Olompali SHP

State Historic Park

Olompali Has Expanded Hours Of Operation!

Now you can enjoy your favorite State Historic Park five days a week, Wednesdays - Sundays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM - thanks to generous support from Marin State Parks Association, Friends of China Camp, and The Olompali People.

General Information

The park overlooks the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay from the east-facing slopes of 1,558 foot Mount Burdell.

The name "olompali" comes from the Miwok language and may be translated as "southern village" or "southern people." The Coast Miwok inhabited at least one site within the area of the present-day park continuously from as early as 6,000 BC, until the early 1850s.

Olompali contains "kitchen rock," a large boulder used as a mortar in which early people ground acorns and seeds into a fine flour for food preparation. Many women would gather near such grinding rocks to prepare food and socialize.

Location-Directions
The park is located three miles north of Novato on U.S. 101. The entrance is accessible only to southbound traffic from Highway 101.

Northbound vehicles should continue north past the park and make a safe U-Turn in order to travel south and enter the park.

Facilities
The park has hiking and horseback riding trails and a shaded picnic area. Please be aware that no dogs or bikes are allowed on the park trails. The park day use fee is currently $8.00 per vehicle.

The visitor center is usually staffed by a volunteer on Saturday afternoons, Noon-3pm.

A project is underway to build several structures representative of a Coast Miwok village. The village will be used as an interpretive and educational site. Visitors to the park can see two kotchas (houses), one made from redwood bark and another made with bundles of native tule reeds. There is also a nicely labeled native plant garden.

Seasons, Climate, Recommended Clothing
Summer is hot, spring is warm, and fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is best.