Mill Valley – California

Outdoor Adventures in Mill Valley

Looking for a perfect escape near San Francisco?

Just 14 miles north, Mill Valley offers outdoor adventures and small-town charm wrapped in redwood forests.

You’ll find artistic spirit, hiking trails, and coastal beauty all in one special place.

Welcome to Mill Valley

Set between Mount Tamalpais and Richardson Bay, Mill Valley started as a logging town in 1889. Since then, it’s grown into a home for artists while keeping its natural beauty.

The weather stays nice all year, usually between 50 and 75 degrees. Though San Francisco is close by, this town of 14,000 people spread across seven square miles feels like its own peaceful world.

Downtown Mill Valley

The heart of town shows off Mill Valley’s rich history, centered around an old train depot with a clock tower from 1929.

As you walk the narrow streets, you’ll spot beautiful Victorian buildings from the early 1900s mixed with mid-century modern designs by famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright.

Hand-crafted mosaic murals and bronze sculptures appear around corners, adding artistic touches.

Century-old maple trees create golden canopies over Miller Avenue in fall, while morning fog adds magic until it clears around 11 AM.

The Dipsea Trail

America’s oldest trail race path, started in 1905, begins with 688 hand-carved steps.

The trail runs 7.4 miles from Old Mill Park to Stinson Beach, climbing and dropping over 2,200 feet as it passes through ancient redwoods, grasslands, and coastal scrub.

Along the way, you’ll find wooden bridges from the 1930s and year-round springs. Some parts are tough, like ‘Cardiac Hill,’ while others, like the Muir Woods section, offer easier walking.

Muir Woods Gateway Trails

Skip the crowded main paths and explore the quiet Bootjack and Ben Johnson trails instead. These hidden paths wind through peaceful redwood groves where 600-year-old giants create a 200-foot-high canopy.

Watch for bright orange banana slugs on fallen trees and five-foot-tall sword ferns in the filtered sunlight. Morning fog drifts through the towering trees, making the forest look magical and perfect for photos.

Tennessee Valley Beach

A gentle 3.4-mile round trip leads to a hidden black-sand beach formed by ancient volcanoes. Special weather patterns, created where ocean and inland air meet, make this valley perfect for wildlife like red-tailed hawks and grey foxes.

Over 40 types of wildflowers, including purple lupine and orange California poppies, cover the hills in spring. The 200-foot cliffs above tell a story of changes spanning 150 million years.

Mount Tamalpais

Locals call this 2,571-foot peak ‘Mt. Tam,’ and its 50+ miles of trails offer views from the Farallon Islands to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada.

From the 1935 East Peak Fire Lookout, you can see the entire Bay Area, from Point Reyes to Mount Diablo. The mountain’s plants change as you climb, from serpentine chaparral to meadows with rare calypso orchids.

Summer evenings often bring a sea of fog flowing like waves below the peak.

Mountain Play Amphitheater

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938, this stone theater sits atop Mount Tamalpais with views stretching 25 miles.

The natural rock arrangement creates perfect acoustics in this 4,000-seat outdoor venue.

Native manzanita and yellow sticky monkey flowers grow along the paths. Ocean breezes keep the amphitheater comfortable, even during afternoon shows.

Cascade Falls Trail

This three-tiered waterfall hides just a half-mile from downtown. The steep three-quarter-mile path follows Webb Creek through California bay laurel and big leaf maple trees, staying 10 degrees cooler than downtown.

The 20-foot falls create natural music in winter, while summer pools shelter Pacific giant salamanders.

Thanks to the trail’s north-facing position and thick tree cover, it stays cool year-round.

Old Railroad Grade Fire Road

This wide path follows the exact route of the ‘Crookedest Railroad in the World’ that ran from 1896 to 1930. The steady 8% grade creates an easy route for hikers and bikers, with signs and old railroad ties telling the mountain’s story.

Ghost ferns and redwood sorrel carpet the ground, while old water tanks and train stops remain. Through breaks in the forest, you’ll catch stunning views of San Francisco Bay.

Richardson Bay Wetlands

These protected marshes provide homes for over 100 types of migrating birds, including endangered clapper rails. A quarter-mile of wooden walkways lets you watch wildlife without disturbing the sensitive habitat of endangered salt marsh harvest mice.

The scene changes with each tide as special plants like pickleweed and cordgrass thrive in the salty water. Winter brings rare birds and spectacular sunsets reflecting on the water.

Old Mill Park

This historic spot preserves Mill Valley’s roots, including the original 1830s millstone. Ancient redwoods, some over 600 years old, create a natural cathedral and keep the park cool.

The park’s creek is one of Northern California’s last urban homes for native steelhead trout. At the millworks demonstration area, you can learn about the town’s logging past while standing under towering redwood witnesses to Mill Valley’s history.