I never knew of this place until I went to Target which is the most scenic Target I've ever been…read more The path is very smooth, with no inclination so it's good or even better for biking or running. It's about a mile to Jean & John Starkweather Shoreline Park and back which has a parking lot, bathrooms, and a little beach. This is worth it for the views of the bay and there is a creek on the right side for part of the way which has some birds, maybe a few pelicans. Many benches are on the path to sit and look out.

Gorgeous trail at the tip of San Rafael!…read more Hubs and I wanted to have a change of scenery and chose this park to explore. We ended up parking at a community center, walking through a strip of land surrounded by water and residential homes and ending up in Target, which was a great halfway point since I needed to use the bathroom. The walk itself along the water was beautiful and you can see the Richmond Bridge from a distance. There were several people walking, biking, hanging out along the trail which speaks to its popularity. The trail goes further than Target but we ended up turning back because our bellies were growling. We got some grub downtown- highly recommend the sandwiches and salads at Magnolia Park Kitchen!

Beautiful open space preserve. I had no clue this place existed (new to the area) and discovered it…read morebecause our photographer recommended it for photos. I'm so glad she did! There's street parking nearby, beautiful easy hikes, and lots of nature. My son loved the open space too. It's not crowded, clean, and I look forward to checking out / exploring more.

I visited this Open Space Preserve by accessing the area near the Bay Club Rolling Hills in Novato…read more On this day, I was on my mountain bike and had only hiked here one time prior as I'm new to the area. I would say this park is better for hiking than mountain biking unless you live nearby. But there are better destination mountain biking choices in the area. For that reason I only give it 4 stars. That said, its a lovely regional park for wildlife viewing, stunning vistas of the bay and just being in a well preserved swath of oak lined rolling hills of Northern California. I really had a nice time exploring the paths on my bike and may have missed one of the better single track sections to the southeast side of the park. Next time!

Came here with a birding group and was very impressed! Such a peaceful, abundant wetland area with…read moreso many birds. The trail is not a loop, but it's nice to walk to one end and then in the other direction. I did see a lot of dogs off leash, so long as they're friendly -and also that they don't endanger the wildlife- I suppose that's okay. Plenty of cool stuff from the airfield days in the neighborhood, too.

Since it's a wetland are there is a good amount of birds and other wildlife, I've seen some coyotes…read morehere as well. The trail is level, so this is more for a walk or a bike ride. I used to live around here and would come often. It was a great place for a walk after work but now if visiting Novato I rather go to Indian Valley, Indian Tree, or Mount Burdell because they are better. Hamilton is more suited for a hike if you live around here. No shade whatsoever, I wouldn't do this in summertime unless it was night. The parking is at Hamilton Landing or there's another entrance at Hangar Avenue. At the southern end of the trail there is a little area to stop and turn around or you could technically continue to go farther to do the Las Gallinas pools which is another 1.5 mile there. On the northern end you can walk all the way to Bel Marin Keyes Blvd.

Lake Lagunitas holds a truly special place in my heart. For over ten years, my wife and I brought…read moreour chocolate Lab, Max, to this tranquil sanctuary tucked away in Fairfax. It was one of his absolute favorite places to soak in the fresh air, trot along the quiet water's edge, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding redwood-lined hills. Whether listening to the rustle of the trees along the trail or pausing to watch the sunlight hit the reservoir, every trip here with Max created unforgettable family memories. Those years spent walking the loop together make this lake feel completely timeless to us. An absolute gem of a spot in Marin, a peaceful haven for nature lovers, and a deeply meaningful place that our family will treasure forever.

It was absolutely Beautiful. We hiked around the lake. It was an easy hike and so fun. They have…read morelots of picnic tables and so many trees. You have to pay for parking and it's at the station a little before you actually park I gave the lake five stars but the road to get up there two stars. It's a very skinny road and only one car can pass with two way traffic. Yikes.....But we made it and it was worth the trip!

We went on this trail last weekend. We were surprised by how close by it is. We took the dogs…read moreout---and it was an easy trail for the whole family. Our 6 year old enjoyed herself on this one. The views of the area are stunning from up here! It was a really clear day and we could see the city from up there. We will definitely be back!

Overall B: great views, easily accessible, neighborly hikers, and of course the Marin weather…read moreexquisitely mild.

I had forgotten how lovely this hike is. As we had some recent rain, there is still a creek…read moreflowing. However I think I would have to rename Dawn Falls to Dawn trickle. Although I don't own a dog, it was nice to see that this was a dog friendly trail. The head of the trail is in the depth of a forested, beautiful neighborhood. Parking can be challenging, but being a weekday we lucked out. We ended up doing a 5 mile out and back with maybe 500 feet of climbing. If we had more time, we would've continued up to King Mountain. Between the redwood trees, the creek the beautiful rocks and ferns the entire hike was delightful.

This is such a lovely trail in the heart of downtown Larkspur. But be aware they only have street…read moreparking, and it fills up pretty quickly on weekends. I love hiking here because the trail is easy and beautiful, and we can have our dog join us. People should have their dogs on leash, but unfortunately, we've encountered folks who flout that rule. Oh well! The scenery is beautiful, and the trail is less busy than other local comparable destinations. The bridges and redwoods make Baltimore Canyon a nature lover's paradise. There's just so much beauty to take in. I recommend coming in the late morning to early afternoon on a weekday when parking is still available, and the trail is sparsely traveled.

This Open Space Preserve is part of the Marin County Park system. You can easily access this…read morepreserve from the Camino Alto preserve which is immediately southeast of this part. I found that the trails and roads were in pretty good shape, but keep in mind that some of them are pretty steep. Also note on the map which ones are good for bikes and which ones are not suitable for bikes. On My Le summer bike ride through this preserve, I happen to encounter a volunteer. This nice gentleman goes through the parks and make sure that everything is safe and in good shape. I suggested that they have maps at the entrance, rather than just a board

Somebody's gonna get killed here. Or somebody's dog is gonna get killed here. Or both. It's yelp…read morecliche to say "I really wanted to like this place..." . It's not cliche to add "but I really enjoy remaining alive". So first things first: * Keep yourself and your dog - and anything else you cherish - close and hug the mountain. If you're heading up, stay far to the right and as close to the mountain as possible. If you're headed down, continue to stay there, even if it feels like you're walking in the wrong "lane". * Pray that the mountain bikers racing down the mountain stay in the outside "lane", have excellent brakes, vigilance, and a conscience. I wish there were signs that explained these rules but there aren't. Don't learn the hard way. There's a lot of options here. After street parking on West Blithedale, I hiked about 45 minutes up to a great viewpoint with a bench. At this point, there's an auto barrier which allows walk-ins and bike-ins. I went no further but was told that continuing on leads to a paved road then another fire road leading to many additional trails. (To get to this place, I took the path on the left when there was an option. Path on the left but keep hugging the mountain). To this point, the hike isn't difficult. The incline is gradual but the wide path is rocky so wear sturdy shoes. Others have reported this trail as sunny and hot but I experienced normal Mill Valley weather (cool and overcast). My dog and I generally enjoy a hike that doesn't entail fearing for our lives. By that measure, this isn't really a great place. I did like the ease of access and the long, gentle slope of the trail (at least the part I hiked) and for that I'd make a return visit. There's probably a law against even thinking this in Marin, but this would be a 4-star hike for me if we could ban the mountain bikers. Until then, no.

This morning my boyfriend and I stopped in to check out this beautiful park overlooking the water!…read moreIt was so romantic exchanging kisses and sitting on one of their park benches together as we watched as geese and ducks glided their wings through the water! They also had a nice playground with swings for the children and we enjoyed petting the dogs walking by! I would recommend this beautiful park and we will definitely be back!

Why the f are they on the John Deere mowing the entire field on a Saturday morning, making dust,…read moregas smell, and noise during the height of the weekend? Do that on a Tuesday or something? Whoever is in charge of the maintenance schedule here should be replaced.