Tennessee Valley

Tennessee Valley Trail – The hike to Tennessee Beach is one of our favorites in Marin. It's especially good if you have toddlers and young kids – the path is largely level, and wide enough for strollers.

From the parking lot, it's two miles to the beach, four miles round trip. At the parking lot are restrooms and picnic area, also restroom along the trail. Bring your lunch and snacks, this is a great place to spend the day.

Half way down the wide trail, off to the left, look for the the Lower Tennesse Valley Trail turnoff. A narrower trail that goes along the creek through the lush greenery, it will join the main trail just before you reach the beach. Keep your eyes peeled for birds – we saw an incredible owl twitching his ears in the trees along this trail.

At the beautiful black sand beach, kids can play in a little stream that sometimes flows into the ocean, with plenty of sandy mud for sandcastles. The beach is wide and flat, but don't wade in the water – there are rip tides and dangerous surf.

Tip: On weekends and holidays, parking can get crowded, so come early.

Horseback riding – Go for a guided trail ride on sure-footed horses through the hills, with spectacular views of Mt. Tam, Marin Headlands, and Pacific Ocean. Miwok Stables are located next to the trailhead.