This trail is a hidden treasure. It boasts spectacular 360 degree views and gentle rolling hills. I…read morehonestly can't say anything about it that isn't better represented by the photos. P.S. We saw a snake on the trail and a hawk!

Such a good find if you are on this side of the Bay.. not too strenuous but trails are long enough…read moreto get a good hike in.... especially enjoyed the wild flowers and view from multiple angles.

Marin Headlands is one of the best regional parks in Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)…read more It is one of the best places to not only hike but to take pictures. This is also great for photographers. Pretty much the hills, grass, trails, rocks, and trails are amazing! This is also a great place for photographers. There are other places like those Battery ones and Hill 88, but my friend and I didn't really get a chance to go there since we pretty much missed the path and we didn't want to turn around. Honestly, it's really hot here and thank goodness that I bring water and snacks in case I'm thirsty or hungry. Most importantly, bring water! You'll need it if you're ever going to hike here. The trip is short in my opinion since I'm used to hiking for a long time. In the future, I am planning to come back here to revisit scenic spots that we missed. The hike might be longer since I enjoy hiking at regional parks.

My buddy and I love doing challenging long hikes and today we did 31 miles at Marin Headlands. It…read morewas an amazing hike full of different terrain and sightseeing opportunities. It was overcast when we hiked, but I like it this way only because it was very cool and the exposure to the sun was limited. We saw so many unique historical sites also, which I did not expect. The route we took had a lot of elevation gain and I had to put on some gloves for rock scrambling, but there are so many easy trails also. We also crossed the Golden Gate Bridge also, which is a first for me! Please come and create your own adventure.

The loop is about 7.5 miles and 3.5 hrs. All Trails says 6.7 but mine was longer. I've heard the…read morecounterclockwise version is easier. I loved this trail for all the shade and ferns it had. It was truly magical and exuded good energy from the forest. The part after Panoramic Highway (Dipsea Trai)l before you hit the Steep Ravine Trail is very sunny and you can see out to the ocean. It kinda reminded me of Southern California. This part can get quite hot on a cloudless hot day but the rest of the trail is very shaded. It goes past the famous Steep Ravine waterfall stairs. This is one of those trails that is very nice and peaceful during the week but the weekends can get crowded and you'll get a different experience. I'd highly recommend the weekdays if you can swing it.

Amazing 4 hour trail! We started at Stinson beach and had a blast! It starts quite steep but still…read moremanageable with the steps on the trail as you gain elevation. Great views as you're going up and we experienced some small pockets of sprinkles due to the fog roaming around. Not too many wet areas but we did come across some muddier patches. Pretty solid moderate trail. It can feel hard in the beginning but it gets better. I felt really hydrated with all the moisture around me. It's mostly shaded so that helps as well. Highly recommend!

The hike is about 5.5 miles and around 2-2.50 hrs…read more It encompasses a loop of the Rodeo Valley Trail, Alta Trail, and the Bobcat trail. The Bobcat and Rodeo Valley both have views of the headlands and a steady incline. That's one of the things I liked about this trail, the incline wasn't too much. You kinda forgot how far you were going because there weren't any strenuous parts. Alta trail goes over the ridge where you can see Tiburon and the bay in the distance. It also veers out to other trails in the headlands and Mill Valley. Marin Headland is beautiful with its wide-open space that's always green even in the summertime when the rest of Marin's hills are yellow. The Headlands is usually always cool but if it's one of those hot summer days with no clouds I'd avoid it as there isn't much shade on the trail.

First time ever to this location. Went through a one way tunnel. Easily found the Smith road…read moreturnoff to the parking lot. Also great clear signs further up to find the Visitor center near the top of the hill. There are more restrooms there if you need to go. I am not sure if the Visitor Center is open now? But I know there's a nice mini history of natives Museum inside. Anyway my group decided to find easier parking if we just all drove to Smith Road to begin our hike at that main location instead since parking is very limited at Visitor Center. Half the section is only 30 minutes parking. FYI- no cell phone reception in this area since you are surrounded by nature. Make sure your entire group carpool or know the spot to meet up. There's one restroom here. At start of trail we looked at map and we were going to do the 3 hour Gerbode Valley Loop from Bobcat Trail, Milwok Trail and Rodeo Vally Trail. We crossed the nice wooden bridge and started the light incline easy walkable, which was good. Surprised to see a ‍ running back down and a cyclists coming up. No shade in this section. I see views of mountains and to the right the tip of a Golden Gate Bridge pops up and you can see some of Downtown SF on right side. Eventually we came to a fork in road. We stopped for photos and then went back on the Bobcat Trail where got some nice shaded part of trees! Nice ! Thank you for the shade! Felt like we were in an another part of a forest, feeling cool, calm collective with fresh air! I loved the views of the Sausalito Bay and Hwy 1. You can just chill and relax here. Then rest of the hike is a nice gradual decline with not shade, so make sure you wear your sun hat. I was happy eating my apples, nuts and snacks and my water bottles to make sure I am well hydrated. I am proud I completed this hike with my buddies. Exercise is important to be healthy! Great hike with good views. Marin has pretty landscape! Will love to come back to explore more like Rodeo Beach and lighthouse!

This hike offers some of the best views of Marin & beyond. You'll see the GG Bridge, Richmond…read moreBridge, Angel Island, the Belvedere lagoon, Mt. Tam and more. We were warned to watch for coyotes - I always have a whistle with me when I hike so felt OK about it. We did close to a 4 mile loop maybe about 600 feet of climbing or so. Stunning!

The views here are 5 star, it doesn't get much better than this. Hiking wise the preserve doesn't…read morehave the greatest trails but it's more geared for a shorter hike with views. The most basic is to park at the end of Vistazo Street and take the fire road to the church and back. This is an easy 1 mile walk which is good for people that aren't looking to go hiking but want to take an easy walk in nature. Another way to get to the church is from downtown which is only about 15-minute walk and has some elevation but still easy. I think that's a good idea for ferry day trippers to Tiburon looking for something more to do than just hanging out downtown. It's worth seeing Old Saint Hilary's Church because it's so historic but the open hours are extremely limited, I've never been in because it never seems to be open. Currently I think it's only open Sundays from 1-4pm. There are a few different trails in the preserve but nothing is super long, it's more about the amazing views of the city, bay, Angel Island, and beyond. It's quite breathtaking, especially in the spring with the wildflowers. A sign sits on the top saying Private Property and No Trespassing and looks like there are some more trails beyond but they don't look too maintained or stable. To make this a longer hike there is the loop that goes down to Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve from one of the trails. This loops down to Paradise drive and adds about an extra mile.

"Where is the best place to get 360 degree views of the ocean?" Someone asked me this question last…read moreweek while I was hiking out at Tomales Point, and I've decided that the answer is Chimney Rock. (I mean, technically, the answer is actually 'from a boat in the middle of the ocean,' but I'm pretty sure they meant like, 300 degree views.) Chimney Rock is a thin straight of land that peeps out into the ocean. Or, in more technical terms, according to the NPS website, it is "the Eastern spur of the Point Reyes headlands." If you think of Point Reyes as being shaped like a double-headed wrench, the lighthouse and Chimney Rock are on the same side of the wrench, but they are the tips that oppose each other. Each one juts out into the ocean on its own. Of course, you could also get great, nearly all-around views at the lighthouse, but this requires hiking down 313 stairs. As opposed to the lighthouse, Chimney Rock is a much easier hike. In fact, this hike would have been a breeze, if not for the actual breeze, which was blowing at about 45mph. (Point Reyes is the second windiest point on the West Coast. If you are not able to maintain a very strong stance against the wind, then consider a different hike.) The hike was less than a mile each way. There were not very many wildflowers, but in some ways, this is actually an advantage over Tomales Point, because it allows for better unobstructed views. There are a lot of social trails at Chimney Rock. NPS has posted signs in front of these trails that say, "Unauthorized trail, hazardous cliffs. Please stay on authorized trails." I stayed on the authorized trails, not just because I'm a goody-two-shoes as a hiker, but because, as a California native, I understand cliff geology, and the very real risks associated with it. You may be thinking, "This cliff isn't really going to crumble and drop me into the ocean," but actually, this can and does happen all the time. (In fact, this actually happened to a member of my cohort at UC Santa Barbara.) A side hike can take you down to the Historic Life Saving Station. There is not a sign that says "this way to the life saving station," but you will know which trail it is because it is *not* marked with an unauthorized trail sign. (I have not yet taken that side hike, but it looks interesting.)

Yelp has the wrong map location for this spot. A nice hike and we were close and personal with a…read morecoyote during our hike. We just kept still and it walked on by. Pretty cool! The easy walk itself is fairly short out and back with a mandatory turnaround at the end of the trail. Make sure you venture to the right toward the beginning to get that awesome sheer cliff ocean view. And be careful because that little 20 foot desire comes with some wind. Many folks miss this feature of the hike. Lots of flowers during springtime.

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

Went here with a friend and her dog and had such a great time. Such a beautiful, peaceful hike and…read moredefinitely one of my favorites on Mount Tam. The drive in was beautiful too, the views of Alpine Lake along the way made the whole trip feel extra special before we even got to the trail. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, so it can definitely get your legs working, but the waterfalls make it completely worth it. Hearing the water and being surrounded by all the greenery made the whole hike feel so calm and relaxing. The views throughout the hike are gorgeous, and it's such a nice escape if you're looking for something peaceful and scenic. Definitely recommend checking out Cataract Falls if you're up for a little workout with a really rewarding payoff. Definitely will be coming back :)

For getting in shape on backpacking trips, high altitude treks, or a cardio workout Rodeo Valley…read moreTrail cannot be beat. The trail leads up to Hill 88 ( amazing spooky place with breathtaking views) but you can turnoff and head over to the FAA tower. This hike is roughly 7 miles with 2000 feet of altitude ascent....that's where you get your training. Stunning views abound!! You can seriously make countless permutations of hikes: Go down to miwok stables up to Wolf ridge blah blah blah. 12 mile hike no worries. Highly recommended with plenty of parking and nice bathrooms at the trail head.

There are a couple of parking lots that you can start this hike from. You can easily do a shorter…read moreor longer variation of this hike. We decided to start at the parking lot nearest to the visitors center. As you head up the hill you will get beautiful views of the valley and the beautiful hills above you. But then as you turn and start walking on the side of the hill over the tunnel you will start to spot Golden Gate Bridge from the distance. From there with every turn you make the view just gets better until San Francisco Bay opens up to you in all its glory. You get to see Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Alcatraz, San Francisco, and Golden Gate Bridge. And this is where you realize that all that elevation gain 987 feet was totally worth it. Personally we have done longer hikes and have even gained more elevation for a lot less of a view. When your done soaking up the views it will be time to descend down into the valley. What I found interesting was how much more greener and lush with vegetation this side of the valley is. During this trail we had to cross two non-busy streets. The loop is complete once you get to the parking lot. This loop is 5.6 miles long.