SUNDAY DRIVE

Two paths, one truth:

On one side of Mount Burdell is a state park, on the other, an open space preserve. The trails from each lead to the 1,558-foot mountaintop that towers over north Marin and San Pablo Bay. Take your pick on your launch point and unique experience to get there.

Location: Mount Burdell is the mountaintop that rises up in the hills near Novato above the North Bay. On the east flank of Burdell is Olompali State Historic Park, with access from a frontage road along Highway 101. On the southwest flank is Mount Burdell Open Space, with inland access north of San Marin.

Olompali: The park (check with a ranger to say it right) is set in the oak woodlands just west of Highway 101, and is best known as the site of a historic Miwok village with a “kitchen rock.” That is a rock with mortar holes where the Miwok would grind the seeds of shelled acorns to leach out the bitter taste and create flour. The park also has one of the region’s highest populations of small black-tailed deer. Dogs, bikes: No dogs, no bikes on trails.

Burdell Open Space:

The area is nestled in the grasslands of the Novato Valley and then rises into hardwood forests with some huge oaks and bays. The trails eventually lead into the state park at the ridge and to the summit. Dogs/bikes: Dogs, permitted off leash if under command, and mountain bikes OK, but not beyond state park boundary.

Mount Burdell summit hike:

From Olompali: 5.8-mile round trip with 1,500-foot climb on way up, routed through woodlands, up well-graded switchbacks, emerges in grasslands, with picnic site on top. From Mount Burdell Open Space: 7-mile round trip, includes passing large oaks and bays, loop route available (Mount Burdell Fire Road is routed past Hidden Lake).

The views:

From the top and lookout points on the way up, directly below to the east is the Bahia Marsh and Petaluma River Valley, and across the massive expanse of San Pablo Bay to the Carquinez Bridge. To the distant north is Mount St. Helena. To the west is the rural foothill country of Marin and Sonoma counties.

Cost: Olompali, $8 per vehicle, payment only by credit card; Mount Burdell Open Space, free.

Maps: PDF at website; detailed hiking map, “Novato — North Marin Trail Map,” $8.95 at www.tomharrisonmaps.com.

Contacts: Olompali State Historic Park, Marin Sector, (415) 898-4362, www.parks.ca.gov; Burdell Open Space, Marin County Parks, (415) 499-6387, www.marincountyparks.org