Sky Ranch Knoll Looking East; courtesy of René Voss
Sky Ranch Knoll
The Newest Addition to the Bald Hill Preserve
The Bald Hill Preserve from Greenfield and Red Hill Avenues;
photo courtesy Jonathan Braun
On October 22, 2026, the seven-acre knoll overlooking San Anselmo and the Ross Valley became the sixth addition to the Bald Hill Open Space Preserve. The Knoll is the missing puzzle piece to complete preservation of the ridgeline starting with Bald Hill in Ross and ending in Fairfax. In the late 1990s, plans were submitted by a past owner of Sky Ranch Knoll to build a large estate that would have straddled the summit of the knoll, and new state mandated housing laws threatened the property with multiple housing units. Now, with this purchase, the land will be forever preserved in its natural state.
The first Bald Hill Preserve land purchase, totaling 17 acres, took place in 1994. The Preserve has now grown to 113 acres. Additional acquisitions were completed in 1995, 1996, and 2015, followed by the monumental acquisition of the Bald Hill summit in 2023.
The Sky Ranch Knoll purchase was made by the Marin Open Space Trust, which immediately transferred the property to the Marin County Open Space District (MSOSD) at no cost to the County. The adjoining 106 acres of the Preserve are already owned and managed by MCOSD.
Preserving the Bald Hill ridgeline was never a foregone conclusion. Older zoning laws would have allowed large subdivisions to carve up the pristine hillside. This is why the vision of creating a greenbelt on Bald Hill and protecting its critical ridgeline was a priority in the early 1980s, when the Open Space Committee drafted an Open Space Master Plan for San Anselmo and the neighboring communities. Today, the Preserve spans the Towns of Ross, San Anselmo, and Fairfax.
The Committee has worked diligently over many decades to make this vision a reality. Along the way, many organizations and individuals have collaborated to make this possible. We are especially grateful to longtime San Anselmo resident Maureen Groper, who left a very generous bequest to the Committee upon her passing in 2024. The Committee was pleased to donate $800,000 toward the Sky Ranch Knoll purchase. Other major donors included the Town of Fairfax, Tamalpais Conservation Club, and Fairfax resident Ted Bright. More than 50 individuals also contributed funds to the project.
We welcome you to visit Sky Ranch Knoll to experience the exceptional views of eastern Marin, San Francisco Bay, Mt. Diablo, and Bolinas Ridge. This special addition to the Bald Hill Open Space Preserve is a treasure that will benefit the Town and community for generations to come.
—Jonathan Braun
The Committee’s 34th Annual Benefit
for San Anselmo Open Space
Photo courtesy Nico Less
On May 2, 2026, more than 100 open space supporters gathered at St. John’s Episcopal Church for the 34th Annual San Anselmo Open Space Benefit and an entertaining journey into Marin County’s railroad past. Local historian Richard Torney presented “Railroads on Our Backyards,” tracing the history and routes of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad trains that once traveled through Marin County and connected many of our local communities.
Richard brought that history to life with fascinating stories and a remarkable collection of historic photographs, some dating back to the 1870s. He paired many of these early images with photographs of the same locations in the 2000s, allowing the audience to see how familiar parts of Marin have changed—and, in some cases, how much remains recognizable. Photos of the old railroad stations were particular favorites, as places we pass today were transformed into scenes of trains, passengers, and bustling stations from another era.
The Benefit was once again a great success, bringing together friends and supporters of San Anselmo’s open spaces for an evening of local history, good food, and community. Richard’s presentation was a wonderful reminder that traces of Marin’s past are all around us, sometimes hidden in places we see every day. Thank you to Richard, our many supporters and volunteers, and everyone who joined us for another memorable Open Space Benefit. —Danny Krebs
Join a Walk’n’talk Through Our Preserves
Photo courtesy Ken Husband
This year, your San Anselmo Open Space Committee organized a new series of walk’n’talks on our various preserves and trails. People who have not visited before can learn where the preserves are, how to access them, and the rules regarding bikes, dogs, etc. Hikers can increase their enjoyment by learning the history of the land, how we worked to preserve it, and what else can be found there. The series so far has included:
RED HILL TRAIL: On November 1, 2025, local historian Brian Crawford led a walk up to the top Red Hill. Brian conceived and spearheaded the construction of the trail, so he could explain the Committee’s long project to reopen the iconic zig-zag trail. He explained that Red Hill marked the common corner of three large Mexican ranchos. The 150-year-old dirt road still visible on the upper portion was constructed by Chinese laborers to provide access to Mount Tamalpais Cemetery.
MEMORIAL RIDGE TRAIL: On January 3, 2026, Brian also led a hike along the Memorial Ridge, another project he oversaw. He talked about the Committee’s 15-year effort to acquire the necessary trail easements, and the history of the dairies that formerly occupied the Sorich Valley.
STAIRS, LANES, and TRAILS (SLTs): On February 28, 2026, Ken Husband took a group on a number of our SLTs that have been identified and protected by the Committee. Many of these stairs were created to allow City commuters to take short-cuts to the train stations in Ross Valley.
DEAN NYBERG TRAIL: On April 18, 2026, Jamie Mackie led a hike to Rock Fort in Sorich Ranch Park and told people of Liam Hughes, the Eagle Scout who constructed the trail.
C. FREDRICK FAUDE PARK: On May 19, 2026, Brian Crawford introduced people to the charms of this little-known park. Among other interesting historical information, he explained that it was once proposed by the mayor to be a nude park (the motion didn’t pass, so keep your clothes on).
This fall, we resumed another season of walk’n’talks. They are a great way to get some exercise and fresh air, enjoy our beautiful open spaces, learn some local history, and meet other like-minded neighbors. Another Memorial Ridge hike is scheduled for November 21.
To learn about upcoming walk’n’talks, check our Facebook page. And join our email list so you get our notices.
SIX MILLION DOLLARS, 267 ACRES LATER,
AND COUNTING
Photo courtesy Jonathan Braun
In 2026, the San Anselmo Open Space Committee can now confidently state that it has helped preserve over 267 acres in the Ross Valley, including the 99-acre Wall Property and the new 7-acre Sky Ranch Knoll addition to the Bald Hill Open Space Preserve! With your generous donations over the years, the committee has leveraged approximately $2.3 million into well over $6 million worth of permanent open space, utilizing matching grants, Measure A funds, and, most importantly, our partnership with Marin Open Space Trust (MOST). However, our work is ongoing. We still have several parcels to preserve on Memorial Ridge, important wildlife habitat corridors in Fairfax and San Anselmo, as well as a large undeveloped parcel on Holstein Ridge. Please know that your contributions go a long way. Our committee is an all-volunteer group, and you can be confident that your contribution will protect lands for habitat preservation and ensure they remain free for all to enjoy.
Contributions to our 501(c)(3) Open Space Fund will be used exclusively to purchase designated priority hillsides, ridgelines, and important conservation lands in the Ross Valley. Thank you again for all your support. —René Voss
How to make a donation
By mail
Write a check to:
Friends of San Anselmo Parks
include "Open Space" written on the memo line
and mail it to:
San Anselmo Open Space
c/o Town Hall
525 San Anselmo Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Online
Friends of San Anselmo Parks is a 501(c)(3) account for the San Anselmo Open Space Fund.
Your contribution may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Open Space Views
is produced as an informational service
to the residents of San Anselmo and the Ross Valley and is funded by contributions to the Open Space Committee.
Articles and photos are by Committee members.