Really incredible view, wish it was still maintained but still worth the hike up thereread more

What a little hiking and fresh air gem! This is literally in my backyard, and I just went to check…read moreit out for the first time. There are Spring wildflowers, grass and native Oaks. It looks like it is connected to another green area as well, behind the Cowbarn Apartments. It also has a paved road going up from Leafwood Heights, with some small parking lots. There must have been plans for this park at one time. With the road closed off, you need to hike in.

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.

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.

An awesome place to hike! This open space has good trails featuring views of the Civic Center and…read moreMt. Tam. Some of the trails connect to China Camp State Park and Harry Barbier Park. The preserve is pretty heavily forested by oaks, bays, madrones, and a few redwoods, which keeps it nice and cool while you're working up a sweat. The trails are not heavily trafficked in my experience, and dogs (on leash) and horses are allowed on trails and the fire roads. Bikes are not permitted on some of the trails, but it's not uncommon for mountain bikers to come bombing down the hill with no warning, on trails where they're not supposed to be. Other than that occasional surprise, hiking here can be quite peaceful. If you're looking for a good workout out in nature, San Pedro Ridge is a nice option. I wouldn't recommend hiking here for absolute beginners, as some of the trails can be a little challenging even for experienced hikers.

Outdoors lovers like me look at that big hill west of 101 in the Dominican area of San Rafael, and…read morethink "I wonder what is up there." Thankfully, you can find out. Why? Because it's there. When I lived in San Rafael, I did find out. I started at the trailhead near Dominican University, and did the slow incline up the fire road. It's a dense wooded forest of oaks, very shady. If I remember right, I made it to the top a few times. The big surprise: I looked down the hill, and saw the remains of a car that didn't quite get the curve right, and now it's rusting 40 feet down from the fire road! I don't know if it's there anymore, but it was in the last millennium. Today, I found out more. This time, I started at a trailhead near the Civic Center. Now there is manzanita along with the oaks, alternating between shade and open space. And views, first of the Terra Linda area, then of the neighborhood west of downtown SR and also Mt. Tam. Names of parkland, depending on where you are: Harry Barbier Memorial Park, City of San Rafael; San Pedro Mountain, Marin Open Space; China Camp State Park, Land of Fruits and Nuts. You don't just happen upon the trailheads, you need to know how to get to them. This is not an easy place to hike. If you get winded on hills, you'll have trouble on these trails. It's enough of a challenge to give experienced hikers a good workout. Dogs love it too. Several single-track trails, and mountain bikes are allowed on them. NO WATER. San Pedro Ridge is not a unique place, but it is a very nice getaway when you're tired of being cooped up in your too-expensive Marin shack. The big thing about San Pedro Ridge is not the destination, but the journey. And what a good little journey it is.

This park is fantastic for kids of all ages. Our favorite part is the huge blue circle that spins…read more There are also swings and play structures and all u see gorgeous Redwoods in the heart of downtown Larkspur.

I've reviewed over 2 dozen parks and don't give 5 stars very often. This one deserves it. Location…read moreis super refreshing. What made me want to visit is the fact that it's in a forest of trees! I admit however, it was a bit odd that when I arrived, the "forrest" was about 1 block long. It's literally a bunch of trees in the middle of suburbia which I'm not complaining about, but it just caught me off guard. For those that need or want shade, this is the perfect place. More shaded areas in this playground than I've ever been to at any other spot. This place is littered with trees all super tall. Safety is all about access and the perimeter. The backside is surrounded by a tiny river. Frontside is surrounded by a wood fence which is quite fitting for the environment. Yes, there's a bathroom. Nice that the play structures are separated into a few play areas. This is good for separating children of different ages, but also keeps it from getting too crowded. Picnic benches too. Very nice "feel", that I can't quite explain that I've never felt at any other park. Truly a unique place. It may seem odd that the play structures are metal amidst nature, but the colors and design still go well with the environment. Funny that one of the play structures mimics a treehouse. Mulch everywhere which is great. Sand is so 1900's. Although parking wasn't tough, I think I got lucky. The street leading to this place is quite narrow. You'll find yourself taking turns w/folks coming towards you in the opposite direction b/c the street is just that narrow. This place is definitely worth visiting despite what could be a challenge with the parking situation.

If I can find any silver lining in this whole Covid crisis/Shelter-in-Place period, it's that I'm…read moregoing on more hikes and exploring/appreciating more of my backyard. One of my favorite, recent discoveries is the Camino Alto Open Space Preserve. I've lived in Marin County pretty much most of my life, and I had never been down this path before. It's located near Scott Valley at the end of Overhill Road. There's plenty of street parking by the fire trail. There are plenty of paths to choose from for folks of all fitness levels, so you can pretty much choose your own adventure. The paths here are immaculate and well maintained. There are plenty of Redwoods and shade along the way to keep you cool on those hot summer days. You'll find everyone from bikers to hikers to joggers. Everyone seems to play well in the same sandbox. The views of Mill Valley are hard to beat. And it's just so damn peaceful here. With the exception of folks wearing masks, you'd almost forget we were living in the middle of a global pandemic. Best of all, Camino Alto Open Space Preserve is dog-friendly. But please make sure you pick up after your pet. Remember: if they poop, you scoop. Don't be "that guy" who forgets to bring a doggy bag. The trail I've been taking as of late is just a three mile trek, all of which is flat. I'm looking forward to exploring some of the other longer trails. One trail will connect you to Horse Hill, one will take you over to Larkspur/Baltimore Canyon, and there's another one that'll take you to Mill Valley Golf Course. So many wonderful options! When I'm here, I can't help but be reminded of the Robert Frost quote: "Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Happy trails, my friends!

This is a pretty small open space, but it's still very popular with the locals. The parking is easy…read morenear to residential streets. The trailhead is very close by. If you want to take a jog or walk your dog this is a great place to come. Some of the routes have a lot of cover and are very beautiful. Keep in mind that the trail could be very rough if you choose to go down towards the Corte Madera Ridge Fire Road.

I come here every year for Corte Madera Oktoberfest. The park is on the smaller side but there is…read moreplenty of shade to sit and enjoy the scenery, or in my case the beer and German music!

This is a cute little park in Corte Madera that boasts the Piccolo Pavilion…read more While the park isn't very large, it does have quite a bit of seating, some of which is hidden up the hill behind some shrubbery. The Piccolo Pavilion itself it rather spacious and has its own built in benches. If you sit facing the hills its a quite relaxing and airy view. Because there are some cute smaller shops next door, it's a nice area to park and relax before or after shopping. No unleashed dogs or glass containers are allowed, but the parking is free.

In the quaint little town of San Anselmo, CA (which happens to be tucked in between San Rafael and…read moreFairfax) lies "Imagination Park". For those that choose to visit, this is a very tiny park with only a couple of benches for sitting. Do not expect to see a playground nor is there even a water fountain or public restroom. And keep the dogs at home as this is not a pet-friendly park. The space itself is equivalent to that of a backyard of a standard house. Located right off of San Anselmo Ave. and tucked right in between Magnolia Ave. and City Hall Ave. in downtown San Anselmo, this park eventually came to life back in June 2013. This idea was spearheaded by film director George Lucas who directed mega blockbuster films such as the entire Star Wars Saga, the Indiana Jones franchise as well as American Graffiti. It is very easy to find as the location itself is just steps away from the San Anselmo Public Library as well as the Town Hall. I came here on a warmer than normal summer day on 7/15/2023 at around 4:10pm. After parking my SUV just a block away, I was awed with the beautiful collection of pink/lavender flowers with the plaque that reads Imagination Park directly above it. But the real treat here is the life-size statues of one of Star Wars most recognizable and beloved characters, "Yoda", And directly on the other side is a statue of Harrison Ford who played "Indiana Jones" in all 5 of the movies spanning from 1981-2023. While you're here, its nice just to let your imagination run wild (hence the name "Imagination" Park) and just appreciate how influential George Lucas is in all of his movies. He actually used to have a residence in San Anselmo before relocating to the more private and open Lucas Valley. So for all you movie fanatics young and old, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the area. My rating, a unanimous five stars.

Once again, I've warned you my fellow Yelpers and random visitors perusing the Yelp app, don't set…read moreyour expectations too high when it comes to the size of the park. It's situated next to the San Anselmo Library, extremely small and not what you imagined (no pun intended). There are two statues here - Yoda and Indiana Jones, don't expect anything else. Be respectful when visiting this park. It's a lovely hangout spot like one of the Yelpers mentioned, go get some coffee and sit here and reminisce, or do whatever you want to kill time. It's definitely not a park with monkey bars and swings for the kids, so carry on. No hiking and no trails. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood and chillax. 'Til next time ~ cheers and see you on Yelp soon! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/imagination-park-san-anselmo?select=c6MF24JXpCU3GQUUhgfMDQ