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.

Very soothing and tranquil spot to hike. Great views of the bay. Not too far. Good for families.read more

The hiking trails above Tennessee Valley in Mill Valley over to Muir Beach offer some of the most…read morespectacular scenery you'll find anywhere in the world. Coyote Trail which loops over to the Green Gulch and Miwok trails offer 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, the East bay, Mount Tamalpais and Mill Valley. It is especially beautiful during springtime with the many varieties of colorful wild flowers that dot the hillsides. Scurrying quails, soaring hawks, abundant butterflies and the occasional bobcat (not to worry as they are quite skittish) are common companions on the trails. A great alternative to the many shaded redwood trails if you're looking for warmth and sunshine. http://gurmeet.net/hiking/hikes/Muir_Beach_To_Tennessee_Beach_Long_Loop.html

3/24/2023 Lovely…read moredrive and so nice to see! On a road trip and needed a quick stop! Reminds me of the school field trips.. Fun places to learn new things.. Open all year around during daylight hours!

When most folks think about California's wild areas, they most likely picture majestic sweeping…read moremountain ranges, evergreen forests, the central and northern coast rocky headlands, arid deserts or picturesque white sand beaches. Fact is, most wouldn't even list wetlands... but they are one of the most underrated ecosystems in our state, and vitally important to the health of our fresh and salt water environments. San Pablo Bay is one of the largest of these areas left. As part of the greater San Francisco Bay and Sacramento River Delta complex, this area is critical habitat for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertbrates.... both those who live here year 'round, and those that migrate to and through this area at different times of the year. San Pablo Bay probably has more living things per acre than just about any other biome in the state. Tidal influences turn muddy areas seemingly devoid of creatures into bustling communities of creatures and food webs. At certain times of the year, wading birds, geese, ducks, and other waterfowl rest here on their migrations. At other times, many birds nest here in the marsh grasses. THis is definitely worth exploring slowly and patiently, and a little research in advance will help you discover more than just mud and grass. Slow down and use your senses... you'll notice more than you thought you would.

This hike offers some of the best views of Marin & beyond. You'll see the GG Bridge, Richmond…read moreBridge, Angel Island, the Belvedere lagoon, Mt. Tam and more. We were warned to watch for coyotes - I always have a whistle with me when I hike so felt OK about it. We did close to a 4 mile loop maybe about 600 feet of climbing or so. Stunning!

The views here are 5 star, it doesn't get much better than this. Hiking wise the preserve doesn't…read morehave the greatest trails but it's more geared for a shorter hike with views. The most basic is to park at the end of Vistazo Street and take the fire road to the church and back. This is an easy 1 mile walk which is good for people that aren't looking to go hiking but want to take an easy walk in nature. Another way to get to the church is from downtown which is only about 15-minute walk and has some elevation but still easy. I think that's a good idea for ferry day trippers to Tiburon looking for something more to do than just hanging out downtown. It's worth seeing Old Saint Hilary's Church because it's so historic but the open hours are extremely limited, I've never been in because it never seems to be open. Currently I think it's only open Sundays from 1-4pm. There are a few different trails in the preserve but nothing is super long, it's more about the amazing views of the city, bay, Angel Island, and beyond. It's quite breathtaking, especially in the spring with the wildflowers. A sign sits on the top saying Private Property and No Trespassing and looks like there are some more trails beyond but they don't look too maintained or stable. To make this a longer hike there is the loop that goes down to Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve from one of the trails. This loops down to Paradise drive and adds about an extra mile.

It's truly magical out at this point. I find it very meditative to look out at the scenery. Lots of…read morebirds, gulls, just the sound of the ocean. Can see Dillon Beach, Bodega Bay, Tomales Bay, and the abyss of the Pacific Ocean. It's no easy feat to get here, 2-mile hike in then 2-miles back. I think it's worth it but it's not for someone that wants a short easy viewpoint.

Tomales point is beautiful. The trail to get there is fantastic. read up on the geology of Tomales…read morepoint and you'll love it even more. It's all about tonalite.

I've always been a fan of the outdoors. But within about the last year or so, I've become a real…read moreenthusiast of the outdoors. Over that time, my favored outdoor activity has evolved from hiking to trail running. It's a matter of conditioning. It's not the trails, it's me. I cut weight, got more wind & now love the sensation running through all that beauty & splendor that is Nature. & there's a whole lot of that in Marin. In my ever-expanding quest to run the beautiful Earth, I found Yolanda Trail as a way to reach Phoenix Lake from San Anselmo. The point A was a bit out of necessity. Downtown San Anselmo has charging stations for my EV. The point B was a product of time & morbid curiosity. I hadn't been out to Phoenix Lake in a while & had read online that it was badly depleted due to our historic drought. Might as well go for a run to check it out. Going this route meant taking Oak Ave., a steeply-inclined residential road that eventually led to a gate & private community beyond. At this point, cars are a no-go but hikers, runners & bikers are OK. So long as you don't act like a total A-hole on someone else's street. Oak Ave. ends at Worn Springs Road & then the trail begins right across. Be ready for the Sun & have enough fluids. From this point to Lake Phoenix, there's partial shade in places but there's a lot of exposure to wide open sunshine too. The trail itself is mostly narrow but not technical. I ran it in regular street running shoes (rather than hiking boots or trail running shoes) & did just fine. There are decent inclines/ declines, but nothing too challenging for hiking & moderately challenging for trail running. From Worn Springs Road, the scenery stays interesting by constantly changing from valley vistas to hillside views to spread out tree canopy. Apparently, Yolanda Trail may also be a lesser-known route to Phoenix Lake as I didn't come across many other folks. All the way, out & back, from where I parked the car was almost 8 miles. From Worn Springs Road to Phoenix Lake & back was about 1/2 that. It was a beautiful day. It felt great to be outside. It was a solid workout. Yolanda Trail is a nice addition to my ever-expanding catalog of ways to run the Earth.

Beautiful open space preserve. I had no clue this place existed (new to the area) and discovered it…read morebecause our photographer recommended it for photos. I'm so glad she did! There's street parking nearby, beautiful easy hikes, and lots of nature. My son loved the open space too. It's not crowded, clean, and I look forward to checking out / exploring more.

I visited this Open Space Preserve by accessing the area near the Bay Club Rolling Hills in Novato…read more On this day, I was on my mountain bike and had only hiked here one time prior as I'm new to the area. I would say this park is better for hiking than mountain biking unless you live nearby. But there are better destination mountain biking choices in the area. For that reason I only give it 4 stars. That said, its a lovely regional park for wildlife viewing, stunning vistas of the bay and just being in a well preserved swath of oak lined rolling hills of Northern California. I really had a nice time exploring the paths on my bike and may have missed one of the better single track sections to the southeast side of the park. Next time!

I have been coming to this glorious beach since the 1960s with my family while growing up. It's…read morebeauty has remained. There is ample parking however weekends do fill up quickly. The beach is beautiful however I wouldn't venture in too far due to riptides and other dangerous factors. There are clean restrooms located in the parking lot and if you venture up some of the trails, you'll have some of the best views at the San Francisco Bay area.