Recreational Activities to explore when visiting Marin:

Enjoy Mountain Biking (Marin is the birthplace of the Mtn Bike!), Road Biking, Hiking, Jogging, Sailing, Motor Boating, Skateboarding, Golf, Tennis, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Fishing, Hang Gliding, Horse Back Riding, Car Racing, Motorcycling, Rock Climbing, Mushroom Hunting, stargazing, Wildflower Viewing, Bird Watching, Surfing, Skim boarding, Kite Surfing, Windsurfing, Whale Watching, Helicopter Touring, and exploring Mount Tamalpais, etc… all in Marin County, California!

 

Public Skateboard Park @ McInnis Park, San Rafae

San Rafael and Marin County are ideal for outdoor activities. The wide open space between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean invite hiking, mountain biking (which was invented in San Rafael!), jogging, picnicking, and even paragliding; there are several good spots for surfing or wind-surfing. Or you may just want to enjoy the beauty of the many mountain lakes or the rugged Pacific coastline; of coure, playing volleyball at Stinson Beach, surfing Rodeo Beach or Kayaking the bay is always another one of Marin's many outdoor options!

Tiburon Waterfront- walkers, bikers, & hanger-outers!

Marin Outdoors:

• Marin Open space development: www.marinparks.org

Beaches
The most famous/social beach in Marin is Stinson Beach, which offers many activities including surfing, volleyball, and skimming.

The best "bay" (vs ocean) is McNear’s Beach.  Situated on the San Francisco Bay; McNears Beach offers a mile of sandy beach, a pier, an outdoor swimming pool, two tennis courts and picnic tables

See full description of various Marin beaches described below (scroll down or click here).
 
Hiking
For those of you who like to hike, Marin County is perfect. And for those of you who haven’t not hiked before, you might find a new passion here.  But, no fear, there are hikes and trails that reward every type of "hiker", from the ultra-casual to extreme enthusiast.  Either way, the reward in nature views is there for you!

Mountain Biking
Mountain biking was invented in Marin County! Not surprisingly you’ll find hundreds of kilometers of great mountain biking trails all around Marin County.  (scroll down for more info, under hiking/biking)

Inline Skating
There are some excellent trails for inline skating (or “rollerblading”) in and around San Rafael. Our favorites are by the Civic Center and in Tiburon along the Bay (start at Blackie’s Pasture about 3 km from Tiburon and enjoy scenic views of San Francisco). Or take the ferry to San Francisco and skate along the Embarcadero.

Biking
Much of Marin can be explored by bicycle. There are numerous bike trails. Try the “China Camp Loop” following San Pedro Road from the Civic Center to China Camp and continue back to San Rafae

Skateboarding

If your into Skateboarding, Marin is the place to do your thing with 2 new Skate Parks!  McInnis Skate Park in San Rafael, features a 10-foot-deep bowl!  Free protection equipment is available at the park.  skateboarders also like to buzz around the Novato Skate Park on Hamilton which features The 15,000-square-foot park in Novato consists of a perimeter track of technical obstacles like stairs, rails and ledges and a five-foot-deep bowl that weaves its way through the center like a lazy river.  Whatever your age, if your into Skateboarding, these courses don't disappoint. Go dude!

    Tennis
Marin has plenty of free tennis courts. Tennis at McGuinness Park in San Rafael, with it's wide open views is always a nice option.

    Surfing
There are several good surf spots: for beginners it’s probably Pacifica or Linda Mar but for experienced surfers it’s Ocean Beach or Rodeo Beach and sometimes Fort Point in the Winter time. There is also Stinson Beach and Bolinas but the waves are not as consistent but for soaking up the sun they are probably the best; surfboards are available for rent at Stinson Beach.
Visit Surf Pulse for more information.

    Windsurfing
The most popular local spot for windsurfing is off Point San Quentin near the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.
Locations: Point San Quentin (near the Larkspur Ferry Terminal), Stinson Beach

    Kayaking
Sausalito and Richardson Bay are favorite locations for kayaking.
Location: Sausalito (about 15 kilometers south of San Rafael).
Visit SeaTrek Kayak for more information

    Canoeing

For great scenery and plenty of action, Sausalito is a great place to rent a canoe or take your own and head out with incredible views and plenty to do for every type of canoe personality- beginner to hard core.

Corte Madera Creek:  A great place to start and meander up a mellow creek in central Marin, or go out towards the open bay for more action.  Marin Outdoors will rent to you everything you need, easily.

Enjoy a relaxing day cruising down the Russian River between majestic redwood trees and sunny beaches.
Location: About 80 kilometers north of San Rafael.

    Whale Watching
Peak months are January through March, when it is not uncommon to see up to 100 whales each day. The California gray whale migration is best viewed from the Point Reyes Lighthouse, or from a boat trip to the Farallone Islands.
Visit The Farallones for more information and directions.

   White Water Rafting
California has a variety of rivers that offer excellent white water rafting for beginners to advanced. The best time is between April and July but there are rivers that offer rafting throughout the summer and into fall.
Visit White Water Tours for more information and directions.

    Fishing

Marin County is home to 27 different lakes for fishing.  In addition, we have the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean as premier fishing spots.  Don't forget about crabbing and eels too.

Visitors who like to fish can find many locations in Marin County for fresh and salt water fishing.  Some of the popular places include the following:

China Camp State Park – located on San Pablo Bay, has a number of points on the shore suitable for fishing.

McNear’s Beach Pier - located in east San Rafael on San Pablo Bay, is a good spot for halibut, striped bass and sturgeon.  Varieties of perch and shark are also present.  Entry fee is $8 per vehicle.

Paradise Beach Park – located between Corte Madera and Tiburon on Paradise Drive, has a fine fishing pier that gives access to the San Francisco Bay

Fishing is permitted in all seven of the Marin Municipal watershed lakes.  Licenses are required.  Please call 415-945-1194 for current fishing conditions or visit www.marinwater.org.

    Skydiving

For those of you who seek extreme excitement, skydiving might give you a good adrenaline rush. First-timers can try a tandem jump with an experienced instructor.
Visit SkyDive SF for more information.

  Horseback Riding

Marin is blessed with miles of open space horse trails, including campsites at Mount Tamalpais Skate Park and Samuel P. Taylor State Park!  Equestrian Centers are available in Fairfax and Woodacre, but the most popular is Five Brooks Ranch, offering a variety of horseback riding services.

  Golf

Views and courses abound!  Pick your scenery, level, and get out and play at any one of Marin's great Private or Public Golf courses (listed below):

 

Golf:

McInnis Park Golf Center
350 Smith Ranch Road
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-492-1800
www.mcinnisparkgolfcenter.com

With sweeping vistas of San Francisco Bay from its nine-hole golf course. The center also offers a golf academy, driving range, pro shop, miniature golf course, batting cages and an outstanding restaurant with a garden terrace. Voted one of the 100 best in the country.

San Geronimo Golf Course
5800 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
San Geronimo, CA  94963
415-488-4030
www.sangeronimogc.com

Located in the heart of beautiful San Geronimo Valley, only 45 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and ringed by forested coastal hills and roaming over 150 acres of stunning terrain, San Geronimo offers a true test of your golf skills and a relaxing day in the country.  Let San Geronimo’s professional staff help you with charity fundraising events, weddings, holiday parties, or any meeting needs that you may have.  Come and enjoy the challenge and beauty of San Geronimo!

 

StoneTree Golf Club
9 StoneTree Lane
Novato, CA 94945
Phone: (415) 209-6090
www.stonegreegolf.com

StoneTree Golf Club, Northern California's premier daily fee facility located in Novato, California features impeccable course conditions, incomparable levels of professional service and exquisite cuisine provided by Award-Winning Elaine Bell Catering of Napa. Designed by golf legend Johnny Miller, this 6,810 yard 18-hole championship course plays through oak-forested hills and valleys and across lush meadowlands splashed with lakes and natural wetlands. Just 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, StoneTree's edge-of-the-North Bay location makes it easily accessible from anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. Showcasing a bounty of natural beauty with magnificent views, StoneTree offers virtually unlimited challenges and rewards from tee to green- from your first drive to your final putt.

 

Mill Valley Golf Course: (10 minutes away) 280 Buena Vista Avenue, Mill Valley, CA, 94941 Phone: #415-388-9982 / Website: www.mvgolf.com Established in 1919, its nine holes provide a challenge for novice and skilled golfers.

Indian Valley Golf Club:(10 minutes away- very nice) 3035 Novato Blvd, Novato, CA 94947
Phone: #415.897.1118 / Fax: #415.892.3934 / Web site: www.ivgc.com
A beautiful 18 hole golf course that is open to the public.

 

Marin Golf Course Directory - A comprehensive guide to Marin Counties many golf courses. http://www.hookedongolf.com/courses/northern_california/regions/marin.html

Hiking/ Biking

Biking and exploring beautiful Phoenix Lake

 

Biking trail info of marin: http://mikesbikes.com/page.cfm?pageID=126

Bay Area Ridge Trails: http://www.ridgetrail.org/trail/

Hiking & Wine Tasting Tours: http://www.californiawinehikes.com/tourdetail.php?id=67

Bicycle Tours in Point Reyes- http://www.cyclepointreyes.com/tours.html
**Reservations(415) 663-9164Email cycle@horizoncable.com

 

Great Places to explore via hiking or biking:

Bolinas Ridge/Olema Valley, Bolinas:    
    There are many beautiful loops through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on both well-marked fire roads and little-known singletrack in this region. The Olema Valley is a rolling landscape of grassland and forest that stretches ten miles from Tomales Bay to Bolinas Lagoon.

Website:  http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_bo_ridge.htm

Camp Tamarancho, Fairfax:  Owned by the Boy Scouts of America, a 'Friends Pass' is required to ride Tamarancho. At $5 for 1-day or $40 for the year, it's a very worthwhile investment to ride some of Marin's last legal singletrack. This excellent 13-mile all-singletrack loop is one of the more exciting you'll find with terrain ranging from fast hardpack to twisty, rocky, technical sections. Lots of elevation change, beautiful redwoods, and sweeping views of mount Tam will keep you entertained again and again. Difficulty is intermediate-to-advanced.

Website: http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_tamarancho.htm

China Camp State Park, San Rafael:  A longtime favorite of many Bay Area riders, this popular park offers everything from easy rolling doubletrack to moderately technical singletrack with 1000ft of climbing to the highest point. The amount of riding here is deceptive- you can really spend all day if you ride every trail. Beautiful views await every turn as the park is completely surrounded on its eastern side by water. This is a great place for beginners to build confidence, but be aware that it is well used on weekends.

Website: http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_china_camp.htm
U-Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0MMggaogk8&feature=related

Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes: Located on 100 miles of unspoiled     California coastline and only one hour north of San Francisco, Point Reyes is a wonderful place to explore on a mountain bike. Most of the riding is on fire roads, with some select singletrack open to bikes. The scenery is the true draw here, and there is none better in terms of rugged, stunning coast. Terrain is easy-to-moderate.

Website: Bicycle Tours in Point Reyes- http://www.cyclepointreyes.com/tours.html

    Reservations(415) 663-9164

    Email cycle@horizoncable.com

Website: Pt Reyes maps: http://www.cyclepointreyes.com/maps.html

Rush Creek, Novato:  A pleasant beginner ride, with lots of dappling shade while riding amongst the oaks and bay laurel. The trail runs northeast, parallel to and between Rush Creek and the lower slopes of Green Ridge east of Highway 101. A diverse waterfowl population uses the wetlands of the Petaluma River to the north of the creek, with excellent vistas of Mt. Burdell to the west and Sonoma Mountain to the north. There is very little elevation change and total distance out and back is approx. 10 miles.

Website: http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_rush_creek.htm
 
Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mill Valley:   It is well known and much-lamented that most of the singletrack trails on Mt. Tamalpais are now illegal for bicycles. However, the birthplace of the modern mountain bike continues to impress with the challenge of rapid elevation change and some of the most beautiful views anywhere in the Bay Area. There are many famous fire roads and a few sections of sweet legal singletrack that wind around Mt. Tam, along with some beautiful rides through the lakes area of the Tamalpais Municipal Water District. Terrain ranges from easy to difficult because of the sometimes rapid elevation change.

Website: http://parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=471

Tennessee Valley, (Near Tamalpais Valley):
    Tennessee Valley to Gerbode Valley
    Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach Loop
Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the intermediate-level Tennessee Valley Loops are characterized by wide open ridgeland with sweeping panoramas and offer a variety of trail conditions. Summertime weather can vary, temperatures can drop 20 or more degrees in a matter of minutes when the fog comes in, so be prepared and pack a windbreaker. Expect anywhere from 1600-2500ft of elevation change.

Website(s): http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_tam_valley.htm  &  http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_tam_valley2.htm

Tomales Bay State Park, Inverness:   This Park is beautifully situated on Mt. Vision between Tomales Bay and the Point Reyes National Seashore. While there isn't a huge area to ride, the vistas and viewpoints make the 1300ft climb up Mt. Vision worthwhile. Terrain is easy-to-moderate.

Website: http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_tomales_bay.htm

Angel Island:   Angel Island State Park is located in San Francisco Bay and can be reached by ferries from San Francisco, Vallejo, Oakland and Tiburon. This ride departs from the Angel Island ferry dock, located just North of Sam's Anchor Cafe on Main St. in Tiburon, Marin County.

Website: http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_angel_island.htm
Ferry info Website: http://www.angelislandferry.com.
    This ferry runs virtually every day, year round (call 415.435.2131 for times). -- Please note that the ferry company does not provide regular weekday service between December and February. For accurate fare and schedule information check out

The Lakes, Ross (Mt Tam Watershed):   Start at the Ross Common Parking lot, Town of Ross.
        This ride is a popular loop around three of the lakes of the Mt. Tamalpais watershed. It can be ridden in either direction, and can also serve as a springboard to longer routes around the upper reaches of the Mountain. Abundant wildlife, enchanting vistas, and three delightful and serene lakes will make this a ride that will oft be repeated.

Website:  http://www.btcmarin.org/maps/maps_lakes.htm

Inverness Ridge:   This exciting single track is recommended for more experienced riders, and descends from the radio tower at the top of Vision Road to the Bay View Trail and Limantour Road. Steep and narrow, but great views of Drakes Estero.

Marshall Beach:   A good family ride; it starts on a paved drive just west of Tomales Bay State Park entrance. It goes uphill at first and then levels out into a wide fireroad. The trail drops down at the end, ending at Marshall Beach on Tomales Bay, a nice place for a picnic and views of the bay.

Drake's Estero:  Another ride for the more confident bikers, providing beautiful views of Drakes Estero throughout. Many rough patches provide great fun for the more adventurous. Trail leads from Sir Francis Drake Highway to Sunset Beach or Drakes Head.

Samuel P. Taylor Park
    Separate from Point Reyes National Seashore is Samuel P. Taylor State Park, which has the Cross Marin Trail, starting at Tacoloma at the Platform Bridge Road. The path is paved, cool, and shady and makes great riding for kids and beginners

Bolinas Ridge
    This trail has the best views of Tomales Bay and the surrounding areas. Although there are some tough climbs it is worth the effort for the view and the trip back down. Beginners will enjoy the mostly smooth track but may want to walk some of the steep hill and rutted patches.