately 20,000 native plants on the trail grown at the Marin Headlands Native Plant Nursery for the trail

The re-opening of the Dias Ridge Trail which had been closed to the public for a year to allow trail tread and vegetation to take hold begins with a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The trail opens to hikers, bikers, and equestrians at 10 a.m. and music and hearty refreshments will be offered until 1 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, call [phone] or email [e-mail]. Directions and other event details found here.

The work on the Dias Ridge is part of a larger effort to revitalize the important Redwood Creek Watershed. In addition, the National Park Service and Parks Conservancy are taking the lead in restoring the tidal lagoon at Muir Beach and improving the former Banducci farm site.

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About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future. The Conservancy is an authorized "cooperating association" of the National Park Service, and is one of more than 70 such nonprofit organizations working with national parks around the country. To learn more, please visit www.parksconservancy.org or call [phone].

About the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America's most significant natural, scenic, historic and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Parks, as well as 391 other park sites across the U.S. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/goga or call [phone].

—NPS—