In my mind, the names Little Mountain and Verissimo Hills are incomplete monikers for these two Marin County Open Space Preserves. Little Mountain should be Around But Not to the Top of Little Mountain, and I like to think of Verissimo Hills as Up and Down Verissimo Hills and then Up and Down Them Again. Established trails at Little Mountain skirt the single peaked "mountain," while Verissimo Hills Trail takes a roller-coaster course, visiting each knoll from top to bottom. Little Mountain's trails are mostly flat, with gentle switchbacks easing one short climb. Verissimo Hills presents more of a challenge (particularly if you have creaky knees), but hikers can turn back on the dead-end trail when weary of the serial ascents and descents. Together, these two small preserves, along with adjacent O'Hair City Park and North Marin Water District lands, provide a nice few hours of hiking at the edge of residential Novato.
     There are other trailheads from which hikers can explore these preserves. You can start at a pullout on Vineyard Road (just a short distance from the Indian Tree Trailhead) and walk into Verissimo Hills on the southern section of Stafford Lake Trail. Or park on the side of the street at the end of Center Road, where the eastern edge of the water district property connects Little Mountain and Verissimo Hills. Hikes can be extended to the south (Indian Tree) or north (on Dwarf Oak Trail to Mount Burdell), but there are no loop options available.
     Although the heat can be prohibitive in summer, this section of Novato is often breezy. There's not much to look at in summer though, especially compared to autumn, when the black oaks on Stafford Lake Trail are lovely. I missed this year's spring wildflower show, but the grassland of Little Mountain and Verissimo Hills should support nice but small patches of lupines and other common flowers. In the wet months of winter and early spring, trails can get muddy, with considerable equestrian traffic.
      Start at the signed entrance to O'Hair Park, on Sutro Avenue. Several paths feed into the main route, Reuben Kaehler Memorial Trail, as it takes a level and straight course under some California bays, along Novato Creek. This Bay Area Ridge Trail segment skirts a hill (private property), then meets Little Mountain Trail at a signed junction at 0.15 mile. Turn left onto Little Mountain Trail.
     The narrow trail, open to hikers and equestrians only, climbs gently under California bay and coast live oak. Poison oak is the dominant understory plant, but you might also see ferns and common snowberry. Fences protect a single switchback. The trail leaves O'Hair Park and enters Little Mountain Open Space Preserve, but the transition is unmarked. Little Mountain Trail continues an easy ascent, then leaves the woods for valley oaks and grassland. There are nice views of Big Rock Ridge and redwood-topped Indian Tree to the southwest. A few patches of fennel break the uniformity of the grassland, where you might see purple brodiaea in late spring. Little Mountain Trail makes a brief foray under some California bay and coast live oak near a seasonal creek, then descends, sweeping right near a neighborhood access path and crossing two small bridges. At 0.73 mile, Little Mountain Trail ends at a signed junction with Doe Hill Fire Road (also known as Little Mountain Access Road). Turn right.
     The broad fire road keeps a level pace as it runs parallel to a Novato neighborhood. Some coast live oak, California bay, valley oak and buckeye grace the hillside to the right, leading to the top of Little Mountain. Doe Hill Fire Road, a continuation of the Bay Area Ridge Trail segment, features a series of 5 paths that offer easy access to local residents; continue straight past each of these. At 1.44 miles, the trail seems to end at a fence, gate, and undersigned junction. Actually, the fire road curves left and ends at Center Road, but the obvious continuation of the hike is to pass through the gate into the North Marin Water District lands (Stafford Lake County Park sits a little further to the west). (You can follow Doe Hill Fire Road to the pavement, then turn right and squeeze through a fenced stile into the park, and you'll end up in the same place.)
     No bikes are permitted on this narrow trail, which soon reaches a cattle gate at 1.52 miles. Pass through the gate, and look for a trail visible across a somewhat blank area (not really a fire road, but more like a shabby valley between two hills) on the south hillside. The hiking and equestrian trail is poorly signed in this direction, but it obvious. Once past a large gooseberry shrub and several wild rose bushes, the trail rises to a mixed woodland of California bay, buckeye, coast live oak, and black oak. The short ascent is thoughfully graded. Look for an early peek west to Stafford Lake at a switchback. At the crest, Stafford Lake Trail steps out into grassland. Soon after, at 1.82 miles, the trail splits at an unsigned junction. Stay to the left. The trail passes along a fence and climbs at an increasingly steep grade, to a hilltop and junction at 2.00 miles. Turn left onto Verissimo Hills Trail.
     The trail, open to hikers and equestrians only (although its steepness generally precludes horse use), plummets down a hillside. Deer are very commonly spotted in the open grassland and near clusters of coast live oak. At the bottom of the first hill, at 2.17 miles, Sanchez Fire Road departs to the left at a signed junction. Continue straight on Verissimo Hills Trail.
      The trail begins an ascent of the second hill. At 2.21 miles, Ravine Trail excuses itself from the climb on the right side of the trail at a signed junction. Continue straight on Verissimo Hills Trail.
      The grade is moderate, and at the crest of this hill, there are compensatory views south to Big Rock Ridge, and north to Mount Burdell. Verissimo Hills Trail takes a short dip downhill and then back up again, before reaching a steep drop (and ascent) to the last hill. (This is a fine place to turn around if you choose not to continue to the final hill.) The trail is sharp enough to make weak knees tremble. The descent is over quickly, and then you must face the accompanying ascent. A coast live oak marks the top, and the trail continues somewhat gently downhill to the east, where on a clear day you might see across the bay to Mount Diablo. Press on if you like, but there are no more hills to climb, and the trail dead ends straight ahead downhill (who needs any more climbing at this point?). Retrace your steps back to the previously encountered junction with Sanchez Fire Road, at 3.22 miles. Turn right and head down the fire road.
     The fire road descends easily, and ends at a neighborhood access and Sanchez Way at 3.34 miles. Turn right and onto the sidewalk, proceeding to the end of Sanchez Way at 3.51 miles. Turn left on Center Road, and walk to the end of the road, at 3.66 miles. Turn right onto Doe Hill Fire Road, and retrace your steps back to the trailhead. (Option: you can also return the way you came, climbing on Verissimo Hills Trail, then descending to Little Mountain on Stafford Lake Trail. Your total mileage will be 5.38 miles if you exercise this option.)
     
Total distancee: 5.10 miles
Last hiked: Monday, June 11, 2001

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