If I can find any silver lining in this whole Covid crisis/Shelter-in-Place period, it's that I'm…read moregoing on more hikes and exploring/appreciating more of my backyard. One of my favorite, recent discoveries is the Camino Alto Open Space Preserve. I've lived in Marin County pretty much most of my life, and I had never been down this path before. It's located near Scott Valley at the end of Overhill Road. There's plenty of street parking by the fire trail. There are plenty of paths to choose from for folks of all fitness levels, so you can pretty much choose your own adventure. The paths here are immaculate and well maintained. There are plenty of Redwoods and shade along the way to keep you cool on those hot summer days. You'll find everyone from bikers to hikers to joggers. Everyone seems to play well in the same sandbox. The views of Mill Valley are hard to beat. And it's just so damn peaceful here. With the exception of folks wearing masks, you'd almost forget we were living in the middle of a global pandemic. Best of all, Camino Alto Open Space Preserve is dog-friendly. But please make sure you pick up after your pet. Remember: if they poop, you scoop. Don't be "that guy" who forgets to bring a doggy bag. The trail I've been taking as of late is just a three mile trek, all of which is flat. I'm looking forward to exploring some of the other longer trails. One trail will connect you to Horse Hill, one will take you over to Larkspur/Baltimore Canyon, and there's another one that'll take you to Mill Valley Golf Course. So many wonderful options! When I'm here, I can't help but be reminded of the Robert Frost quote: "Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Happy trails, my friends!

This is a pretty small open space, but it's still very popular with the locals. The parking is easy…read morenear to residential streets. The trailhead is very close by. If you want to take a jog or walk your dog this is a great place to come. Some of the routes have a lot of cover and are very beautiful. Keep in mind that the trail could be very rough if you choose to go down towards the Corte Madera Ridge Fire Road.

Checked out Roy's Redwood Preserve in San Geronimo, CA. Free street parking on Nicasio Valley Rd…read moreby W. Nicasio Rd. We started on the right Redwood Loop Trail, little shade, mostly sun on this side. Saw the prescribed burn on some hills, then we took Mossy Rocks Trail down the stairs, to the boardwalk trail. Lots of nice redwood trees, I like the Fairy Ring Trees. We did about 3 miles there, can be extended to nearby parks. One pit toilet near the boardwalk trail. It was super full when I used it Sunday 6/28/26. I emailed Marin County parks to tell them, not sure anyone saw it. Worth going.

What a gem this spot is. There are multiple trails & loops you can choose from. The trails are very…read morewell maintained. The diversity of the landscape is fantastic. Truly appreciated the areas for kids & also ADA friendly. We enjoyed seeing some majestic old and tall redwoods. Large detailed map at start of trails- we took a screen shot which was a big help. Thank you, Marin County Open Space District for keeping this park in tiptop shape!

The Tiburon Uplands preserve is a short 1-mile loop through a heavily wooded area with nice views…read moreon the top of the bay. There is even a little bench at the top of the trailhead where you can sit and look out to the bay. The area is very canopied and looks like no one else is around. Some parts of the trail get very narrow, I would not do this hike alone as it's very remote and easier to fall off the trail. At the top there is a trail going to Old St. Hilary's Preserve which adds another mile to the hike. I think it makes more sense to add this since the views are amazing and there is no point to go down long windy Paradise drive for just a short 1-mile loop. I think it's actually better to park on Lyford or Heathcliff drive which dead end to fire roads that go to the St. Hilary's Preserve and go to the Uplands Preserve from there.

I found this place while running around Paradise Dr. and past this mysterious overgrown entrance to…read morea hiking trail. Lo and behold I looked it up and saw that it was connected to Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve. It has one official trail - The Loop Trail. It's less than a mile and somewhat steep and entirely wooded.Take a left at the park bench at the top of the trail and take the unmarked trail to get to Old St. Hilary's. Its pretty cool, but not very scenic. I would just go to Old St. Hilary's and call it a day. I'm not surprised that this the trail looks pretty overgrown. Tiburon Uplands is a nature preserve, rather than a developed park. Its 24 wooded acres are tucked into a canyon along a quiet stretch of Paradise Drive near Tiburon, about one mile south of Paradise Beach Park. A short but strenuous one mile loop trail winds through mature woodlands and allows visitors to enjoy a variety of native plants and animals, as well as excellent bay views from higher elevations. The property adjoins the Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve near the ridgeline. The preserve provides a secluded natural experience with few recreational facilities, and is not easily accessible. Dogs are allowed on leash. Directions: From Hwy 101 in Mill Valley, take exit 447 for Tiburon Blvd (Hwy 131) east 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Trestle Glen Blvd, right onto Paradise Dr, and follow for 1.5 miles. The park is on the left.

What's kinda funny about this trail is how it starts on Lucas Valley Road. There's no parking lot…read more(no restrooms either), so you just park on the shoulder near a big rock. As it turns out, that big rock is the Big Rock, so the hiking-averse among us will likely take a pic and drive away. Talk about premature climax. But you should keep going as the uphill climb wasn't that strenuous, mostly a gradual incline, and it affords nice views along the way. One view you'll have is of Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas's production facility although from a distance, it looked more like an upscale private resort. You might presume Lucas Valley was named after George, especially since he donated the land that led to the formation of the back-and-forth trail. However, it's named after a 19th-century Irish immigrant unrelated to George. The meandering, gravelly trail was mostly exposed so bring water and a hat. If you make it to the radio towers, you can pat yourself on the back for reaching the second highest summit in Marin next to Mt. Tam. You also might be lonely up there as I ran into exactly one bicyclist and two hikers on my entire journey. Instead, put in your AirPods and play a song like Peter Gabriel's "Big Time". Just replace 'Time' with 'Rock'. The lyrics still work: "I'm on my way, I'm making it / I've got to make it show, yeah... Big, Big, Big, Big, Big, Big, Big, Big ROCK!" RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

This is the perfect hike. I started at 4 p.m. on an August afternoon, and finished with plenty of…read moretime to spare. The grade is perfect for some uphill cardio, without going overboard. The downhill is not slippery and dangerous. at the top, adjacent to the radio tower oh, there's even a porta potty. The view from the top is fantastic. Look toward San Pablo Bay. You'll see the Carquinez Bridge off in the distance toward the northwest. look toward the Southwest and you'll see the finger fog pushing through the San Francisco Bay toward the Richmond and Albany Hills. There's a small place for parking right off of Lucas Valley Road.

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.

Husband and I heard about this trail from a friend and decided to do it today. This is an easy,…read morerelatively flat trail that is also quite wide, though somewhat rocky. We passed kids with their moms, older couples, dogs, and, and a couple of joggers, but the trail never felt busy or crowded. The path goes East-West and gives beautiful views of Terra Linda, San Anselmo, and even a little bit of San Francisco is the day is clear enough. We didn't have a lot of time, so when the trail broke off into a few different directions at about the .75 mile mark, we turned around to go back to the car. The trail was a bit muddy but was a very nice quick walk. Please be considerate as you are parking in a neighborhood; drive slow and maybe try to keep your voice down. We noticed that some of the driveways have parking blocks to prevent people from turning around in their driveways.

Natalie Coffin Greene Park is a quiet, scenic gem that's perfect for a peaceful walk or a bit of…read moremountain biking. There's a small parking lot near the entrance and a few paths that lead you right into the park. The shaded trails make it a pleasant stroll and it was surprisingly uncrowded even on a weekend, which made for a very relaxed visit. The area is clean and has a calm, natural beauty. Definitely a lowkey scenic spot worth checking out. Just a heads-up: some of the trails aren't very well maintained and a few of the small cross bridges have been removed, so watch your step. Still, it's a lovely place to unwind and enjoy some nature away from the crowds.

This was our first time at this particular park and we wanted to check out Phone Lake lake! We were…read moreactually out there rose garden nearby and I looked up on yelp what other good walks or trails were nearby and everyone kept boasting about Phoenix lake! Come early or prepared yourself to wait for someone to finish the hike which is about 20 minutes maybe 45 if you have a dog that wants to sniff everything along the way. Lol there's only about 20 parking spaces and the next area you can park in is a good mile away! Lol , unless you want a longer walk, be prepared to wait and politely turn off your car so you are not admitting aerosol into the park. There's actually a sign that says this which I've actually never thought of but I think it's cute and very quaint of them to add that particular sign. There are two trails you can go on a road road, our dog started off on the high road probably because horses can go on that road and my puppies liked the smell! Lol we ventured out towards the lake. My dogs got tired and we had to loop back. So sadly, we didn't get out to the lake this particular time, but we have to go earlier in the morning next time. There's also bathrooms that are regular bathrooms as well as a couple of benches in a waiting area along the way perhaps it's like a little cabin outdoor area picnic benches, but it looks like the park is used for something with a bigger group of people. We started our walk around 2 PM and this was our 6 mile walk for the day so I'm pretty sure they were tired. Since we have working dogs, they like to walk a lot but sometimes they get lazy. I was also very impressed with all the foliage coverage and the fact it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon and we weren't getting sunburned!! so I was very excited for that especially since our huskies have their own winter coats! Lol we will definitely come back here again to check out Phoenix lake and walk all the way out but probably first thing in the morning so we can get all the way there and back!

This trail looks like it might have been good a few years ago but now it's not a well-marked trail…read more All Trails mentioned this, but I thought it might just be in a few parts but overall doable. Wrong, I came and after 10 minutes in realized I was in a meadow with no exact way to go. There is no phone service out here so All Trails is useless, with service I think you can see where the trail used to be and be able to get through. I even tried it a second time in case I had missed something, but it still was just as bad though I tried to power through and walk without a definite trail but the ground is overgrown with grass and uneven and worried me that I'd twist my ankle or encounter a snake so I had to turn back. From the parking lot to the second gate after a creek is about a quarter mile so this could be a small little excursion to get a walk in, especially if spending all day in the car to get to the lighthouse. The trail normally should be 3.5 miles. It is a shame the National Park Service has not done more to maintain it.

"To expect life to treat you good is foolish as hoping a bull won't hit you because you are a…read morevegetarian."― Roseanne Barr Out of all the trails in Pt Reyes National Seashore this might be the most underrated out of all of them―as evidenced by the lack of reviews. Pros: -Only four-miles back-and-forth on a fairly easy trail -Cows! Lots and lots of cows! -Lots of different things to see, as the trail takes you from inland to a slight hill with magnificent views and finally down to the beachhead of the estuary (Drakes Estero). Cons: -Lots of poop to avoid stepping on (see pro pt #2) TL/DR: Great trail, amazing views and lots of "wildlife."