01
Best overall pick
Phoenix Lake Loop
Ross Valley Watershed • Classic Lakeside Loop With Oak And Redwood Shade • Go-To Everyday Hike
A close-to-town loop with gentle grades, shady stretches, and reflections of Mt. Tam shimmering on the lake.
Starting from Natalie Coffin Greene Park, this loop circles Phoenix Lake on a mix of wide fire roads and narrower singletrack that locals walk year-round. The hike feels surprisingly wild for being so close to town, with herons, turtles, and big views up toward the Mt. Tam ridgeline. Go early on weekends, when the small parking lot fills quickly.
02
Best waterfall hike
Cataract Falls Trail via Alpine Lake
Alpine Lake, West Of Fairfax • Steep Creekside Climb With Cascades And Stone Stairs • Best After Winter Rains
A short but demanding climb that strings together a series of cascades, pools, and mossy staircases in a tight canyon.
From the pullouts along Fairfax–Bolinas Road above Alpine Lake, the Cataract Falls Trail rockets uphill beside a tumbling creek. The route packs in wooden bridges, ferny walls, and multiple viewpoints of the falls in just a few miles, making it dramatic but efficient. Expect crowds and tight parking on peak spring weekends, and watch your footing on wet stone steps.
03
Most mellow outing
Lake Lagunitas Shoreline Loop
Marin Watershed Above Fairfax • Easy Forested Shoreline Path • Best For Relaxed Strolls
A gentle circuit around a quiet reservoir with filtered Mt. Tam views, picnic spots, and kid-friendly terrain.
Once you’ve driven the narrow access road up from Fairfax, the loop around Lake Lagunitas is about as easygoing as Marin hiking gets. The mostly level path winds through mixed forest and open dams, with plenty of benches and clearings where you can linger over a snack. It is a great choice for visitors easing into local trails, families with strollers, or anyone wanting calm water and birdsong over cardio.
04
Top ridge climb
Loma Alta Open Space Ridge Trail
Sleepy Hollow Ridgeline North Of Fairfax • Wide-Open Ranchland Ridge Hike • Best Big-View Climb
A lung-busting fire-road ascent to a broad summit with sweeping views over Marin, Mt. Tam, and on clear days the Bay.
Accessed from the end of Sleepy Hollow’s roads, Loma Alta trades shade for expansive, rolling grassland and big skies. The climb is steady and exposed, but the payoff is a 360-degree panorama that feels far more remote than its suburban trailhead suggests. Aim for golden-hour light, bring layers for the ridge-top wind, and be ready to share the route with mountain bikers and grazing cattle.
05
Hidden gem
Carson Falls via Pine Mountain Fire Road
Pine Mountain Northwest Of Fairfax • Remote-Feeling Fire Road To Multi-Tiered Falls • Best Spring Wildflower Hike
A rolling fire-road approach leads to a short, rocky spur trail that drops into a quiet gorge and the terraces of Carson Falls.
Starting high on Pine Mountain Fire Road, this route has a backcountry feel despite being just up the hill from Fairfax. After a few miles of open ridgeline and views toward Mount Diablo, a side trail dives down to the falls, where clear pools and rock ledges invite a long break. Go in late winter or spring for peak flow and wildflowers, and tread carefully around sensitive habitat for the rare foothill yellow-legged frog.