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    Dawn Falls

    4.5 (48 reviews)

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    Katie R.

    Nice shaded and tree covered out and back hike next to and over a creek. We came in January after the big 2-week long rainstorm so there was some water flowing, though not too much in most areas. The waterfall towards the end of the hike had a nice steady flow. Tucked into a tree filled and windy neighborhood, parking is limited. It looked like there were about 5 spots at the entrance, though most of them seemed to be taken by the neighborhood cars. We ended up parking down the road and extending our hike by about .3 miles each way. A beautiful addition to the hike. The start of the trail was mostly flat with a few bridge crossings and very small incline and declines. As you progress the terrain gets a little rougher with tree roots and more narrow passages. Then at the very end it gets pretty steep with some switch backs and more narrow terrain. Nice hike/walk and I would definitely do it again if I lived closer!

    Beautiful trees!
    Rachel M.

    What a beautiful hike in Marin County! It's not as popular as Muir Woods, but a great alternative for a moderately challenging hike with lots of shade from the forest canopy, a short steep incline to get you huffing and puffing, and a relaxing stroll downhill to loop you back to the start. If you make a left after the steep incline and follow it, you'll eventually get to the gorgeous views of verdant forestry, the bay and the surrounding cities from the top of the hill. Don't miss this! Highly recommend good hiking shoes with lots of traction, which will help you going down the jagged steep narrow declines of the trail. Parking is a bit challenging due to the 1 way residential street to get to the entrance. It's pretty narrow so watch out for others cars coming the other direction. It's been a pretty dry year and we didn't see any waterfalls but we did see some standing water under the bridge and other areas. Hope to come back when there are some falls we can admire!

    Top hill
    Shannon C.

    Great short hike with beautiful redwoods and lush forest floor. The waterfall is not too impressive however you can hike to the top of Dawn falls and continue your trek onto other trails with offer great views of the bay! Parking is in a very swanky neighborhood in Larkspur.

    Mark R.

    Very nice hiking trail. Well maintained and easy hike. Parking can be a pain. Nice to go just after the rain. There's a steep incline before the falls. Just be careful it's a narrow trail with roots and rocks. But overall it's an easy three mile hike.

    Lucy enjoying the turkey tail mushroom
    Precious M.

    Great hike for everyone in the family. There are accessible hiking for small children and there are also hikes that are also more challenging that head up the hill. I love that dogs are allowed, which is the best part! Parking is not great, get there early or park near that last turn before driving up to the trail.

    View of the mountains on the loop back.

    Such a great hike! We decided to do the loop and the kids loved it. The out and back option is still great, especially for little ones. You're walking alongside a stream most of the time so there's a lot of opportunities to stop and enjoy the nature with the mini falls, streams, and the main falls at the end. Highly recommend!

    Kevin B.

    When you trek through this breathtaking Redwood forest, you can't help but feel like you're a Hobbit traversing Middle Earth. Or, at the very least, you feel like you're on your way to the Ewok Village. Situated deep in Larkspur's Madrone Canyon, Dawn Falls offers something for everyone (runner, walkers, dog-owners, etc.). Although steep in parts, this isn't the most challenging of trails. Everything is well paved. Even a hiking novice will feel comfortable here. If you come here in the morning, you'll be rewarded with fresh air, friendly wildlife (birds, squirrels, and more), flowing cascades, and and other hidden nature surprises. Word to the wise - parking is somewhat limited. It's best to park on the neighborhood streets a few blocks away. I always just park on Magnolia Street near Perry's Restaurant and Equator Coffee. From there, it's just a 15-minute stroll to the trailhead. After your hike, I'd recommend doing a picnic in Dolliver Park on Madrone Ave. They have plenty of tables, a playground for kids, and a public restroom. As much as I love Muir Woods, Dawn Falls is truly my go-to choice for a wonderful walk in the woods. I hope you have the chance to experience it for yourself.

    Maurilio R.

    Get a way from the hustle and bustle of the city in this fun, dog friendly hike. It's a short not very strenuous fun hike with lots of Red Woods. There was no waterfalls or river (stream) today, but enjoyed the beautiful scenery with fresh air. The tall redwoods provided plenty of shade on the hike.

    Lower falls
    Caroline S.

    Beautiful short hike, clean, dog-friendly (most dogs were on leash, all were friendly), well-maintained trails with many trail options if you wish to extend your hike. Parking is nearly impossible because there are only a few no-tow spots near the trailhead so I recommend parking further down Madrone Ave (before you see the "no outlet" street Echo Place). It's only a short walk to the trailhead and you can avoid the hassle. There is plenty of parking up to this point on the left of the street, but once you go around the curve up to the park the street narrows to the point that you may have to back all the way down if another car comes-and you will most likely not get a spot. I was here before 9am and there was no parking near the trailhead. There are only 5 parking spots, which appear to be shared with residents. I say this because I only passed 2 people on the trails and most of the parked cars appeared to be still fogged up from the night before. The hike itself is nice, pretty flat with several beautiful man-made bridges. You follow the stream and hike through huge redwoods and vibrant green moss covered trees. You will pass a lower mini falls and right before the top of the falls you will climb some steep but short switchbacks. The falls itself is taller then expected and had a decent water flow but wasn't spectacular this time of year. If you headed back after reaching the falls it would be less than a 3 mi round trip hike. However, we continued our hike to the top of the Dawn Falls Trail, which had a lot of stairs and was a great workout. We then retraced our steps and hiked to the bottom of the Dawn Falls Trail, then to Piedmont Trail and found a staircase that took us down to Shady Lane and it was a short walk to our car at Madrone Ave. Overall, we made it into about a 5 mile hike.

    Galya T.

    Dawn Falls hike is one of many trails in Marin County. The trail is not that long, nor hard in terms of actually doing hard core hiking, but it is absolutely beautiful in its own way. What really gets me about Dawn Falls is how simple it is, no hustle. The road varies in width, sometimes you have tons of space and other times you have to step aside and let someone pass. Dawn Falls is dog friendly, which is always a plus for me. I love seeing all types of puppies running around with their owners, literally a dog's playground. The SMELL. I love Dawn Falls smell of red wood tress. I have been there during hard core rain/hail and dry hot summer. Both times the trail is different. When its dry hot summer day, you don't see any water running through the trees down the trail and there is no waterfall of course. The waterfall is not large even during rain season, which is the time i would recommend coming here. Waterfall is pretty, small and has a lovely sound. During rain season, I would wear actual hiking shoes, that are not slippery and support your ankles well. The road can be slippery during fall and winter. Dawn Falls is a special place, because its located in the heart of Larkspur and its not "obvious beauty" in terms of scenery and views. The light source is limiting but its incredibly rich in smells, colors and nature. Its a local spot, so many locals roll out of bed and go on a walk there, and maybe with a cup of coffee! I have done it and its nothing to be embarrassed about. We live in a beautiful and rich County that has tons of different types of hikes offered to us, I take advantage of being so spoiled and use the opportunity during all types of days.

    Joan W.

    Walking to the falls you feel as if you are in the Humboldt Redwood forest. This is more walk than hike and is perfect for a hot summer day where you worry you might get sunburnt. The falls are about 1 mile though you can walk a little farther up to the Southern Main Fire road and add on multiple trails or on the way back take the Lady Bug trail to add the Baltimore Canyon Loop if you want to make this walk more of a hike. The waterfall is present in the winter but dries out pretty quickly so if you want to see water head out here right after it rains. Parking is extremely limited so it's better to just park early on Madrone and walk farther, this is a nice walk as well because it's shaded by redwoods and you aren't causing gridlock at the end of the road.

    Cindy R.

    This was a nice hike hidden behind a cute little neighborhood. It was not too strenuous and offered many beautiful photo opportunities. The trails are well kept and there are beautiful tall redwood trees. It is dog friendly so make sure to take your fur babies as long as they are kept on a leash. There is also a great park where the kids can play and picnic tables to have a picnic.

    Lisa F.

    A beautiful little hike hidden in the heart of Larkspur. Right across the street from Equator coffee and Perry's restaurant if you wanted a reward afterwards. Highly recommend seeing the beautiful Redwoods!

    | www.eddie-hernandez.com

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    Gem of an easy hike. Dogs on leashes allowed. Parking can be tricky so snag it if you see a space early.

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    Review Highlights - Dawn Falls

    As much as I love Muir Woods, Dawn Falls is truly my go-to choice for a wonderful walk in the woods.

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    Phoenix Lake - Broken bridge- easy fix around the counter

    Phoenix Lake

    (73 reviews)

    It's fairly impossible to review Phoenix Lake itself in so much as touching its surface qualifies…read moreas a punishable offense. But you can review the trail around the lake which steers you completely clear of touching the water at all. The trail around Phoenix lake's circumference is easy, taking less than 1 hour to traverse. Leashed dogs are welcome. It'd be difficult to get lost. I always hike it counter-clockwise. If you're coming from San Francisco to hike but what you really want to do is have brunch, the brief hike around Phoenix Lake will allow you to achieve both your goals. Owing to the drought, the lake has looked quite sorry in the past few years but right now it's looking quite nice. Less dirt, more water There's a small parking lot and port-a-potties at Natalie Coffin Green Park, the entrance nearest the lake and trails, but you'll rarely find parking there. Parking on the nearby streets is also generally prohibited (welcome to Ross!). The best way to enjoy this space is to park for free behind the Ross Post Office and walk yourself all the way down Lagunitas Road until you get to the park, the full parking lot, and the lake. The benefit is that you'll actually then get in enough exercise to justify your brunch. It'll take a bit longer but it's an easy stroll to the lake and back. The hike around the lake has its ups and downs but never even begins to qualify as difficult. I'm not generally a fan of such a short, non-strenuous hike but must admit that the lake was looking remarkably pretty on a recent hike.

    Almost 4 mile trail. Absolutely stunning views. If you're a photographer (like me) don't rush…read morethese trails. Walking sticks are handy! Some Bicyclist have zero road side courtesy be very careful. Lots of locals who know these grounds very well. Newbies beware, and take your time.

    Bon Tempe Lake - Coming back to the lake.

    Bon Tempe Lake

    (28 reviews)

    This is actually just one of several reservoirs that make up the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. There…read moreare also creeks and a dam that add to the features. One of the main roads to get up there is just above the town of Fairfax in Marin County. It is a windy road but short, like 10 minutes or so. There are also a lot of bikers who like this area, so watch out on those narrow roads. Once you get closer to the park, the pavement stops and you will have to drive on large gravel for quite a bit, so don't be bringing your high end luxury car here. Lol Once there, an $8 parking fee through a kiosk awaits. I did a 6 mile loop starting at the dam and starting on Alpine lake. Easy start for the first mile or so, with most of it being lakeside. Then the middle 3 miles goes deeper into the forest cover and is more strenous, a constant climb that will speed up the heart rate. Love doing this amongst forest air. Deep in city confines...not so much. The descend will bring you back to where Alpine Lake and Bon Tempe Lake meets, by the dam. The top of hike is exposed and rocky but still gorgeous. Actually reminded me a bit of Tahoe with rocky trails and exposed blue skies. There will be a view of the lower elevations of Southern Marin County. There will also be many glimpses of neighboring Mt. Tam. And after that great morning workout, I was able to have a nice relaxing outdoor meal at one of the many charming independent restaurants in Fairfax, just 10 minutes down the road. Great way to start my stay-cation.

    A post on NextDoor.com caught my attention. Someone had just moved to the neighborhood and was…read moreasking how they could hike without paying the $8 parking fee they'd noticed in some areas. The deluge of responses made it clear: if you're paying to park in Marin County, you're doing something wrong. With only a single exception in memory, I don't think I've paid to hike anywhere in the county and these days all I do is hike. But, if you want to hike the grounds of the Mount Tam Watershed it is true that there's a $8 cost to that. You can get around this by purchasing an annual parking pass or checking a pass out from the Marin County Library system. Bon Tempe Lake is my favorite hike within this area of the Mt. Tam Watershed. With an easy to follow, well-trod, 4.8 mile path around the lake's perimeter, and situated only minutes from downtown Fairfax, Bon Tempe is a quintessential Marin experience. You're in nature, beside a gorgeous, placidly serene lake yet only 10 minutes from a good brunch or latte. There's nothing difficult about the hike around the lake and though it isn't flat, it's elevations are quite gentle. If you need more, add a loop around Lake Lagunitas (the two paths intersect) to increase your hike by another 1.2 miles. Fishing is allowed here (but no swimming) and the parking area - for Bon Tempe in particular - fills up early on weekends. All the more reason to make time for Bon Tempe on a weekday. There's lots of hiking options here in the Watershed but for my money, the half-shaded-half-sunny path around Bon Tempe is the loveliest of them all.

    Lake Lagunitas

    Lake Lagunitas

    (26 reviews)

    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!

    Such a cool place -- and it's one of those locations that not too many people go to unless they are…read morein the area. Somewhat of a "locals" spot for hiking, biking, and trail running. In addition, it's also a beautiful drive up! The road eventually becomes one-lane, so drive slowly when the road bends. People like to drive a little faster than they should on it, unfortunately. The parking is ample. After you pay the entrance fee, you'll see several opportunities to park on your way down the road. The main Parking lot is all the way at the end where the bathroom and shelter/picnic area is. There's also a neat creek and man-made waterfall over here as well that comes from the reservoir up top. The hike itself is really fun. We hiked up to the top where the reservoir is and really loved the view. My Apple Watch says that our walk around the perimeter of the reservoir was roughly 2 miles. I wouldn't call it a hike, per se, but it was a nice, leisurely walk in a beautiful place which is just as nice! There are tons of redwoods, oak trees, and wild flowers here, but also poison oak. The trails seem pretty well-maintained, so there isn't much need to worry about poison oak as long as you don't wander too far off the trail. Great for kids, as there isn't much incline on this trail. I would definitely come back and try more of the trails here.

    Dawn Falls - hiking - Updated May 2026

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