Mt. Tamalpais State Park551

Mt. Tam has the best views in Marin County. Period. From the top on a clear day, you can see San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire length of Ocean Beach to the south, Mt. Diablo and a huge sweep of the Pacific to the west, and Alpine Lake to the north. Residents of the park include raccoons, gray foxes, bobcats, coyotes, deer, red-tail hawks, owls and chipmunks. Also included in the mountain menagerie are fleets of buzzards, a disconcerting sight for the tired hiker at the summit. Although many trails in the park lead up to the summit, most are too difficult for young children. A more enjoyable way to see Mt. Tam with a family is to drive up to the parking area at the east summit and hike from there. The East Peak Trail leads up from the parking area to the fire observation tower on the summit (the tower is a good visible goal at the summit but it's not open to the public). The trail is paved with railroad ties for the first few hundred yards, but degenerates into a narrower, unpaved path further up. It's rocky but not steep; most children over five years will have little trouble. Bring water though, as none is available at the summit. The hike to the summit takes about 30-45 minutes at a steady pace, but you'll want to allow time at the top to admire the views. The summit is filled with huge boulders, wonderful for climbing and hiding among. Be careful though; this is, after all, the top of a mountain and it's easy to scramble over a rock outcrop only to find a steep drop on the other side. If you choose to hike down any of the many trails leading away from the summit, be aware you'll be sharing most of the trails with mountain bikers. Although narrow, single-track trails are generally off limits to bikes, cyclists have been known to ignore the ban. Keep kids to the right on the wider fire road trails, especially if visibility is poor because of curves in the trail or vegetation. Facilities at the east peak parking area include restrooms, water fountains, soda machine, and a few picnic tables. During the summer, a visitor's center and snack bar are also open.