Came here with a birding group and was very impressed! Such a peaceful, abundant wetland area with…read moreso many birds. The trail is not a loop, but it's nice to walk to one end and then in the other direction. I did see a lot of dogs off leash, so long as they're friendly -and also that they don't endanger the wildlife- I suppose that's okay. Plenty of cool stuff from the airfield days in the neighborhood, too.

Since it's a wetland are there is a good amount of birds and other wildlife, I've seen some coyotes…read morehere as well. The trail is level, so this is more for a walk or a bike ride. I used to live around here and would come often. It was a great place for a walk after work but now if visiting Novato I rather go to Indian Valley, Indian Tree, or Mount Burdell because they are better. Hamilton is more suited for a hike if you live around here. No shade whatsoever, I wouldn't do this in summertime unless it was night. The parking is at Hamilton Landing or there's another entrance at Hangar Avenue. At the southern end of the trail there is a little area to stop and turn around or you could technically continue to go farther to do the Las Gallinas pools which is another 1.5 mile there. On the northern end you can walk all the way to Bel Marin Keyes Blvd.

Great trail with smaller off shoots. Go when it's not hot,…read moreas this area can be warm with little shade. Go after rains to see the waterfall gushing! But really, go anytime as the area is beautiful, and it's a peaceful, serene area. Lots of newts, frogs, raptors, birds, and other wildlife. Dog friendly trails are marked as such. We've come twice now and each time it looked gorgeous, and different due to various water levels. Leave no trace =)

Beautiful area with lots of fun and challenging side quest trails. My only complaint is that…read morethere's a LOT of horse poop everywhere so you need to look down to avoid it.

Only traveled on the floor level but it is beautiful, historic and calming park. Next to hwy 101,…read morethe freeway really doesn't affect the park settings that much. Plenty of trees for shade, picnic tables, a large fountain (unfortunately not operating) Some buildings & farm houses. Also easy access to restrooms. Will definitely go on the upper paths and hopefully see a view. Take a hike !!!

Hello everyone! Well this state park has quite a bit of history to be honest but unfortunately, it…read moreis really very rundown. This property at one point was owned by a family that actually played a key role in developing this area of California and they ran cattle amongst other agricultural initiatives on the property. The Grateful Dead actually lived here for a bit in the 60's and held a number of rock rule festivals in the property as well but none of that is evident at this point. The original mansion suffered fire damage and is pretty much condemned. An original Adobe house belonging to a prior Mexican owner is pretty much a ruin at this point but it is protected. There is also a re-creation of an Indian village in the property which is not much to see but it's there. Something that was pretty cool was checking out some of the fountains and remnants of non native flowers and trees that are still on the property in the garden related areas. A shame that the State of California has not properly maintained this park. Not saying you should not check it out. Plan for a cool day so you don't have any issues hiking the trails, which are not bad. Hydrate as well whenever possible and don't leave anything behind except your footprints. Hope you all enjoy your visit!

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!

We live close by and hike here often. It's beautiful and you can access hundreds of miles of…read moretrails. Some are pretty easy and others are very challenging. Things to consider: there is no water; no rest rooms; regular bikes and off-leash dogs are allowed on fire roads. Some trails allow bikes and some allow dogs. There are signs that alert you to what is allowed. Rangers patrol the area and enforce the rules (warnings and fines). If you have a dog, please pick up after your dog and take the poo bag (tickets for littering are expensive). Also, while not allowed, there are some people on very fast e-bikes who ride in groups, sometimes recklessly, and have hit elderly people. The majority of people are delightful and friendly. It's been my favorite hiking spot for almost 30 years.

What a gorgeous spot for a hike! There were so many options of trails to choose from. Stunning…read moreviews all along the way- Mount Tam in the background & views of the bay. Most trails were wide and I never saw any trash left behind. Looking forward to returning and giving some other trails a try!

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 is a short, but pleasant hike which takes you up a little hill. You can actually keep on going…read moreover the hill, and join up with the San Francisco Bay Trail down below. That trail is also known as The Levee Trail. There's plenty of parking down below. I got a spot without any trouble at all on Saturday morning. It seems pretty safe, but lock up your car anyway. The trail is actually pretty well-maintained, so even beginner hikers should find it pretty easy. You don't really need to bring extra water or hiking poles. Also, if you are a geocacher, there are two geocaches on this hill. At the top, there's a nice Lookout, where you can see the wetlands.

What's not to love? Wide open nature, fire roads for hiking, off-leash dog walking, cycling, horse…read moreriding, and some great views! There are some single track trail for hiking, some to share with bikes, and some that allow on leash dogs. With a little planning, you can hike or cycle to the coast! Pack water, clean up after your dog, and say to fellow travelers. We have been helped by some amazing people when we needed a hand and we've given water and jackets to those who were caught by early sunsets. Be kind.

I've been to several times for hiking and mountain biking. The trails are generally pretty well…read moremarked, and they're in good shape as well. This is a good place to go if you have a dog that you want to run with or hike or mountain bike. The people on the trail are really friendly and I met lots of really nice folks

Really incredible view, wish it was still maintained but still worth the hike up thereread more

What a little hiking and fresh air gem! This is literally in my backyard, and I just went to check…read moreit out for the first time. There are Spring wildflowers, grass and native Oaks. It looks like it is connected to another green area as well, behind the Cowbarn Apartments. It also has a paved road going up from Leafwood Heights, with some small parking lots. There must have been plans for this park at one time. With the road closed off, you need to hike in.

Spring and late winter is time to come when everything is nice and green. By May the grass dries up…read moreand looks like straw. The marsh looks out to Mount Burdell and Sonoma County. This is a great place for birdwatching with lots of ducks, geese, swans, herons and others swimming in the marsh. At about a mile and a half in you can turn around and go back the way you came or take a loop taking you along Atherton Boulevard where parts of the path are adorned with irises, oleander, and lavender. Both of these are around 3 miles. For something longer you can add the Bahia loop which is another 4.5 miles. I usually prefer a loop to an out and back hike, however here I rather do out and back since I prefer be closer to the water than a street with cars going by.

A great mountain bike ride (or hike) that's not too strenuous but plenty of small terrain elevation…read moreto make it fun. Years ago we started at the trailhead alongside Highway 101, now we drive down Atherton and turn on Bugeia Lane (which turns into Bahia Drive). Park at the trail head and take the Bahia Loop trail. There are trails all over the preserve but our favorite is a 6-mile out and back. The first part you drive through the hills fronting the Petaluma River Wetlands. There is some up and down but not extreme, but watch for hikers and horses (we always stop for horses and ask to pass). It's a single track that's fun to ride, beware of poison oak that creeps over the trail in Spring and summer. The 2nd part of the ride is on a fire road - you make your way up and overview the marshlands. We take the fire road and turn around at the wooden bridge. It's very common to see flocks of ducks, egrets and even pelicans here. A fun ride (or hike) out in nature.