Morgan Trail and Horse Ranch
Trail length: less than a mile
Terrain: meadow bordering the forest
Restroom? Yes, at Bear Valley visitor center and parking lot
Parking: Yes, large lot at Bear Valley
Kid friendly? Yes!
Favorite plants on this trail: California poppy
Starting at the Bear Valley Trailhead, walk up the driveway on the right to the Morgan Horse Ranch. The Morgan Trail runs parallel to the paved road and behind the horse pasture. A short kid-friendly hike nearby is the Woodpecker Trail which ends behind the Morgan Horse Ranch.
Morgan Horse Ranch
national park service map https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/upload/map_bearvalley.pdf
Take some time to explore the historic Morgan Horse Ranch which is open 7 days a week. There are self-guided exhibits and several structures including a historic barn, and farming and blacksmithing tools. The Morgan Horse Ranch is located on a small hill to the southwest of the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
You can walk through the historic buildings and see old farm tools, horses and if you’re very lucky, you may see the two friendly barn cats, Sylvia (black and white) and Dante (all black).
Morgans served many roles in 19th-century American history, including being the official horse of the National Park Service rangers. Rangers at Point Reyes care for roughly 3-10 horses and have used them to patrol the park, work on trails, and ride in parades. Allow 20 minutes for this 0.5 mile round-trip walk around the Morgan Horse Ranch. Park at the south end of the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot and follow the signs from the Bear Valley Trailhead up the paved road to the Ranch. Disabled visitors are welcome to drive up to the Ranch and park in the designated parking area. (Source: PRNSA website)
Learn more about the history of the Morgan Horse Ranch and volunteering opportunities on the National Park Service website.
Volunteer Opportunity: Morgan Horse Ranch
The National Park Service’s Morgan Horse Ranch offers volunteers an opportunity to experience all aspects of horsemanship. They assist in ranch operations, including the care, handling and riding of horses of all ages, as well as the cleaning and maintenance of tack, equipment, fences and buildings. Volunteers may also greet visitors, answer questions and briefly explain their role as a volunteer. Experienced trainers are especially needed to help with the younger horses. The need for volunteers varies greatly throughout the year.