01
Best overall pick
Mount Tamalpais State Park – East Peak Area
Mount Tamalpais • Classic Bay Area Summit Hike • Iconic Panoramic Climb
Head up Mount Tam’s East Peak area for big elevation, well-built trails, and sweeping views from the city skyline to the Farallones on a clear day.
From Alto, Mount Tam’s East Peak feels close yet delivers a true mountain outing, whether you approach via the Old Railroad Grade from Mill Valley or drive higher and link shorter summit loops. Expect steady climbing, exposed sections, and rewarding 360-degree views that make it a favorite for weekend sunrise or sunset hikes. Go early on clear days, when both parking and vistas are at their best.
02
Best coastal views
Tennessee Valley Trail
Marin Headlands • Coastal Valley Trail To The Beach • Best Mellow Coastal Outing
This gentle valley walk rolls out to a pocket beach framed by cliffs, offering a classic Marin Headlands coastal feel without a brutal climb.
The main Tennessee Valley Trail is a wide, mostly flat path that winds through grasslands and low hills before reaching a dramatic cove where waves pound Tennessee Beach. It’s a go-to for families, casual walkers, and runners who want ocean payoff without switchbacks. On busy weekends, plan to arrive early or later in the day, as the parking lot can fill quickly.
03
Best redwood fix
Muir Woods and Ben Johnson Loop
Muir Woods • Shaded Redwood Canyon Loop • Shadiest Summer Escape
Link the main Muir Woods corridor with the steeper Ben Johnson and Dipsea trails for a cooler, more varied redwood hike near Alto.
Start in the famous cathedral-like groves of Muir Woods, then climb onto the Ben Johnson and Dipsea trails to trade boardwalks for singletrack, bird calls, and glimpses of the canyon from above. The loop gives you both the iconic redwood experience and a quieter, more strenuous hillside section. Parking reservations are required at Muir Woods, so it pays to plan this outing a bit in advance.
04
Best close-to-town climb
Camino Alto Open Space Preserve
Camino Alto Open Space • Close-To-Town Ridge And Fire Road Network • Quick After-Work Workout
The Camino Alto trails rise right above Alto for short, steep climbs, mixed forest and chaparral, and easy-to-link loops toward Mill Valley or Corte Madera.
If you only have an hour, Camino Alto gives you a real workout without a long drive—just pick a fire road, start climbing, and you’ll be on a ridge in minutes. The preserve’s network connects to neighboring open spaces, making it easy to tailor routes from quick out-and-backs to longer point-to-point hikes. It’s especially popular for golden-hour laps when the light hits Richardson Bay and the nearby hills just right.
05
Best ridge-top vistas
Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve
Ring Mountain Preserve • Rocky Ridge Preserve With Boulders And Wildflowers • Best For Geology And Wildflowers
Ring Mountain offers moderate hiking with big Bay views, scattered boulders, and spring wildflowers just a short drive from Alto.
Trails here wind up through open grassland and rocky outcrops to a broad ridge, where you can spot the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, and Mount Tam with a turn of your head. It’s a favorite for hikers who like to explore side paths, scramble around boulders, and linger at overlooks rather than pound out miles. Go in late winter through spring for some of Marin’s best wildflower displays on serpentine soils.