Backdoor Marin

So close, so wild, and sometimes so popular! Marin packs plenty of secrets, you just have to know which door to open. Here are a few less traveled hikes. Knock, knock!

Week: 01.26.2016
Regions: Northern CA

Secret Summit

Hike Mount Tam West Peak

Marin's Mount Tam is one of the Bay Area's most traveled mountains, yet even this icon of the North Bay holds some secrets … including a summit! The less-traversed West Peak is actually Tam's original summit, and still receives less than 1 percent of the 3 million annual visitors
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Redding for Snow Adventures?!

Winter Adventures in Redding and Lassen

Where can you snowshoe on an active volcano? Cross-country ski in well-marked wilderness? Downhill ski where there's plenty of powder, and no crowds? Redding is the answer to your next winter adventure! This alternative to the typical Sierra ski scene is set in a stunning Norther
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Winter Rush

Hike Rush Creek Open Space Novato

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Where do the wild things go? Well, if you're a bird, you might head to Rush Creek Open Space in Novato. This 522-acre preserve just east of Highway 101 has one of the densest bird populations in the North Bay outside of Point Reyes. And the beautiful thing? Not very many people k
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McClures Marks the Spot

McClures Beach Point Reyes

Tule Elk at Tomales Point in Point Reyes National Seashore
With over 80 miles of preserved shoreline, Point Reyes National Seashore has plenty of sandy stretches for strolling. Those who like wandering in near solitude should head to the northernmost accessible coastline here, McClures Beach.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

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  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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