9 stunning waterfalls to check out in Marin

This article originally published on sonomamag.com.

With its abundance of public parkland and open space, the North Coast is too full of gushing streams and cascading creek flows to mention them all. We’ve listed a few of our favorite waterfall spots in Marin to enjoy the best of the rainy season.

Alamere Falls, Point Reyes National Seashore

Alamere Falls is a cascading coastal waterfall that bleeds over a slick, shale bluff onto an ocean beach. It is a rare “tidefall” that crests the edge of the continent near the southern end of the national seashore, also offering gorgeous coastal views that, on clear days, take in the Farallon Islands.

National park personnel ask all hikers to reach the Alamere Falls via Wildcat Campground, a bluff-top campground about a mile north of Alamere Falls. Hikers must traverse a mile of Wildcat Beach to get to the falls and then return to the trail, requiring careful consideration of tide and surf conditions. Do not go at high tide.

For North Coast residents, the most efficient and least crowded route to Alamere Falls starts inside the park at the Bear Valley Visitor Center at Point Reyes Station. Head coastward along the Bear Valley Trail to the Coast Trail, and then south to Wildcat Camp, a trip of about 6 1/2 miles. It’s another mile south on the beach to reach the falls.

Bear Valley Visitor Center, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, 415-464-5100. nps.gov

Cataract Falls, Mount Tamalpais watershed, Marin County

The Mount Tamalpais watershed houses a number of waterfalls, with one of the most popular being the picturesque cascades of Cataract Falls. The Cataract Falls Trailhead begins on Fairfax-Bolinas Road, hugging the southwest end of Alpine Lake. Follow the trail uphill past East Fork Cataract Creek and the Laurel Dell picnic area, after which the trail descends to the falls (approximately 3 miles).

For a longer but mostly flat hike, begin at the Rock Spring Trailhead off Ridgecrest Boulevard and travel north on Cataract Trail, which crisscrosses the creek several times. Just before you get to the waterfall on this trail, you’ll pass the junction of Cataract and Helen Markt trails, where there’s a decent-sized pool to relax at.

Mt. Tamalpais watershed, 49 Sky Oaks Road, Fairfax, marinwater.org

Carson Falls, Mount Tamalpais watershed, Marin County

This gorgeous, multi-tiered waterfall is just under 5 miles west of Fairfax and has multiple simple routes to get there. The most popular path consists mainly of fire roads and begins at the junction of Fairfax-Bolinas Road and Pine Mountain Fire Road. Follow the rocky Pine Mountain Trail from the parking area for about a mile and turn left on Oat Hill Fire Road, which you walk for about 150 yards until you reach Little Carson Trail on the right. Travel down that trail for about a half mile to the falls.

Mt. Tamalpais watershed, 49 Sky Oaks Road, Fairfax, marinwater.org

Steep Ravine, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mill Valley

Three miles east of Marin’s famed Stinson Beach, Webb Creek flows through Mount Tamalpais State Park’s wooded Steep Ravine, creating a number of modest, tranquil waterfalls surrounded by foliage. The rugged Steep Ravine Trail — the only trail in Marin that features a ladder (nearly 15 feet in length) — begins at the Pantoll Campground on Coastal Fire Road off Panoramic Highway and meanders southwest along the creek. The full trail stretches about two miles down to Highway 1 near Rocky Point Road, but this trail can be combined with the Dipsea and Old Mine trails to create a 3.5-mile loop that has spectacular views of both the redwood canyon’s waterfalls and the city skyline.

Mount Tamalpais State Park, 3801 Panoramic Highway, 415-388-2070, parks.ca.gov

Cascade Falls, Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve, Fairfax

The trout-laden Cascade Creek flows through the lush evergreen forests of this preserve and spills down the serene Cascade Falls. The 1.5-mile out-and-back hike to the falls is easy, lightly trafficked and accessible year-round, making it an ideal waterfall hike for the whole family. From the crook in Cascade Fire Road near Middle Fire Road, simply walk along Cascade Falls Trail for about six minutes to reach the falls. Note: There is a second, smaller Cascade Falls in Marin at Mill Valley’s Cascade Park, a short and simple hike (about a quarter mile) near some suburbs.

Cascade Canyon Preserve, 26 Oak Road, Fairfax, parks.marincounty.gov

Buck Gulch Falls, Ignacio Valley Preserve, Novato

This rippling, fern-encased waterfall lies at the northernmost edge of the preserve, which is easily accessible starting from the end of Fairway Drive. Saunter west on the Buck Gulch Falls Trail, which begins paved then narrows and turns into a dirt path, for a little over half a mile to reach the falls. This short, beautiful waterfall hike is great for kids as well as dogs (on a leash).

Ignacio Valley Preserve, 611 Fairway Drive, Novato, parks.marincounty.gov

Ken Harth Waterfall, Indian Valley Open Space Preserve, Novato

Wander through Indian Valley Preserve’s nearly 560 acres of oak, bay and madrone forests during the rainy season and you’re sure to stumble upon Ken Harth Waterfall, a rushing, 10-foot cascade down a sleek, mossy rock face. The Waterfall Trail can be accessed easily from the Indian Valley Fire Road that extends from the College of Marin’s Indian Valley campus off Ignacio Boulevard, a hike just under a mile. If you want to make the most of your trek, walk the fire road south past Pacheco Pond and traverse the switchbacks along the loop of Ken Harth Waterfall Trail (and maybe take a detour on Susan Alexander Trail to check out some wildflowers and black oaks).

Indian Valley Preserve, from Indian Valley Campus at 1800 Ignacio Blvd., Novato. parks.marincounty.gov

Dawn Falls, Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Kentfield

A few miles west of Larkspur sits this 193-acre preserve’s blissful, babbling Dawn Falls. The easiest way to get there is to start from the western edge of Madrone Avenue where it meets Valley Way and follow Dawn Falls Trail along the redwood-lined Larkspur Creek for just over a mile to the falls. You could also access the waterfall from the falls trail entrance on Southern Marin Line Fire Road — a 10-minute walk starting from the Crown Road trailhead that’s a half mile north of the falls.

Baltimore Canyon Preserve, from Madrone Avenue at Valley Way, Larkspur, or 415 Crown Road, Kentfield. parks.marincounty.gov

Tucker Trail Falls, Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Kentfield

Phoenix Lake, on the east side of the preserve, feeds into Bill Williams Creek below, with canyons forming several small waterfalls flowing between the flora and foliage around the route that hugs it: Tucker Trail. The best way to access this trail is from the Harry Allen Trail on Phoenix Road (off Crown Road west of Kent Woodlands), walking down the path for about a quarter of a mile and turning left on Tucker Trail. The route intertwines with the creek a few times and ends at Eldridge Grade Fire Road; a moderate, 3.4-mile out-and-back trail. For a more varied hike on the way back, take Bill Williams Trail, which runs along the other side of the creek and is spotted with several wooden bridges.

Baltimore Canyon Preserve, from Tucker Trailhead at 9 Phoenix Road, Kentfield. parks.marincounty.gov

Maci Martell contributed to this article.