58 min
Overview
The Burleigh Murray Ranch Trail follows an old ranch road that leads up to the Mills Barn and surrounding buildings before narrowing and leading up to wooden water tanks that supply water for the park residence. To access the trail, follow the Higgins Purisima Road for about a mile from Highway 1. Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park sits on the left hand side of the road. There is a parking lot with room for about 20 cars. <br><br>After parking your car, pass through a gate that blocks the road and follow the gravel road as it climbs along Mills Creek. Enjoy the shade of giant eucalyptus trees that were planted for lumber and to create wind breaks. The trail rolls gently for about a mile as you make your way along Mills Creek. There are a couple small bridges that the road uses to cross the creek. About one mile along the trail, the hiking trail breaks off to the left. If you go straight ahead, you'll enter an area used as a gun range for park service members to practice. The trail transforms into a dirt and grass path at this point, although still roughly as wide as the road has been up to this point. After descending slightly, the trail breaks off to the left again as the trail straight ahead leads to a park residence that is used by staff members. In the winter, you can see the barn on the left through the branches of the trees. <br><br>You have now arrived at the Mills Barn, where hundreds of cattle were fed and milked on the bottom level and hay was stored in the upper level. Take a few minutes to hike around the barn and peer in the doors and windows. You can see old farm implements, including a McCormick-Deering mower and a hay rake, that were used to help harvest food for the cattle. After learning more about the farm and what life was like here in the late 1800s and early 1900s, you can either follow the road back to your car, or you can continue exploring deeper into the park. <br><br>As you approached the barn, a narrow singletrack trail breaks off to the right under a fallen tree and continues up
Trail Stats
3.3 km
81 m
135 m
68 m
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Photos
Due to the moisture in the area, moss can be seen growing on the trees and bushes in the areas.
Due to the moisture in the area, moss can be seen growing on the trees and bushes in the areas.
The trail is little more than an animal track at this point as it runs along Mills Creek.
The trail is little more than an animal track at this point as it runs along Mills Creek.
As you depart the parking lot, there is a large grove of eucalyptus trees on the right hand side of the trail.
As you depart the parking lot, there is a large grove of eucalyptus trees on the right hand side of the trail.
The road winds through a narrow valley.
The road winds through a narrow valley.
The trail moves in and out of eucalyptus groves as it makes its way up the valley.
The trail moves in and out of eucalyptus groves as it makes its way up the valley.
From here, the trail passes under a fallen tree and becomes a singletrack dirt trail. It's little more than an animal trail at this point.
From here, the trail passes under a fallen tree and becomes a singletrack dirt trail. It's little more than an animal trail at this point.
At the end of the trail, you encounter two wooden water tanks above Mills Creek that service the park residence downstream.
At the end of the trail, you encounter two wooden water tanks above Mills Creek that service the park residence downstream.
The trail follows an old farm road for the first mile. Made up of gravel and dirt, it makes for easy walking.
The trail follows an old farm road for the first mile. Made up of gravel and dirt, it makes for easy walking.
The Mills Barn comes into view as you approach the farm. This large barn was used to feed and milk hundreds of cattle.
The Mills Barn comes into view as you approach the farm. This large barn was used to feed and milk hundreds of cattle.