Category: California

Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve

On By nationalparkswithtIn California2 Comments
Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

San Francisco Bay Area➢

In October of 2025, I flew to the San Francisco Bay Area for a long weekend to visit my cousin, who had been battling a serious illness. Her partner had spent the past two years balancing work with full-time caregiving, so we made a point of getting out for a few day trips while also spending time at my cousin’s bedside. We had originally planned to visit several National Park Service sites, but a federal government shutdown began the day I arrived, closing them all. Fortunately, California’s outstanding state park system gave us plenty to explore instead. Over the next few days, we visited towering redwoods, coastal beaches, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, and scenic reservoirs, proving that even with unexpected changes, the Bay Area offers no shortage of memorable places to discover.

In my rented Prius, I visited Portola Redwoods, Natural Bridges, Cowell Redwoods, Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve, Burlingame Shorebird Sanctuary, Lafayette Reservoir, and San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Though I’ve visited the area many times over the years, these were all new parks for me.

Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve➢

On the third day of my trip, I visited Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve in Tiburon. I had originally planned to visit Alcatraz, and ferries were still running despite the government shutdown. However, with no National Park Service rangers on the island, I decided to choose a different destination. Old St. Hilary’s turned out to be a good alternative and gave me a chance to explore a quieter corner of the Bay Area.

The centerpiece of the preserve is Old St. Hilary’s Church, a small white chapel built in 1888. Surrounded by open hillsides, the pristine white building made a striking subject for photographs. I wandered around the church before following the hilly paths behind it. The climb was worth it for the views across the Bay. On a clear day, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, along with the surrounding hills and water. I had the preserve almost entirely to myself, which made the visit especially peaceful.

On my way back, I stopped in Sausalito and spent some time walking along the waterfront. After several days of exploring parks and historic sites, it was a nice way to finish the day, with views of the bay, boats, and the San Francisco skyline.

Bay Area Posts➢

Location: 201 Esperanza St, Tiburon, California
Designation: Open Space Preserve
Date designated/established: October 30, 1960
Date of my visit: October 4, 2020