Partridge Knolls & the Mt. Burdell backyard
This page is your guide to the neighborhood around 194 Butterfield Dr: the quiet, family-friendly community of Partridge Knolls at the base of Mt. Burdell, the schools that serve it, the commute, and the local spots worth knowing. If you are considering the home, this is the context that makes it click.
The community
A quiet, established pocket of Novato
Partridge Knolls is a small, well-established residential neighborhood set at the base of Mt. Burdell and surrounded by natural open space. Residents describe it as a quiet, peaceful, and family-friendly community with well-maintained homes, mature landscaping, and views of the hills.
It is the kind of place where the streets feel like a retreat, yet everyday life is close: Grant Avenue, Novato's main street, sits just down the hill with coffee shops, restaurants, and local services.
Family-friendly streets
Established homes, low traffic, open space all around
Nature at the door
Trailheads back onto the neighborhood streets
Open space
Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve
Marin County's largest open space preserve, at 1,627 acres, sits on the northern edge of Novato. The mountain rises 1,558 feet, and its multi-use trails welcome hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. From 194 Butterfield Dr, the trail network is immediate.
1,627 acres
The largest open space preserve in Marin County
1,558 ft summit
Panoramic views across the Bay Area on clear days
Open daily 6am to 10pm
Main trailhead at the end of San Andreas Drive
Multi-use trails
Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding
What to know before you go
- The Bay Area Ridge Trail crosses the preserve, including a roughly 7.5-mile out-and-back from Novato Boulevard to the summit.
- Hidden Lake, a seasonal pond formed by a landslide around 1900, fills in wet years as a vernal pool where frogs and salamanders breed.
- April and May are peak season for wildflowers and birds across the oak savanna.
- Dogs are welcome: leashed on trails, and under voice command on fire roads.
Plan your first hike
The preserve was purchased in 1977 by the Marin County Open Space District with help from local residents, and it has been a community asset ever since. For trail maps, hours, and current conditions, visit the official preserve page.
Marin County Parks: Mt. BurdellSchools
Novato Unified School District
Partridge Knolls is served by the Novato Unified School District. Public property records for the Partridge Knolls area list Hill Middle School and Novato High School as the middle and high school assignments. Elementary assignments vary by address, so confirm the current boundaries directly with the district before making any school-based decision.
School assignments change with district boundaries. Always verify with the Novato Unified School District for the address at 194 Butterfield Dr.
Getting around
A practical base for Marin and Sonoma
Novato sits along Highway 101, roughly midway between San Rafael and Petaluma, which makes it a practical base for commuters working across Marin and Sonoma counties. Partridge Knolls residents describe easy access to local amenities and the freeway, with Grant Avenue and downtown Novato a short drive down the hill.
Highway 101
Runs through Novato, connecting San Rafael and Petaluma
Downtown Novato
Grant Avenue shops and restaurants just down the hill
Local favorites
Where Novato eats and drinks
Real places, verified nearby. A few of the spots Peter points buyers to after a tour.
Dr. Insomniac's Fine Coffee
800 Grant Ave, Novato
Coffee, tea, smoothies, and baked goods on Grant Avenue
Finnegan’s Marin Restaurant & Bar
877 Grant Ave, Novato
A neighborhood restaurant and bar in downtown Novato
Bacon
1500 Grant Ave, Novato
Modern American plates on Grant Avenue
Batika India Bistro
868 Grant Ave, Novato
Indian bistro and cafe near the heart of downtown
Marin Coffee Roasters
1551 S Novato Blvd, Novato
Local roastery and cafe south of downtown
Peet's Coffee
7320 Redwood Blvd, Novato
Daily coffee stop on Redwood Boulevard
See it together
The best way to understand the neighborhood is to walk it
Peter will show you the house, the streets, and the trailheads. Tell him what you want to see and he will build the tour around it.
Plan your visit
Tours by appointment. Include the neighborhood in your request and Peter will route the walk through Partridge Knolls and the trailhead.
Thank you.
Your message is on its way to Peter. Expect a reply within one business day.