Great place to go if you like noisy, trashy hicks who scatter their trash everywhere and try to…read moreoutdo each other on the obnoxiousness level. Stayed here once and can't see any reason to ever, ever, come back.

Super crowded -- usually no parking in the lot. Many day trippers who are excessively loud and…read morescare off all the birds and other fauna with conversation, portable music and loud voices. The place is full of garbage and crap left by people who don't want to carry back their inflatables and dump them for other people to "use" (or haul out). People SMOKING on the trail (totally forbidden in the parks). Since this place has gotten so much publicity - I've just gotten tired of hauling out people's garbage, beer cans and wine bottles. Give Bass Lake a break - it's overrun.

This is one of the more beautiful lakes, but also one of the more difficult to get close to…read more The day that I visited, I parked at Alpine Dam, and took Kent Pump Road. It's a very level journey for most of the way, and at the end you get to see little peek vistas of Kent Lake. At the end of the road, you get a much better View.

Beautiful lake tucked away in the Hills of Marin county and a nice little hike to get to so be…read moreready to strap on your hiking boots and plenty of water for your trip out here. Roughly about 1.5 miles from the main road and parking lot you'll find yourself in a quiet quaint location to catch some fish or a beautiful place to do some yoga and meditating.

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.

One of the most beautiful hikes in Marin. Easy hiking, although not fully ADA compliant. Dog…read morefriendly--leashes & clean-up, please. Lots of hikers, runners, cyclists, kids, and dog walkers. It has lovely shaded areas and beautiful waterfalls after rains. The parking lot can get crowded. There is limited street parking in neighboring areas.

A really lovely hike around a small reservoir that is pretty family friendly. While you can't make…read moreit around with a stroller we did made it around with a 6 year old on foot and a 2 year old on my back. The main issue here is the parking as there are less than 20 spots and the rest of the potential overflow spaces are marked tow away. The nearby very fancy neighborhood has marked everything permit only and/or tow away, so we had to backtrack about 1.5 miles to town to park and then walk back in - NIMBYs be damned! Others just idle in their cars in the tiny lot and hope for a space to open up. Minus one star for not being more visitor friendly in the neighborhood.

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.

Beautiful Pond with ducks, geese, freshwater pelicans, Ingrids, and more beautiful birds. Great…read moreplace we walk your dog.

Tucked away near the freeway is a little pond with the walking park. There is an amazing number of…read morebirds and wildlife that use the pond. I drive by most days and I've found dozens of pelicans, swans, ducks, and smaller birds. I like having nature so close. I can't imagine what it was like before the wetland was developed - before the freeway and before the mall across highway 101. I am happy the City of Novato has cultivated this little park and hope it stays healthy for many years to come.

What a pleasant place to be after hanging out at the mall across the street…read more This was a quiet very peaceful Park with a lake. It is behind an office building. You can easily come here to have a quiet picnic. We walked around and it was actually a pretty big lake area. Probably about 20 minutes to 30 minutes walk. There were a lot of small gray color fish in the water and they would chase us as we walked around. A charming place to get away from the bustle and hustle of the mall across the street where we just had a nice udon lunch.

We caught over 30 bass here in 3 hours of fishing! There were schools of bass swimming by and a…read morecouple big ones! This was so much fun! We have a video on youtube: Fishing with austin ca$h

Came for a hiking outing, so not for fishing nor kayaking. Though on the lake itself, there were…read moreplenty of those activities. So this place is off the beaten path. It is tucked into the hills east of the Napa Valley. The country roads to get here are narrow and windy. Though a little tough to get to, what you will get in return is lack of crowds and serenity. Did a 5 mile loop here, which started with a climb up a hill through an oak lined trail. It climbs for about 25-30 minutes, and most parts are quite shady, so quite nice. Most of the views are just of the neighboring canyon landscape. You also may run into a few cows here and there. You also may run into pockets of bugs flying in clusters. This doesn't really *bug* me, but just FYI. On the descend is where you will run into the lake. The remaining part of the hike will now be flat, out in the sun but literally lake side. The blue from the sky and lake mirror off each other. A cool breeze often bounces off the lake to ease you from all the sun bathing you will be exposed to. But if you take out your earbuds for a while and just listen to the natural sounds here, (highly recommended), it will sedate you into a meditative state. This lake is so quiet, that you can hear the voices from the people on the boats, hundreds of yards away. It's crazy. So lots of bikes on this trail as well, especially this flat, lakeside part. So keep on the right side and be mindful on what's behind you at all times. And even though out in the cuts, you're still really only about 20 minutes away from restaurants/wineries of the Napa Valley.

As a local, this is one of my favorite places to spend time outdoors. If you follow the road all…read morethe way until it dead ends you can park and follow the trail around the lake, or you can go up into the trails that veer off of the main trial up into the hill. These paths are dog friendly which is a huge plus, and the trails are great for mountain bike riding! We've also kayaked as well and have come across fresh water otters that are so curious and love to follow your kayak. The absolute BEST time to come visit is in the spring when the grass is so green and all of the flowers are blooming. The water is usually very calm and there is a ton of wildlife to just sit and watch. It's one of the most scenic places in the valley, and it's so close to downtown St. Helena so after you can always go get lunch! Whether you're visiting or live in the valley, visit this gem!

Lake Chabot Regional Park is an absolutely beautiful place and easily one of the most peaceful…read moreoutdoor spaces in the area. From the moment you arrive, it feels like a true escape from the city--quiet, expansive, and surrounded by nature. The scenery alone is worth the visit. The lake is stunning, especially when the light hits the water, and the surrounding hills and greenery make it feel immersive and calming. It's the kind of place that instantly slows you down and helps you breathe a little deeper. One of the biggest highlights is the sheer number of trails available. There are so many options, whether you're looking for a casual walk, a longer hike, or something more challenging. The trails are well maintained and offer a great mix of lake views, wooded areas, and open stretches. It's also a great park because it works for so many different types of outings. You'll see hikers, runners, cyclists, families, and people just enjoying time outdoors. There's plenty of space, so it never feels overcrowded, even when it's busy. Lake Chabot Regional Park is a true gem. The natural beauty, variety of trails, and peaceful atmosphere make it a place you'll want to return to again and again. Whether you're local or just visiting, it's absolutely worth spending time here.

I am writing to formally express my disappointment regarding my recent experience at the park and…read moremarina area. During my visit, my children and I waited nearly two hours to get on a pontoon boat while I observed management allowing other individuals to board boats based on personal relationships or favoritism. This felt unfair and unprofessional In addition the staff behavior inside the café was extremely disappointing and lacked professionalism. The only positive part of the experience was the young men working on the dock, who remained respectful and uplifting once they noticed I was upset. They handled themselves professionally despite the stressful environment around them I also noticed several safety and cleanliness concerns throughout the area. Many of the boats appeared old poorly maintained and dirty From what I observed employees were mainly instructed to spray the boats down quickly with hoses, with little to no proper cleaning supplies being used This does not appear to be an effective or safe maintenance process for equipment being used by families and visitors Another concern was the way some employees were treated by management I witnessed behavior that appeared disrespectful and unprofessional toward staff members. I strongly believe all visitors and employees should be treated with courtesy, fairness, and professionalism at all times, regardless of background or position Overall the lack of organization, customer service, assistance, and maintenance created a very frustrating experience for my family and negatively impacted our visit to the park I respectfully ask that management seriously review these concerns and take appropriate action to improve customer service, employee treatment, safety standards, cleanliness, and overall operations moving forward