Phoenix Lake holds an extraordinary place in my heart. For over ten years, my wife and I brought…read moreour beloved chocolate Lab, Max, to this peaceful haven in Ross. It was hands-down his absolute favorite spot on earth to soak in the fresh air, take in the breathtaking views, and enjoy every step along the water. Whether listening to the quiet rustle of the trees, watching the reflection on the lake, or just walking the trail together as a family, Phoenix Lake created countless unforgettable memories for us. Max loved every second of being out here, and those years spent exploring the trails with him make this spot truly timeless. A absolute gem of a park, a sanctuary for nature lovers, and a deeply meaningful place that our family will treasure forever.

Phoenix Lake in Ross is one of my favorite places to hike and has become part of my regular…read moreroutine. It's easy to get to, and if you arrive before 9:30 am, you usually have a good chance of finding a parking spot. Even if the lot is full, it's worth waiting a few minutes because spaces often open up as hikers finish their walks. My friends and I love hiking here, and we also enjoy mountain biking on the trails from time to time. The trails are well maintained, the scenery is beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere makes every visit enjoyable. During the week, it's especially quiet, making it the perfect place to relax, get some exercise, and enjoy nature. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful outdoor destination in Marin. I highly recommend Phoenix Lake to anyone looking for a peaceful hike with stunning surroundings.

#23 of 2026! I'm trying to do at least one a day this month! Just 9 days to go…read more This was such a pleasant hike. A bit of an incline at the trailhead but other than that, it was pretty easy. I liked that we went on a sunny day in January. Such gorgeous views!!!

I found Ring Mountain on AllTrails and mapped to the pinned location but was completely lost. After…read moredriving around the residential areas, my friend and I finally found an unmarked trail head. The first part of the trail was extremely muddy (which was strange because it hadn't rained in a few days) and our shoes + my white dog were covered in mud. We decided to venture up the mountain and found the actual trail which was very pleasant. There was no shade so definitely bring your sunscreen and sunglasses! I also found two ticks on my dog so make sure to check yourself/your dogs when you get home. The overall hike was very pleasant & fairly easy and the VIEWSSS were amazing! Pros: VIEWS, dog friendly (on leash), not many people, easy hike Cons: Ticks, no shade, difficult to find the actual trailhead All in all, my friend and I both agreed we would definitely do this hike again!

Beautiful well maintained area for hiking with easy to more challenging levels of difficulty. Mid…read moreweek, afternoon parking was no problem and I scored a small, personal victory by checking out a parking pass for free from the public library. It was amazing to be in such a peaceful place, so close to our urban area.

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.

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!

This scenic drive is pretty neat. You can see the whole city from the top of this hill. The walk…read moreisn't long but the view is worth the hike. The drive is short, not much to see but trees. It's the hike that counts.

What a great find. I was driving along the Robert Dollar scenic drive enjoying the beautiful view…read moreand saw a fire road so I decided to explore. This hike is only about 25-40 minutes down and back so it's great if you don't have a lot of time but incline levels are good so you'll definitely still get a workout. What amazed me was the numerous views. It was so beautiful, you saw Mt Tam, the bay, San Rafael, Dominican Hills, Sleepy Hollow hills, the city, even the Transamerica Pyramid at the top of the hike. I would come for the view and glute workout. I didn't see too many people either but there were a couple of benches here and there where you could enjoy the view and chill out.

This Open Space Preserve is part of the Marin County Park system. You can easily access this…read morepreserve from the Camino Alto preserve which is immediately southeast of this part. I found that the trails and roads were in pretty good shape, but keep in mind that some of them are pretty steep. Also note on the map which ones are good for bikes and which ones are not suitable for bikes. On My Le summer bike ride through this preserve, I happen to encounter a volunteer. This nice gentleman goes through the parks and make sure that everything is safe and in good shape. I suggested that they have maps at the entrance, rather than just a board

Somebody's gonna get killed here. Or somebody's dog is gonna get killed here. Or both. It's yelp…read morecliche to say "I really wanted to like this place..." . It's not cliche to add "but I really enjoy remaining alive". So first things first: * Keep yourself and your dog - and anything else you cherish - close and hug the mountain. If you're heading up, stay far to the right and as close to the mountain as possible. If you're headed down, continue to stay there, even if it feels like you're walking in the wrong "lane". * Pray that the mountain bikers racing down the mountain stay in the outside "lane", have excellent brakes, vigilance, and a conscience. I wish there were signs that explained these rules but there aren't. Don't learn the hard way. There's a lot of options here. After street parking on West Blithedale, I hiked about 45 minutes up to a great viewpoint with a bench. At this point, there's an auto barrier which allows walk-ins and bike-ins. I went no further but was told that continuing on leads to a paved road then another fire road leading to many additional trails. (To get to this place, I took the path on the left when there was an option. Path on the left but keep hugging the mountain). To this point, the hike isn't difficult. The incline is gradual but the wide path is rocky so wear sturdy shoes. Others have reported this trail as sunny and hot but I experienced normal Mill Valley weather (cool and overcast). My dog and I generally enjoy a hike that doesn't entail fearing for our lives. By that measure, this isn't really a great place. I did like the ease of access and the long, gentle slope of the trail (at least the part I hiked) and for that I'd make a return visit. There's probably a law against even thinking this in Marin, but this would be a 4-star hike for me if we could ban the mountain bikers. Until then, no.

This is one of my favorite hikes because it goes over various terrains. The start is at Old Mill…read morePark in Mill Valley. Don't come here during school drop off/pickup times because it's out of control with traffic and difficult to find parking. The trail starts with about 4 staircases and they are long. It kicked my ass and I was out of breath. Parts of the trail were exposed, and other parts were in the forest. On a hot day with no clouds this hike would be much more challenging. I thought parts of the forest looked like a fairytale or from the Hobbit especially where it intersects with the Steep Ravine Trail. After 7 miles the trail ends at Stinson Beach which has lots of cute shops and is a good vibe. Many people do this round trip, but I don't have the time or the energy to do 14 miles so I just do one way. I heard ride-shares are really unreliable, so I think the bus back is the best option. The 61 bus, which picks up across the street from the Stinson Beach Market is how you get back. It's advisable to look at the timetables to plan beforehand, it's not like he city where buses come every 10-20 minutes. You get off on Panoramic and Bayview then hike back down another mile. You can technically take the bus all the way to Old Mill Park, but you'd need to transfer to another bus and it takes 25 minutes more so I think the Bayview stop is better.

I finally made it to this trail! I used to live & work in Mill Valley (years ago) & never made it…read moreto this hike. We started at the beautiful Old Mill Park (where I used to take my niece & nephew when they were little). As mentioned in other reviews there are lots & lots of steps! Great cardio & leg strengthening. The views are so worth it and the trip back was super quick bring all downhill. Many other options of hiking trails to take from here which I like.

Highly recommend King Mountain for the best hiking trails! It could be a bit steep in some places…read morebut overall it's not super challenging, you will definitely get a great workout that will be rewarded with the best views. You can bring your puppies to walk through the fairytale woods. It's never too crowded so it's very peaceful and will 100% help you to recharge! You can plan your hike to include downtown Larkspur. This way you can enjoy pre or post work out coffee/lunch/drink, etc. Overall, it's a must if you love peaceful breathtaking hikes!

Beautiful hiking, waterfalls in the winter, wildlife galore and peacefulness close to bustling townsread more