The Cross Marin Trail is a wonderful route for a safe family bike ride. You’ll find it level, smooth-surfaced, and isolated from vehicles as it winds alongside picturesque Lagunitas Creek above the former roadbed of a long defunct railroad.
What You’ll See
Most of the trail runs through Samuel P. Taylor State Park which is situated in the wooded countryside amongst the steep rolling hills of central Marin County. The trail offers a unique blend of open grassland and coast redwood groves. Surprisingly, the trail is usually uncrowded.
The park and surrounding area feature a diverse variety of flora and fauna: Trees are abundant, and include redwoods, oak, madrone, live oak, bay laurel and fir as well as native wildflowers such as milkmaids, buttercups, and Indian paintbrush. You're likely to see a black-tailed deer, and raccoons, striped skunks, and gray foxes also reside here. Beginning in December, endangered Coho salmon make their annual migration up Lagunitas Creek to spawn.
What to Do
Cycling, hiking, and walking are the big draws here, but the park also offers a number of excellent picnic areas among the redwoods, plus swimming holes for hot summer days. Grab a park brochure to easily explore other sights along the trail—such as an old dam and paper mill—and learn the background on how Camp Taylor came to be built here. There are also a number of other trails that intersect with the Cross Marin for those hiking.
Trail Details
From the park entrance, the paved portion of the trail extends north 3 miles to Platform Bridge Road. There is an extension that goes about 1 mile to the south to Shafter Bridge, but this portion is un-paved. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail and parking areas, but they not permitted on any trails or in the creek.
How to Get There
Visitors from north or south should take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit off Hwy. 101. Drive west for 15.25 miles to the entrance of Samuel P. Taylor Park (GPS use this address: 8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Lagunitas, CA 94938). Plan on a 45 to 50 minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge.
East Bay access is via Hwy. 580 and the second exit after the bridge.
Public transit is available via MarinTransit.org: Take the #22 to San Anselmo from the San Rafael Transit Center, then transfer to the #68.
Those seeking to avoid the park entrance fee can find parking at the northern Platform Bridge Rd. trail entrance.
Things to Do Before or After
There’s a general store and deli as well as an Indian Organic Café in Lagunitas, about 10 minutes before the park. The Two Bird Café is just past the golf course in San Geronimo as well as a fine organic farmstand that’s worth checking out. Further down Sir Francis Drake Blvd. past the park (about 3 miles) you’ll find a couple of stores and restaurants in Olema.
