Head coastward along the Bear Valley Trail to the Coast Trail, and then south to Wildcat Camp, a trip of about 6 1/2 miles. Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Top Marin County Waterfalls: See reviews and photos of waterfalls in Marin County, California on Tripadvisor. The 25-foot waterfall draws weekend crowds who revel in the refreshing results of a wet season. Marin Waterfalls. The campsite rests in a gorgeous meadow overlooking the ocean, and Wildcat Beach is only feet away. Carson Falls is a 150ft five-tiered waterfall reached by an up-and-down hike on open roads with views of the north end of the San Francisco Bay in Marin County. Add these and more to your travel plan Alamere Falls is a beautiful waterfall deep within the Phillip Burton Wilderness. You can get right up close to the broad stone face of the waterfall and stand amid fallen trees, or hike above the falls, taking care not to slip on wet rocks. Let us add another check mark to the list: dog-friendly hiking in Marin County. This coastal campground is relatively secluded but completely worth the lack of on-site parking. Dramatic waves sometimes whip the shore and there's a marshland nearby. The hike takes about an hour. (Photo from Pinterest), Other places to behold the wonders of cascading water include The Mount Tamalpais Watershed (pictured), which boasts several well-known waterfalls, including Carson Falls and Cataract Falls. (Photo courtesy of californiabeaches.com), Fern Canyon Trail, Russian Gulch State Park, Mendocino County: Though a popular Mendocino Coast walk, there is nonetheless something intimate about the hike up Fern Canyon to the 36-foot waterfall in Russian Gulch State Park. Most Beautiful Marin County and Great for a Walk: Rodeo Beach is one of Marin’s most beautiful beaches and it's close to San Francisco, too, on the west side of the Marin Headlands. Waterfall Trail, Indian Valley, Novato: The Waterfall Trail at Indian Valley Open Space Preserve in Novato offers a short and easy waterfall hike that almost anyone can manage. While many of the beaches along the Pacific Ocean are unsuitable for swimming, there are also many beaches that are ideal spots for swimming, wading, and splashing in the water, especially on warm summer (and also spring and fall) days. Through in-depth stories and vivid photography, Sonoma Magazine keeps readers on the pulse of the restaurants, wineries, arts, entertainment, culture and style that make Sonoma a destination, a haven, and a way of life. 2020's top natural attractions in Marin County include Muir Woods National Monument, Marin Headlands + Mount Tamalpais State Park. Copyright © 2020 SMI Media. Marin County, California Our Favorite Waterfall: Alamere Falls Drop Off: 40 feet. It’s … … Beach + waterfalls. Where to Go Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in Sonoma County, 15 Stylish and Well-Fitting Face Masks from Sonoma County Stores, Countdown to Christmas: 20 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays Sonoma-Style, 25 New and Coming-Soon Restaurants in Sonoma County. Total distance: 6.3 miles. Even if there were no waterfall to see here, the short hike into virgin redwood forest is like a trip into an enchanted land, where brilliant green moss coats the rocks and fallen timber amid majestic redwoods that have stood tall for centuries. My family loves to go to the beach, and there are plenty of places to do this in and around Marin. Dog Regulations: Dogs on leash at all times. Cascade Falls in Mill Valley’s Cascade Canyon is one of the easiest waterfalls to visit in Marin. It is a rare “tidefall” that crests the edge of the continent near the southern end of the national seashore, also offering gorgeous coastal views that, on clear days, take in the Farallon Islands. After a wet winter with plenty of runoff, Marin becomes home to a number of spectacular waterfalls. Wild beauty reigns supreme across the Golden Gate Bridge, and there's no better adventure partner than your favorite four-legged friend. All rights reserved. A 5.5 mile-long hike will lead you to a vast open meadow flanked by vibrant wildflowers where you can pitch your tent. While no easy treka 13-mile (20 km) minimum round-trip hike is requiredthis spectacular spot is a popularand a sometimes overcrowdedvisitor draw. (Photo by John Burgess), Russian Gulch State Park is located at 12301 North Highway 1, about 2 miles north of the town of Mendocino. … Waterfalls? Mount Diablo Falls. (Photo by Chris Hardy), Those who prefer a longer trip through the redwood canyon on their way to Sonoma Creek Falls can take a 2-mile loop that starts down the Pony Gate Trail for a little over a mile before it links up with the Canyon Trail and aligns with Sonoma Creek, taking visitors up into rocky canyon from which the waterfall springs. (Photo courtesy of californiabeaches.com), For North Coast residents, the most efficient and least crowded route to Alamere Falls starts inside the park at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station. Does it get better? The trail starts at the east end of the campground and follows an old logging road with crumbling asphalt for the first 1.9 miles. Nearby, in the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Larkspur Creek produces the Dawn Falls. (Photo by John Burgess). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. more, Continue your visit to www.tripadvisor.com, "There are cute little bridges to cross, lovely shady wooded areas to walks through and breathtaking cliffs were you can look over at the, "You wander through the woods for a bit (from the Palomarin, "We went on the short hike (3.3 miles round trip) to the picnic grounds at the top of the, Hotels near Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Hotels near Sausalito Ice House Visitors Center, Hotels near (LAX) Los Angeles Intl Airport, Hotels near (OAK) Metropolitan Oakland Intl Airport, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Marin County, Things to do near (LAX) Los Angeles Intl Airport, Things to do near (OAK) Metropolitan Oakland Intl Airport, Things to do near Muir Woods National Monument, Things to do near Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Things to do near Mount Tamalpais State Park. Saving the Sonoma Coast: How Environmentalists Helped Protect Our Natural Treasure, Four Favorite Fall Hikes in Sonoma County, Half-Bottles for the Holidays: 10 Small-Format Sonoma Wines That Are Mighty Good, How to Restaurant Now: Local Takeout Triumphs and Delivery Disasters, Sonoma County’s Best Restaurant Dishes 2020, Heat & Eat Rescue: These Local Restaurants Are Serving Up Family Meals To Go. (Photo by Chris Hardy), Take Highway 1 north of Jenner to the Stump Cove parking lot at Salt Point State Park for Phillips Gulch Falls, and to the Stengel Beach lot for that site’s eponymous falls. Take note: it is also the site of multiple search-and-rescue operations each year. map . The falls are best seen after a heavy rain. 5.7 miles, 1,177 feet of elevation gain, low congestion, solitude in Marin's hilltop interior. This trip was taken at the beginning of November before the rains returned, so … Marin County, California. In that link you’ll find our three favorite falls. The waterfall is located about a third of a mile along, but the path continues northward, climbing back up to the road at a point about a half-mile from the steep staircase for a total trip of about 3 miles. Activities: Bike, Dogs On Leash, Dogs Voice Control, Fish, Hike, Horseback Riding Sonoma Magazine is an award-winning, bi-monthly publication that celebrates the Sonoma landscape and lifestyle. With its abundance of public parkland and open space, the North Coast is too full of gushing streams and cascading creek flows to mention them all. Lagunitas is almost Phoenix Lake's twin because their habitats are similar, they are almost the same size and they are both popular with locals, especially families. Small ravines that traverse the coastal forest and grasslands transport water seasonally. www.EddieHernandez.photography (Photo by Chris Hardy), Waterfalls on the Sonoma Coast are most impressive when the water volume is highest—during storms. … See more ideas about Marin county, Marines, California. See more ideas about Marin county, Hiking, Hiking marin. The Sonoma Creek Falls can be reached in as little as a third of a mile via the lower Canyon Trail. This 558-acre preserve wraps around College of Marin's Indian Valley campus. To get to the summit, start out on Glen Fire Road toward Smith Ridge Fire … More parking is available up top, near the park visitor center, where the upper Canyon Trail offers a 450-foot drop down to the falls. We’ve listed a few of our favorites waterfalls in the gallery above. (Photo by John Burgess), To reach the Waterfall Grove Trail, turn north from Highway 20 onto Road 200 at Dunlap Conservation Camp, located just over 16 miles east of Fort Bragg. Point Reys doesn't recommend to visit these falls and main trail even doesn't have sign when you need to turn to see Alamere falls. The creek winds down a green trough in the aired landscape then tumbles down a black and green cliff face before digging a channel through the sand to the ocean. Explore this campground near the magical beach waterfall in Marin County. But if you are adventorous hiker the it is definitely worth it. Mount Tam's Cataract Falls is the bobsled course of waterfalls: over a mile of twisting, turning, tumbling water—gushing, rushing, and making a splash! At 4.7 miles north of Highway 20, there is a rustic wooden railing and stairway leading down into the woods along switchbacks that open onto the single-track trail. (Photo by John Burgess), Devil's Well is located near the headwaters of Redwood Creek in the hills west of Napa, Here, on private land that is part of the Mayacamas Vineyards, the last tier of the waterfall spills into a fern-filled grotto. The creek's Visiting the falls post-storm and during a low tide, when the beaches can be strolled, is the wisest plan. Bring a camera to photograph the falls and the beautiful beach here. Sturdy offroad strollers on the trail would be fine. Bewar… Two of the best ones are Phillips Gulch at Salt Point State Park and Stengel Beach (pictured) at The Sea Ranch. This can create something of a dilemma from December through March or beyond, because the seas are often tempestuous at such times. Cascade Falls in Fairfax. Tam, a place to take the kids, walk the dog or have a picnic? Park here. Loma Alta. It’s another mile south on the beach to reach the falls. The real joy is hiking right beside Cataract Creek as it's chugging on all cylinders, where the exclamations are 20- and 30-foot falls. Jul 22, 2020 - My favorite hikes in Marin County, California. Tamalpais) that most people don't ever get to see, so here is my list of waterfall hikes to encourage you people to get outdoors, soak up some nature, and experience some breathtaking views. Discover the many cultures that have called the Marin Headlands home, from the Miwok Indians to the American Military and everything in between. Hikers must traverse a mile of Wildcat Beach to get to the falls and then return to the trail, requiring careful consideration of tide and surf conditions. On the southern end of the Point Reyes National Seashore, an all-day hike (8 miles total) for more experienced hikers takes you to a waterfall on the beach -- Alamere Falls. from our three Marin Hotels, and are easily accessible trails frequented by locals. We were in the beginning of July and Falls were great. Climb your way to the 25-foot cascade known as Fairfax Falls. Lake Lagunitas is the place for you. Enjoy a hike through our varied trails, including dog-friendly Rodeo Beach, and take in the astonishing views of … It’s a very level path to and from the falls. The rain has come to Marin County this year and that means it’s waterfall season! A bike rack marks the point where the flat, paved trail starts to incline, offering two alternate, hiker-only routes to the waterfall — one a straight, out-and-back leg 0.8 miles long, for a 5.4-mile round-trip, and the other a 1.7 mile loop, for a total 6.5-mile walk. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. More of a leisurely walk than a hike, the falls are located deep within a woodsy canyon near the Three Wells and Cascade Dam. Trail difficulty: strenuous. (Photo by Chris Hardy), Alamere Falls, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County: Alamere Falls is a cascading coastal falls that bleeds over a slick, shale bluff onto an ocean beach. Traffic: … Follow the road, bearing left, past the point where it branches into an unpaved road. Phillips Gulch Falls, Salt Point State Park, Jenner: This seasonal waterfall flows from Phillips Creek … Parking at both lots is free and access to each fall is easy. Did You Know Sonoma County Has Its Very Own Ghost Town? (Photo courtesy of californiabeaches.com), National park personnel ask all hikers to reach the Alamere Falls via Wildcat Camp, a bluff-top campground about a mile north of the falls. Redwoods? We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. Hiking time: 3.5 hours total. This hidden waterfall is at the far south end of Wildcat Beach next to a rocky promontory called Double Point. (Photo by Chris Hardy), The Sonoma Creek Falls can be reached in as little as a third of a mile via the lower Canyon Trail. (Photo by John Burgess), Phillips Gulch and Stengel Beach, Sonoma Coast: The Sonoma Coast is characterized by steep bluffs fronting beaches or coves. The water spills directly over the cliffs, creating lovely beach waterfalls. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. Alamere Falls—a magnificent waterfall that plunges thirty feet over a cliff and into the sea—is a mile walk south on the beach during low tide. There is a creek waterfall deep inside Pomo Canyon State Park near the Sonoma Coast and another at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve; plus a stunning falls of the bluff the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument in Point Arena. trail to the beach is dangerous but doable. The Tennessee Valley Trail is mostly level; it begins at the parking area and travels 1.7 miles to Tennessee Beach. Craggy, "sea stack" rocks stand guard offshore. In the mood for the beach? Explore shaded forests, a frog pond, and a seasonal waterfall. The first two are short drives (or a walk in one case!) Another splendid Marin waterfall is Carson Falls, off Fairfax-Bolinas Road, which climbs past the Meadow Club golf course to the road closure gate … Looking for a hidden gem? Rocky cliffs? When the tide comes up, the falls actually hit the ocean water rushing in. Alamere Falls is a rare and wonderful example of a “tidefall,” a coastal waterfall that plunges directly from a cliff down onto the beach to join up with the sea. (Photo courtesy of parks.ca.gov), Chamberlain Creek/ Waterfall Grove Trail, Jackson State Demonstration Forest, Mendocino County: This remote, narrow waterfall east of Fort Bragg draws visitors deep into Jackson State Demonstration Forest off Highway 20. Cataract Creek Trail offers a perfect excuse to play hooky from work or spend a vacation day in the woods. (I tried but God kept bringing me back - now I'm so grateful). Do not go at high tide. The falls are a dramatic sight as water cascades over a ~30 foot tall cliff onto the south end of Wildcat Beach. Follow the Coast Trail and then from there take the unmaintained Alamere Falls trail to reach the Alamere Falls, a waterfall which jets down onto the beach. Make the most of the rainy season by visiting one of these waterfalls. Marin County has some amazing scenic waterfall hikes (especially on/around Mt. Difficulty: 3 out of 10. Easily one of the most famous waterfalls in the Bay, it’s pretty hard to beat the wow-factor of a big ol’ waterfall on the beach.Take your pick of hikes leading up to this amazing formation, including the Palomarin Trail or Bear Valley Trail, among others. Alec’s 4-star review: Did you say you want an easy 2 mile hike, a mix of oaks and redwoods, a starting point for a long hike on Mt. Delicate ferns line the canyon and woodland trees and draw visitors onward as they follow the meandering creek along the canyon floor. To get to the beach and see both parts of the falls takes some scrambling through ruts and over rock benches. Sonoma Creek Falls, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood: For an easy-access, quick fix, there’s no better choice than the sweet canyon waterfall right here in Sonoma County that gushes forth during winter rains amid huge boulders and greenery. The waterfall drops over a bluff and forms two sets of falls which can grow to 25' across after it rains. Aug 31, 2017 - Grew up in Marin County, California, and never left! The waterfall is just a couple of miles north of Stinson Beach, and is not too difficult to reach (though still fairly strenuous). The walk is just under a half-mile in each direction, though the return trip is a fairly steep climb up. Beach waterfalls Headlands + Mount marin waterfall beach State Park level path to and from falls! Steep climb up and the beautiful beach here of runoff, Marin becomes to! 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