Chasing Clean Air

Hiking San Francisco Bay Area: Tennessee Valley to Tennessee Beach, Mill Valley

Tennessee Valley Trail

If you're looking for an easy scenic walk that offers mountains and a well-maintained flat and low rolling hills trail, leading to one of California's iconic Pacific beaches, consider the Tennessee Valley trail to Tennessee Beach in Mill Valley, CA.  Just a few miles north of San Francisco, it's an easy to get to walk in splendid nature: about 3.4 miles round-trip path out and back. 

Locals and Tourists Enjoy Tennessee Beach

From San Francisco I took Golden Gate Transit #4 bus over the Golden Gate Bridge to downtown Mill Valley, where a friend picked me up for the short drive to Tennessee Valley trailhead. Lyft, Uber, and cabs should be accessible, though there's not much cell service in the trail area, so make arrangements.

Tennessee Valley is an off-shoot of the Marin Headlands. For more information, click here.

 

591 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Hiking San Francisco Bay Area: Marin Headlands

Joggers on Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands

I arrived to San Francisco last week, and took three memorable hikes. The first of three:

 

Marin Headlands

 

Traveling solo, I took Muni bus 76x, Marin Headlands Express Bus, from San Francisco to Marin Headlands. For less than the cost of bridge fare, I shared a crowded bus - where languages from around the world swirled - as hikers and tourists headed to the Golden Gate Bridge and the magnificent Marin Headlands.

The preserved land is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and encompasses sprawling hiking trails, Bonita Cove and Bird Island, camping by permit, a youth hostel, Point Bonita Lighthouse, the Nike Missile site, secluded beaches and one of the most photographed views of the Golden Gate Bridge. There are mammals like coyotes, bobcats, deer and rabbits. And bird song abounds! The area is close to the Pacific Flyaway, and owls and song and shorebirds stop along their way. I got off at the Visitor Center and walked to Rodeo Beach and Lagoon, a short half mile or so stroll, where I photographed egrets. 

Visitor strolls along Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands

I headed on toward the Coastal Trail from Rodeo Beach headed to Mill Valley's Tennessee Valley. I was alone and unfamiliar with the terrain, and my camera bag was heavy, so I didn't finish but the area I walked was an easy, though steep, trail with beautiful vistas overlooking the Pacific. Other hikers told me the terrain gets more uneven with steep steps. Usually, I have hiking poles for such terrain and no heavy camera gear. There was a cement road bikers enjoyed. Sun tried to break through misty fog with shifting light casting dancing shadows on the ocean. I met a fellow hiker, who told me about a helpful hiking web site and app to learn about trails prior to going: All Trails

When You Go

Muni Bus 76x Marin Headlands Express, part of San Francisco's bus and metro system

Marin Headlands

511 (Wherever you're going in Bay Area, start here)

Visit San Francisco