Novato

Ignacio Valley Preserve –

Buck Gulch Falls, 30ft high, is one of our favorite hikes in Marin – perfect for everyone in the family, including grandparents. Hike is about one and a half miles round trip, on a largely level trails.

Buck Gulch Falls Trail begins at Fairway Drive, trail goes along the creek, through the woods. At the end of the trail, the waterfall cascades into a wide, shallow pool. Return on the same trail the way you came.

Bring water, no restrooms or trash cans, stay on trail, this is a public easement through private property.

For details of hike, map and directions,read our blog post: Waterfalls are flowing in Marin County.

Indian Valley Preserve –

Ken Harth Waterfall – Trail goes to a “kid-size” waterfall flowing over rocks lined with ferns in sparkling light – this short hike is a gem!

From the parking lot, take wide gravel trail that goes around the ball field. Along the way are restrooms and picnic tables in the shade. It’s about half a mile to turnoff for the waterfall.

Trail is marked – Ken Harth Waterfall Trail, it’s a short distance (quarter mile) to the waterfall. Trail is in the shade, when we visited in late February, small creek was accessible for kids to wade for fun (bridges go cross the river).

Return the way you came. If you have older kids, and want to stretch your legs, take the longer trail route to return to the parking lot.

Here’s a detailed map of the hike.

Pioneer Park –

Large size park with trees and lots of grass to run around, picnic tables (including shaded picnic tables), and restrooms. Little kids will have fun on big playground with slides, climbing structures, wave rockers, toddler swings.