Parks in Marin and the bay area


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Abbotts Lagoon Beach

Point Reyes A 1.5-mile walk through coastal scrub, across an isthmus between two lagoons, and over sand dunes brings you to this ocean beach. The lagoons attract large numbers of migrating shorebirds in the fall, followed by the wintering ducks. Occasionally Peregrine Falcons are seen selecting their meals amongst these inhabitants. The sand dunes backing the beach are home to the endangered Snowy Plover. The eggs and young of this ground-nesting bird are easily destroyed, so please be especially careful in this area during their nesting season of June 1 - September 15. Click here for website

Agate Beach

Bolinas Located off Elm Road in Bolinas, CA, this 6.6 acre park provides access to almost two miles of shoreline at low tide. Together with the adjacent Duxbury Reef, the site provides a rewarding opportunity to explore tidal pools filled with marine life. Click here for website

Albert Park

San Rafael Albert Park is San Rafael's main park, with a community center, a playground, two ball diamonds, a turf area, lighted tennis courts, bocce courts, and a picnic area. Click here for website

Angel Island State Park

San Francisco Bay In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. Click here for website

Audubon Canyon Ranch

Stinson Beach Preserves properties as sanctuaries for native plants and animals, educates children about protecting the environment, trains adults to participate in the education program, and conducts conservation programs. Click here for website

Bayfront Park

Mill Valley This facility includes a dog run, softball and soccer fields, lawn area, children's play equipment, restrooms and a small boat ramp. Click here for website

Bolinas Park

Bolinas This two-acre park contains a tennis court, restrooms and picnic tables. Click here for website

California State Historical Landmarks

Around Marin Compiled by Donald Laird, the sites included on the list are: the First Sawmill in Marin (located in Mill Valley), the Oldest House North of San Francisco Bay (north of Novato), the Mission San Rafael Arcangel (in San Rafael) and the site of the Lighter Wharf in Bolinas. Click here for website

China Camp State Park

San Rafael Located on San Pablo Bay, visitors can enjoy wildlife-watching, hiking, swimming, boating and windsurfing. Click here for website

City of San Rafael Parks

San Rafael There are many parks around San Rafael with picnic areas for events and other features including bocce courts and shuffleboard. Click here for website

Civic Center Lagoon Park

San Rafael The Marin County Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, serves as a backdrop to this 20 acre informal park. The park offers picnic areas, children's play structures and fishing. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the 11 acre lagoon. Click here for website

Deer Park

Fairfax The park provides picnic areas and nature trails in a natural, wooded setting. Click here for website

Dog Parks of Marin

Around Marin Dog Parks provide safe places where dogs can socialize and run off-leash in a safe, secure environment. Click here for website

Falkirk Cultural Center

San Rafael Falkirk Cultural Center is a 19th Century country estate and historic community center for art, culture and events. Click here for website

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)

Around Marin The Marin areas of GGNRA offer a vast expanse of wild and open terrain: rolling hills; small coves, large beaches and rocky coastal cliffs; as well as redwood valleys. Included in the GGNRA are the Marin Headlands, Kirby Beach, Fort Baker, Rodeo Beach, & more. Click here for website

Heart's Desire Beach

Point Reyes Heart's Desire Beach is part of Tomales Bay State Park. It is a nice sheltered cove on Tomales Bay that is excellent for families with small children. The ocean water tends to be a little warmer at this beach. Click here for website

Marin Headlands

Southern Marin This area covers various types of histories, from the Miwok Indians to the Military establishments of the seacoast fortifications on the west coast and much more. Click here for website

John F. McInnis Park

San Rafael This 441 acre park contains a 25,000 square foot skate park, two softball fields (one lighted), two soccer fields, a canoe launch, four tennis courts, a group picnic area and nature trails. The park also includes the McInnis Park Golf Center, boasting a nine hole course, driving range, miniature golf, batting cages, clubhouse, pro shop and restaurant. Click here for website

McNear's Beach Park

San Rafael Offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, family and group picnic sites, a sandy beach, lawn areas, a snack bar and a 500-foot-long fishing pier. Click here for website

Miwok Park

Novato This 35-acre park has picnic areas, hiking trails, barbeque, fishing, horseshoes, a lawn area and a playground. Click here for website

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Mill Valley This park contains 6,300 acres of redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot peak. Click here for website

Muir Woods National Monument

Mill Valley The best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world, according to John Muir. Click here for website

Olompali State Historic Park

Novato This park overlooks the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay from the east-facing slopes of 1,558 foot Mount Burdell. Click here for website

Paradise Beach Park

Tiburon This park offers family and group picnic sites, lawn areas, a horseshoe court, a sandy beach and a fishing pier. Click here for website

Point Bonita Lighthouse

Southern Marin Point Bonita today is part of the largest urban national park in the USA, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. A secret jewel of the Bay Area, Point Bonita is still an active lighthouse. Click here for website

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Point Reyes The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, built in 1870 and retired in 1975, is now a museum piece where the era of the lightkeepers' lives, the craftsmanship and the beauty of the lighthouse are actively preserved. Click here for website

Red Rock Beach

Stinson Beach Lay your towel out on the sand, strip those clothes off and enjoy the sun, sand and surf at Northern California's "Ultimate" clothing-optional stretch of shoreline. Click here for website

Stafford Lake Park

Novato Situated on the shore of Stafford Lake, this 139 acre park offers lake fishing, a nature trail, picnic areas with barbecue facilities, a popular childrens' play structure, lawn areas, a softball field, volleyball, Disc Golf and horseshoe courts. Click here for website

Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Lagunitas With over 2,780 acres of wooded countryside in the steep rolling hills of Marin, this park features a unique contrast of coastal redwood groves and open grassland. Click here for website

Tiburon Uplands Nature Reserve

Tiburon This 29 acre wooded upland preserve contains a loop trail which allows visitors to enjoy a variety of native plants and animals, as well as excellent bay views from the higher elevations. Click here for website

Tomales Bay State Park

Inverness The Coast Miwok people were the first to inhabit this coastal area of sheltered coves, beaches, tidal marshes, and forest of Bishop pines now known as Tomales Bay State Park. Located forty miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Click here for website

White House Pool Park

Point Reyes This park provides fishing access to the mouth of Lagunitas Creek as well as the opportunity to view many birds. Click here for website

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