Running around Marin

While I haven't found it, but I am sure it's out there, this is my attempt to provide information about places to run (or hike) around Marin County.

Ring Mountain ~2.75 miles

Tennessee Valley ~3.5 miles

Tennessee Valley

Tennessee Valley is a popular hike, is relatively easy except for one hill, and on the weekends you will want to get there early for parking.  Otherwise you will need to park on the road along the hill which can extend your mileage a bit.  From the parking lot and back it's ~3.5 miles.

From the 101 take the CA 1/Shoreline exit and go west.  After about .5 of a mile take a left onto Tennessee Valley Road and the parking lot will be about 1.5 miles.  The start is to the right of the horse riding area, next to the bathrooms.

Head down the paved road about .75 miles and it will turn into dirt fire road to the right.  Follow the main fire road, don't jog to the left on the single track today.  As you round through some trees you will come to a fork in the road, you want to stay left.  Going uphill to the right is the Coastal Trail and is a beautiful, longer and harder run.  Stay on this road for a little over a mile and you will end at the beach.   Take a break, play in the sand or turn around and get ready for a challenging hill.  Follow the fire road back to the paved road and to the parking lot.

Ring Mountain

Ring Mountain is a very nice, short (~2.75 miles), trail run in Corte Madera.  There are many ajoining trails to expand on but this run should get your feet wet.  

From Hwy 101 take the Paradise Drive/Tamalpais Drive exit and go east on Tamalpais Drive.  Stay in the right lane and it will turn into San Clemente Drive.  Follow San Clemente to the stop light and stay to the left onto Paradise Drive.  It's about 1 mile to the trail head, if you get to the Montessori School you've gone to far, by about 500 feet.  Parking is on the side of the road.

From the trail head follow up the path.  You will come to a trail marker, go to the left on Loop trail.  This will go up for a while and you will pass a large boulder, eventually hitting some pavement which you will follow up the hill until a dirt trail appears on the right.  If you run past a water tower go back.  Follow this trail until you see a sign for the Phyllis Ellman Trail which will take you back down to where you started.  It's a great hike and a fun short trail run.