Immediately southeast of Olema Valley, Mount Tamalpais has been a favorite destination for hikers since the 1880s. Trails through both State and National Park land dip into redwood valleys, wind across open grasslands, and follow ridgelines from summit to coast. Sink down, oh traveller, on your knees. God stands before you in these trees. Muir Woods is accessible to all, including the disabled, by a gentle, paved trail that loops through the towering grove.
Serious hikers opt for the backcountry any day.
For them, the extensive network of trails in Gerbode and Tennessee valleys in the Marin Headlands is a wanderer's paradise, traversing grassland and coastal chaparral. Even a bobcat or two may make an appearance on a nice spring or summer day. With advance planning and reservations, backpacking in the Marin Headlands can be an exhilarating experience. For example, Hawk Backpack can be reached via a three-mile trail in the hilly backcountry above the Gerbode Valley. Haypress Backpack in the grassy, coastal valley north of Tennessee Valley is an easy .75 miles from the trailhead and parking lot.