Buck Gulch Falls (Fairway Falls)

Novato / Ignacio Valley Preserve, California, USA

About Buck Gulch Falls (Fairway Falls)


Hiking Distance: 1.2 miles round-trip
Suggested Time: 1 hour

Date first visited: 2022-02-26
Date last visited: 2022-02-26

Waterfall Latitude: 38.06313
Waterfall Longitude: -122.59095

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Buck Gulch Falls (I’ve also seen it called Fairway Falls) was one of three local waterfalls in the Ignacio Valley Preserve within the city of Novato north of the San Francisco Bay Area.

This waterfall was what I would categorize as the Marin County “Neighborhood Waterfalls” because there were a handful of waterfalls whose access trails essentially went by peoples’ properties into preserves or private property easements.

Buck_Gulch_Falls_037_02262022 - Buck Gulch Falls in low flow
Buck Gulch Falls in low flow

In this particular instance, the waterfall was accessed on a trail at the end of a residential street flanked on one side by a golf course and upscale homes on the other side (see directions below).

The falls itself was a modest 15ft tall or so, but there were reportedly more waterfalls further upstream on the seasonal creek that Google Maps called the Jan Jose Arroyo.

However, those waterfalls reside in the H Ranch Property, and the easements to the private land pretty much end at the Buck Gulch Falls so access to those upper waterfalls is prohibited.

Nevertheless, of the Novato Waterfalls that I’ve witnessed on my visit in late February 2022 (where we had a very dry January and February), this was the lone waterfall that actually still had flow (albeit a rather weak one as you can see above).

Buck_Gulch_Falls_047_02262022 - Checking out the Buck Gulch Falls from a different angle
Checking out the Buck Gulch Falls from a different angle

So that says something about the longevity of the Buck Gulch drainage beneath the Big Rock Ridge, which I’d imagine relies heavily on rain and coastal mist (as do other “backyard waterfalls” in Marin County).

I’m sure I’ll be coming back to experience this place under wetter conditions though with Global Warming really yielding an all-or-nothing pattern of extreme drought with extreme rains in between, who knows when that will be?

Trail Description

Anyways, visiting the Buck Gulch Falls involved a straightforward out-and-back hike at about 0.6-0.7 miles in each direction (according to my GPS logs) or roughly 1.2-1.4 miles round-trip.

Starting from the cul-de-sac at the end of Fairway Drive, I followed a short paved stretch before it gave way to a conventional dirt trail.

Buck_Gulch_Falls_010_02262022 - The crossing of a creek near the start of the Buck Gulch Falls hike
The crossing of a creek near the start of the Buck Gulch Falls hike

There were forks on the trail that ultimately converged on the same spot so I just stuck with the wider trail to the left, which promptly crossed a creek that still had water and was easy to cross without getting my feet wet.

I’m sure under much wetter conditions, it might be a challenge to get across this creek without getting water into the shoe or boot.

The trail then reached a trail fork roughly 0.2-mile from the start, where I kept left to continue another 1/2-mile towards the Buck Gulch Falls.

Note that the path on the right was the Spyglass Trail, which was one way to access the Big Rock Ridge at the top of the drainage.

Buck_Gulch_Falls_012_02262022 - The Buck Gulch Falls Trail narrowed a bit after branching off from the Spyglass Trail past the 0.2-mile point of the hike
The Buck Gulch Falls Trail narrowed a bit after branching off from the Spyglass Trail past the 0.2-mile point of the hike

The Buck Gulch Falls Trail narrowed a bit, and I did see (and hear) water in the creek, but there was a side drainage that supplied some of the water so it wasn’t necessarily an indication that the target waterfall will have decent flow.

By the way, there’s a separate trail that climbed above that side drainage, and my map seemed to suggest that it was another access to the Big Rock Ridge.

Anyways, sure enough, as I proceeded further along the trail with its pretty gentle climb, the creek went silent again as the creek’s water hid beneath its porous and loose-soiled surface.

After another crossing (which was dry during my visit), the trail eventually ended at the attractive Buck Gulch Falls.

Buck_Gulch_Falls_051_02262022 - Context of the Buck Gulch Falls with some signage and hints of private property fencing erected by the H Ranch owners, but the dog didn't care so much about any of those things
Context of the Buck Gulch Falls with some signage and hints of private property fencing erected by the H Ranch owners, but the dog didn’t care so much about any of those things

Private property fencing and signs were surrounding the end of the trail, which made it abundantly clear that this was the turnaround point.

Overall, I wound up spending less than an hour on this trail, and this included taking pictures and chatting with a local playing fetch with his dog.

Authorities

Buck Gulch Falls (or Fairway Falls) resides in the Ignacio Valley Preserve near Novato in Marin County, California. It is administered by the Marin County Parks. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Buck_Gulch_Falls_006_02262022 - The initial part of the Buck Gulch Falls hike started off as a paved extension of Fairway Drive
Buck_Gulch_Falls_008_02262022 - It was a good sign that I saw some water on the creek at the start of the Buck Gulch Falls hike, which gave me hope that the waterfall would be flowing
Buck_Gulch_Falls_014_02262022 - After branching off from the Spyglass Trail, I then continued on the narrower Buck Gulch Falls Trail though it was still well-maintained and well-signed
Buck_Gulch_Falls_015_02262022 - Another look at the Buck Gulch Falls Trail, which skirted by the seasonal stream responsible for the waterfall itself
Buck_Gulch_Falls_017_02262022 - Passing underneath some interesting-looking trees flanking the Buck Gulch Falls Trail
Buck_Gulch_Falls_019_02262022 - By this point of the hike, I noticed that the stream bed lacked water again, which got me worried about the state of Buck Gulch Falls' flow
Buck_Gulch_Falls_023_02262022 - Buck Gulch Falls was surrounded by the H Ranch, whose easement allowed for the public enjoyment of the Buck Gulch Falls Trail
Buck_Gulch_Falls_028_02262022 - Continuing along the Buck Gulch Falls Trail as the canyon started closing in
Buck_Gulch_Falls_030_02262022 - Looking around at some fencing marking the property boundary of the H Ranch around the Buck Gulch Falls
Buck_Gulch_Falls_031_02262022 - Checking out Buck Gulch Falls, which surprisingly had flow even though it was late February 2022
Buck_Gulch_Falls_042_02262022 - The initial part of the Buck Gulch Falls hike started off as a paved extension of Fairway Drive
Buck_Gulch_Falls_044_02262022 - Closeup frontal look at the Buck Gulch Falls
Buck_Gulch_Falls_056_02262022 - Looking back at the Buck Gulch Falls Trail from the falls itself
Buck_Gulch_Falls_058_02262022 - Making my way back to Fairway Drive after having had my fill of the Buck Gulch Falls
Buck_Gulch_Falls_061_02262022 - Continuing the pleasant walk after having had my fill of the Buck Gulch Falls
Buck_Gulch_Falls_062_02262022 - Looking back at another local who was walking his dog on his way to the Buck Gulch Falls
Buck_Gulch_Falls_064_02262022 - Returning to the paved part of the hike as I was nearing its conclusion
Buck_Gulch_Falls_065_02262022 - Making it back to Fairway Drive to end of the Buck Gulch Falls hike


Since I drove to the Buck Gulch Trailhead from downtown Sonoma to the northeast, I’ll first describe the driving directions from there.

Then, I’ll describe the driving directions from San Francisco since I’d imagine the majority of visitors would likely be taking that approach from the south.

Approach From The North

Buck_Gulch_Falls_001_02262022 - Looking towards the cul-de-sac at the very end of Fairway Drive
Looking towards the cul-de-sac at the very end of Fairway Drive

From downtown Sonoma, I’d first drive south on Broadway (Hwy 12) towards its junction with the Hwy 121 after about 3.7 miles.

Then, I’d turn right and continue on Hwy 121 for the next 0.9-mile before turning left to continue on Hwy 121 and stay on it for another 6.6 miles.

The Hwy 121 eventually intersected with the Hwy 37, where I turned right and followed this road for 7.3 miles towards the 101 Freeway.

Once on the freeway, I’d then get off at the first exit, which was for Entrada Drive/Ignacio Blvd (exit 459B).

Buck_Gulch_Falls_002_02262022 - Looking back at the residential Fairway Drive from the trailhead for Buck Gulch Falls
Looking back at the residential Fairway Drive from the trailhead for Buck Gulch Falls

At the off-ramp, I then kept going straight until I turned right onto Ignacio Blvd, where I next followed this road for about 0.8-mile before turning left onto Fairway Drive.

Finally, I took Fairway Drive for the remaining 1.8 miles to the end of this residential street, where I then found street parking.

Overall, this drive took me between 30-40 minutes.

Approach From The South

From San Francisco, I’d make my way to the 101 North taking the Golden Gate Bridge and then continuing for nearly 21 miles before taking the Ignacio Blvd off-ramp (exit 459).

Buck_Gulch_Falls_067_02262022 - Context of the gate at the end of Fairway Drive, where the Buck Gulch Falls hike began
Context of the gate at the end of Fairway Drive, where the Buck Gulch Falls hike began

Once at the light, I’d then turn left onto Ignacio Blvd and follow this road towards Fairway Drive and ultimately to the end of Fairway Drive as stated above.

Barring traffic, this drive should take around 45 minutes or so.

For geographical context, Novato was 21 miles (roughly 30 minutes drive) southwest of Sonoma, 27 miles (about 30 minutes drive) south of Santa Rosa, 29 miles (over 30 minutes drive) north of San Francisco, 73 miles (under 90 minutes drive) north of San Jose, and 77 miles (under 90 minutes drive) southwest of Sacramento.

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Tagged with: novato, ignacio valley, marin county, bay area waterfall



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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