Beautiful redwood park -- calm, shaded, and perfect for a low-stress day…read more What matters: * Baby-friendly (just watch uneven ground) * Bathrooms throughout (some have showers) * Parking is limited, so go early * Tons of shade * Lots of picnic tables * BBQ allowed * Campsites available * Dog-friendly, but only in picnic areas, campground, and the main trail (not most hiking trails) * No store -- bring everything Kids can roam, older kids can bike, and it's not overly crowded. Note: Creek access is closed seasonally (until June 15), so plan around that. Pro tip: bring a waterproof picnic blanket and plan to stay -- this is an all-day kind of place. Adding photos because it was hard to picture the layout before going.

Great campsite in the redwoods right next to the Lagunitas Creek!!! Super quiet and peaceful, just…read morekick back , relax and listen to the birds in the trees. I love music but it feels wrong to play music when you could enjoy the sweet music provided by mother nature! We stayed in the orchard hill loop, nice and quiet and further from the road. Creekside campsites look really nice but you are right next to the road and probably a lot more skeeters at night, also you don't get creek access. I would recommend campsites 48,49, 51, 52, 59 and all the lower 40's sites looked nice but the numbers i listed have long driveways that are perfect for sprinter van/RV or multiple vehicles. Definitely will be back. Cheers!

Fun easy hike under shade. Good for young kids. We saw Salmon in December 2023 and all kinds of…read morenature. Good short hike for any time of the year.

Just visited January 13th and saw about 4 spawning salmon. But even if you go when they're not…read morespawning, there are multiple large waterfalls (in the rainy season), redwoods, and an easy 1 mile round trip hike to Peters Dam and back.

Fun. Spectacular. Seasonal. Summer swimming. Now salmon are spawning…read more Beautiful nature at its best

Nice spot but beware that the water is often dirty!!! As of June 2021, the Marin County Department…read moreof Environmental Health Services advice is to avoid Inkwells due to poor water quality (i.e. excessive bacteria levels). You can get current updates here: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cd/divisions/environmental-health-services/beach-monitoring

The trail is around a 2-mile loop nestled in Samuel P. Taylor Park…read more Parking is $8 so I think this hike is better if you are already at Samuel P. Taylor Park. Not that many people are here on the weekdays so it might be worth the parking fee for some extreme calm because the trail doesn't get as busy as some other trails in Marin. I felt it was very serene, and you were really away from it all here with just the sounds of the running creek and woodpeckers. Visually it's very shaded with lots of greenery and ferns. I always get a sandwich at Lagunitas Grocery store beforehand and eat it in the park.

When my son suggested I hike the Pioneer Tree Trail he described it as easy and empty; he had never…read morebefore seen anyone on the trail and surmised that bringing my dog, whether permitted or not (he was unsure) would thus be no problem. He had obviously never been on the Pioneer Tree Trail on a summer weekend during a pandemic. Pioneer Tree Trail is a 2.1 mile loop trail that isn't flat but neither is there any significant elevation. It winds around and back and forth through beautiful Redwood groves and it's got a lot of charm. The fact that most people enter the trail from Samuel P. Taylor Park probably accounted for its popularity during my weekend, summertime visit. Children and families and groups who I'll assume were in some sort of Covid-bubble all seemed to be enjoying this hike on a sunny day. And even though she wasn't technically allowed, my dog enjoyed the easy to follow trail as well. If all you're looking for is a mellow stroll, go ahead and enter from the park. If you want more of a challenge though still no elevation, park on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. at Inkwells, cross the bridge on the north side of the road, and follow the flat, bike-friendly Cross Marin Trail to your left. When you cross the second bridge, do a u-turn and you'll encounter the entrance to the Pioneer Tree Trail. I have it on good authority that you can have this trail to yourself at most times, but I'd not rely on it during a summer weekend when people are itching to break out of their homes after months of sheltering in place.

3/21/2026 On the way back from Cataract Falls Trail in Fairfax, CA, we decided to stop by the…read moreCascade Falls we visited last year with no water, all dried up. Since the Cataract Falls had water this time, we believed Cascade would too. It wasn't far from Cataract Falls, but if we drove from the East bay it would take more than an hour through 880 north 80 - 580 - Fairfax downtown. The hardest part of the trail is to find the parking space on the road to the trail. All along the street has no parking signs, we had to park almost a mile from the gate of the trail park. The hike is about 1.5 miles and uphill but not too hard. There are 2 trails to get to the Falls, on the way to the fall we used the right trail, on the way back, we used the left trail. The left trail is easier, wider than the right trail, both are on either side of the creek. This time, the water is there, very nice, although not many people there due to parking we guess. Anyhow, it's a quest that's successfully achieved for us. We had lunch at the top of the falls, all by ourselves which was nice. The next one will be Burney Falls. https://youtu.be/eHk-oivo32w

Serenity now! Get ready for a great hike, a wonderful workout with such an incredible nature view…read moreof magnificent trees, rocks, water, ferns, birds, clean air, etc etc Cascade Fall trail is near Mill Valley, California. There are several paths from easily to moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 30 min to complete. This is absolutely my favorite trail for solitude, mindfulness. birding, hiking, and walking, Parking is a bit tough but if you can get there early, you can easily find a spot. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Enjoy!

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.

Wow--absolutely spectacular, magical, and truly epic!…read more Alamere Falls is one of the most breathtaking hidden gems along the California coast, tucked inside Point Reyes National Seashore. What makes it so special is that it's a rare "tidefall," where the waterfall flows directly into the ocean--something you can only see in a couple of places in California, including McWay Falls. Watching the water cascade over the rugged shale cliffs onto the beach below is simply unforgettable. The surrounding landscape feels wild and untouched, adding to the sense of adventure. Upstream, the smaller cascades create a beautiful lead-up to the main falls, making the entire hike feel like a journey through nature's artwork. This spot is not just a destination--it's an experience. From the scenic hike to the dramatic ocean views, every moment feels rewarding. If you're looking for something unique, peaceful, and awe-inspiring, Alamere Falls absolutely delivers.

People who have never been to Oregon will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls (a…read morewaterfall that flows into the ocean) on the entire West Coast. People who believe AllTrails will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls in California. (If you use Alltrails, you aren't allowed to hike with me, by the way.) Neither of these statements are anywhere close to true. As a matter of fact, there are at least two tidefalls on this one beach, and there are many more in areas that are not easily accessible to the public. Tidefalls are common along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Canada. There are several tall tidefalls in Cape Perpetua alone. That being said, Alamere Falls might be the biggest, prettiest publicly accessible tidefall in Northern California. I recently hiked Alamere Falls for the first time in nearly ten years, and I couldn't believe how much had seemed to change. First of all, the road to the Palomarin trail was hell in a compact vehicle. Even going like two miles per hour, I got a little motion sickness from the thousands of deep potholes. The road is so bad that it almost seems beyond repair. At this point, it's probably only suitable for high clearance vehicles, although I did not notice any signs warning of such. Secondly, I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person on the trail. The vibes were so, so weird. Consider packing your (legal) weapon of choice. Thirdly, I was certainly the only person to take the 'legal' trail down, although I gained some new perspective on this. While the trail that I took is ostensibly the trail recommended by NPS, one does have to wonder why it is so overgrown. It feels like, "Obviously, no one ever really hikes this trail," because it's nowhere near clear or well-trodden. Certain areas of the trail were so overgrown that it was impossible to see my feet, and difficult to find my footing. These areas were chalk full of poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, and a wide variety of (harmless) snakes. By contrast, much of the "social" trail was four feet wide, flat, and clear. Which made me wonder-- which trail is really safer? The cliffs at the end of the social trail are constantly crumbling. The risk of falling, breaking a leg, or at least spraining an ankle, seems high. But by contrast, the risk of spraining an ankle on the recommended trail seems high, too. And the stinging nettle hurt a lot, but only for a few hours. My personal recommendation is to take the recommended trail, but wear solid boots, long pants, and tall, colorful socks. Tuck your pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Use permethrin or your tick repellant of choice. While the official Palomarin Trail may be very long and difficult, it's also worth the trouble. The ocean views and wildlife were unbelievable. I actually saw a mother deer nursing two spotted fawns in the middle of the trail. On the beach, I found agates, fossils, shells, giant bull kelp, snowy plovers, and lots of by-the-wind-sailors jellyfish in multiple stages of life and decomposition. The waterfall itself is pretty-- but make sure to check the tide!! I never do, and I almost always get stranded. The first time I ever hiked this trail, I actually had to climb up a cliff in terror and wait 3 hours for the tide to recede. But that doesn't need to happen to you if you remember to check the tide before you come out, while you still have service.

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.

One of my favorite parks as a kid, and now one of my favorite parks to bring my own kids to…read more Péri Park in Fairfax has a calm, tucked-away neighborhood feel with giant redwood trees, lots of shade, and a softer energy than bigger playgrounds in Marin. Quick guide below. One thing I really love is that it has separate little kid and big kid play areas. Sometimes parks with toddler sections accidentally make the older-kid area feel boring... but not here. The bigger playground is still genuinely fun and adventurous for older kids too. The toddler playground is designed for ages 1-5, while the larger play structure is designed for kids ages 5-12, which makes this a really good option for siblings with different age ranges. There's also a shallow creek behind the park that families bring their kids to explore. It's only a couple inches deep in some areas, so children can safely splash around and play in the water while parents supervise nearby. That little creek honestly feels like part of the magic of this place. The park also has swings, climbing structures, slides, picnic tables, and enough space for kids to explore without the entire area feeling chaotic or overstimulating. ------ QUICK GUIDE Good for: * Toddlers (ages 1-5) * Bigger kids (ages 5-12) * Siblings with different ages * Slower nature-style park days * Families looking for shade What matters: * Playground: yes -- separate little kid + big kid areas * Shade: YES. Giant redwoods throughout the park * Seating: benches + picnic tables * Bathrooms: available onsite * Creek access: yes -- shallow creek nearby for supervised water play * Parking: neighborhood street parking * Terrain: wood chips/dirt-style playground surface * Dog-friendly: not inside playground area ------ Pro tip: Bring extra clothes if your kids want to play in the creek afterward.

I stumbled across this quaint little park on a trip to Fairfax. I'm glad I did, because it made…read morefor a welcome break after a long drive. There's a well maintained baseball field and batting cage on one side of the creek. On the other, there are tennis courts, a playground, and a nice shady area to unwind. There was a cool breeze blowing, and birds chirping in the trees. I think it's one of the most peaceful, relaxing parks I've visited in a while. I hope you like it too!