This was my third attempt hiking this trail but I still didn't finish it. Next time! The first time…read moreI went (like 10 years ago!) there was a sign about mountain lion sightings so I didn't hike. I was there very early and alone. The second time John was with me but we didn't go very far. This time we planned on hiking half way because it was an unplanned trip and we didn't have our normal hiking equipment (the right shoes, clothes, water bladder, etc). However, just two miles in is enough to show how amazing this trail is! The views are out of this world. Like heaven on earth. We encountered tons of wildflowers and Tule Elk. They were so close to us that we had to wait for them to move so that we could continue on the trail. When we got to our planned two mile mark, we both wanted to keep going. Despite the steep inclines in a few parts, the trail is quite easy--at least for the first two miles in. But we decided to turn around and promised we would return and finally complete this amazing trail. Now I know why this trail is one of the top most popular trails in the Bay Area.

This is my first time doing this hike. But my second time to Point Reyes. I went with the group of…read morepeople that I've hiked with a few times. I would say overall the hike is moderate level only because of the distance and there are times that you're walking through sand, which makes it a little harder. There are some inclines so you do go up and down a couple times, but those are doable especially if you've ever hiked in the mountains with steep inclines. Out and back trail that took us 9.8 miles with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, which was incredible. We got there early so parking was a non-issue. However, when we were leaving the lot was full, and people were parking along the roadway.

They're really not kidding about this being an open space because I'm not sure what makes this area…read moregeologically unique. A lot of trees and a lot of rocks. That pretty much summarizes my informed opinion of Loma Alta. Marked by an overpass bridge, it's off Sir Francis Drake Blvd just past Fairfax - though you need to slow down to turn off on the broadened shoulder to park comfortably. Don't let the speed-obsessed morons behind you feel bad about wanting to stop here. The underbelly of the bridge is saturated by graffiti, which actually makes it a visually interesting start to your hike. Now you can be adventurous and hike up Sunrise Fire Road almost right away and get to Loma Alta peak that much faster. That ain't me. I just followed the relatively flat, somewhat circuitous Old White Hill Grade to the Fox Hollow Trail. Very woodsy and on the edge of Marin suburbia, but you can get back to nature by following another fire road on Smith Ridge. Yes, your thighs get a workout during this uphill stretch, but it's not nearly as traumatic as the Sunrise route. The views were nice but truthfully not that extraordinary as Loma Alta felt a bit more enclosed than other similar open spaces in Marin like the adjacent Big Rock area. One unexpected treat occurred when I got back to the car and noticed there was a path aptly named the Sherwood Forest Trail. Here I was surrounded almost cocoon-like by a grove of big redwoods. Lovely. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Fantastic place for a hike, but do not try to follow the trail maps. There is private property…read morepeppered throughout this preserve. Trails end at Gates that threaten law enforcement action if you passed through. Scenery is quite pretty, and be sure to learn a little bit about the geology of the area.

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

This is a cute little easy walk along a boardwalk close to Baker Beach. I never see a lot of people…read morearound and it's fairly quiet so it's easy to become one with nature and enjoy the stillness with the sounds of many birds and faint hum of the street in the distance. The boardwalk goes over restored sand dunes and there are a lot of native plants like Yellow Brush Lupine, Coyote Brush, and Sticky Monkeyflower. To do a loop around the boardwalk is little over a half mile all fairly level. For a hike I go farther usually to the Lobos Valley overlook then on towards Mountain Lake. There are different paths to add, if you go through the golf course make a left at Washington and a right at Battery Caufield Road it's around a 2.5 miles for a loop. There also the nearby Batteries to Bluff trail up to the bridge which I like, the good thing about the Presidio is there are always many different options.

A nice and easy trail if you want a little walk along the outer side of the Presidio. The trail is…read moreeasy to find especially with the help of Google maps; I started from the Lobos Overlook and set to to Lobos Creek. From this direction, you'll start out more on a didt bath and end with the kind of boardwalk path. If you go in opposite direction, you can take the 29 bus to leas you to the boardwalk area entrance. My only wish is that there was more scenery like flowers or water to look at, but they do have some nice trees and kind of a shrubbery bushes environment going on. Hopefully they develop the area more overtime.

Spent a blissful evening walking around this area. There were hardly any people and I got to hang…read moreout with a seal, who has having a blast, and some seagulls while enjoying spectacular views of the city and GG bridge. Check out the pictures and video. I will remember this evening for a very long time.

Super! I visited this view of the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time today. I took the fire…read moreengine tour...had never seen this lookout point...Bay Area Discovery museum...hidden and on a scenic drive...view of the Golden Gate bridge...the Golden Gate Bridge has scenic points that are must-see and hard to find...cool!

Loma Alta Ridge. I keep going back for more!!!…read more https://youtu.be/zPq7GUQO7uw https://youtu.be/Urm8R-MALw0

There are a few open space preserves in Fairfax: Loma Alta, White Hill, and Cascade. This one is…read moretechnically Loma Alta. There are many trails that go up in the hills and intersect or if you go to the other side of the street it is the White Hill Preserve. These preserves are really popular with mountain bikers in Marin. During the winter there is a waterfall, it's not as great as some others in Marin but it's also not as crowded. The waterfall is located on the Old Railroad Grade trail. For a shorter hike that's about 2.5 miles I do a loop Of Old Railroad Grade-Hunter Creek Court-Baywood Canyon. Parking is 2 turn outs. I like the farther one because you go under the bridge and there's always some graffiti.

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.

According to Presidio's map it's 1.5 miles but that also includes the Ecology trail, El Polin…read moreSpring and starting at Crissy Field Beach. By itself it's much shorter. Tennessee Hollow is a path along a watershed and it's better in the winter when there is water in the creek. There's a parking lot off Presidio Blvd that faces the trail. Parking $2.50 per hour. This is nice place to sit in the car with lunch while looking at open space. The main part of the specific Tennessee Hollow is the path between Presidio and Lincoln then cross the street between Lincoln and Gorgas. There are a lot of birds, plants, and flowers in the watershed. I'd recommend going to the Tunnel Tops park afterwards.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I don't know what a 'hollow' is, but then again, I don't understand what a lot of things mean. I'm assuming Tennessee Hollow refers to the valley that this trail follows in the Presidio. Otherwise it's my brain that must be hollow because I have no explanation for the Tennessee part of the name. All I know is that it's a two-mile route that I walked north to south and back again. I started at the Crissy Field Marsh on the Golden Gate Promenade. That's where I crossed a couple of footbridges through the newly excavated Quartermaster Reach Marsh (photo: https://bit.ly/3cyrZ51). There wasn't much to see here yet except the underpass of the Presidio Parkway. I eventually made it to Lovers' Lane Bridge which didn't strike me as a spot for a romantic tryst (photo: https://bit.ly/3eIdnmr). I walked along the residential MacArthur Avenue until I found myself at the legendary El Polin Spring. Lots of kids were frolicking around the stone wells (photo: https://bit.ly/2PYDGdH). I climbed up to the Ecology Trail passing by a redwood grove (photo: https://bit.ly/38EjX9Y) and made my way back by taking a detour through the Main Post. It was a pleasant walk, quite scenic in parts though heavy on pavement for some stretches, but a good way to get acquainted with this hollow...or maybe it's a watershed. It doesn't matter because I don't know what 'watershed' means either. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nUl