#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!

Heads up for anyone planning a pool day during this heat wave -- I called McNears Beach Park ahead…read moreof time and the pool is currently closed and won't be opening until June. Really appreciated that the park rangers answered right away and gave clear information -- it saved us a trip, especially with the limited parking in the area. Sharing in case it helps someone else plan their day.

A great family park, with a beach, pier to check out views or to fish from…read more Swimming pool. BBQ and picnic areas. Wildlife such as the turkeys I took pictures of. Deer, and many other furry friends. Great for walking or jogging. There's plenty of open space for the kids to run around and play. Parking is free. Many portable toilets.

*****pay attention *****…read more Word, to the ignorant drivers who have never been on switchbacks DO NOT come here. As you blast down the very single car lane, not paying attention and laughing away isn't cute. Be mindful of cars and pediatricians. Believe it or not its not all about you! The road to the trail is all kinds of messed up. It's a single lane through a neighborhood with very little turnouts. Believe it or not, there are huge redwoods along this road. If you have never been on a road like this, please park at the bottom of the road!!! PLEASE! Even the folks who were walking up the road to the trail aren't alert. It's sooo fun to be surrounded by people who believe it's all about them yes, im being harsh, but it was that bad!

Dawn Falls Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail near Larkspur, California. It's considered to…read morebe a moderately challenging route. It will take about an hour to walk through this beautiful redwoods round trip to the Dawn Falls. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running. The best part of the Dawn Falls trail is that it's not crowded but you may still see a few other people while exploring. This trail is open year round but the best time is from January through November. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. However, I do see local dogs roaming without their leashes. Only a few parking spots deter many visitors. However, if you will be willing to be patience, there will on a parkingspot for you. This trail is maintained so clean here, so please no littering! 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.

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.

I've loved coming to Phoenix Lake since I moved to Marin in the 70's…read more I used to ride my bike from my house in San Rafael hitch up my bike when I got to the lake and then do a run around the lake and then ride my bike home. Trust me, I only hike it now! Today I added in a few new to me trails including the Yolanda Trail, 5 Corners & Shaver Grade. A mix of open exposed trails to a gorgeous canopy of redwoods & terrific views of Mt. Tam

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.

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

Going to this park is a lot of fun. There's so many activities going on, especially on the…read moreweekends. I usually will frequent McGinnis Park to walk along the jetty's near the bay. You can really get several miles in and it's completely flat so it's not difficult. But on a hot day it can be a little uncomfortable due to lack of shade, but there is ample parking and restrooms. I enjoy watching the birds, too.

Who would've thunk that this park has public tennis courts?! What a wonderful, unexpected…read morediscovery! Similar to Granada Park in Corte Madera, the John F Mcinnis Park courts feel like a tennis speakeasy. First rule of this tennis club - "you don't talk about this tennis club." The blessing and the curse of these courts is that they're kind of hard to find and get to (especially now, during this Coronavirus lockdown). But once you walk up the steep hill and get there, you'll be rewarded with four beautiful, well-maintained courts. There's no charge to play, nor proof of residence or membership. It's a total tennis lover's oasis! Not sure what's it like in the non-Coronavirus age, but players have to adhere to public court rules (no more than 2 sets or an hour's worth of play if others are waiting to hop on). All in all, this park was a major find! Beautiful, hidden location... but not too far away. Game on!