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Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve: Seasonal Blooms and Bay Views. Photo Credit; Pacific false bindweed (Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata) Ring Mountain.jpg

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Published February 25, 2026

Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve: Seasonal Blooms and Bay Views

In Corte Madera overlooking Richardson Bay, Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve (Marin County Parks-managed) features gentle trails with spectacular spring wildflowers and panoramic views. This 587-acre preserve safeguards rare plants and serpentine soils, blooming vibrantly in season.

A Serpentine and Grassland Bloom Hotspot

Ring Mountain bridges serpentine outcrops, coastal prairie, oak woodlands, and chaparral, supporting unique/endemic wildflowers (Tiburon mariposa lily; found nowhere else; plus milkmaids, Fremont's camas, buttercups, shooting stars, lupines, iris). Raptors circle slopes; views span San Francisco Bay.

Adventure With a Conservation Conscience

Phyllis Ellman Trail (moderate loop, 2 to 3 miles) climbs to summits with flower fields and overlooks. Peak blooms spring (March to May); bring binoculars for raptors.

Access is low-impact: free parking on Paradise Drive, sunrise to sunset, pack out waste, stay on trails to protect rare plants/serpentine. No dogs in sensitive areas; seasonal wildflower etiquette.

Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve delivers Marin seasonal blooms hiking with bay vistas. For flower enthusiasts and view-seekers valuing rare flora, the gentle trails reward spring timing ; a colorful Marin treasure.