Near: Fairfax
Trip Type: Day Hike
Length: 8-9 miles
Elevation: 700 to 1900 feet
Vegetation: Forest and fern
Last Visit: 11/11/17
The sprawling network of trails open to dogs in the Mt Tamalpais Watershed are great, but they can be a bit frustrating in how close they come to stunning views, while mostly keeping them just out of reach. The Cataract Creek Trail is one of most popular trails in the watershed, climbing up a lush canyon full ferns and modest cascades. A couple of quick detours off the trail adds some of the best views in the watershed. All around, this is my favorite hike on Mt. Tam so far open to dogs. It's best hiked between rains in the winter season when the cascades are flowing nicely. The pictures that follow are from an early-season hike in November, so the water was a bit lower than optimal.
Rules and Regulations
This trail is in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Dogs must be on leash on trails and many fire roads as well. No camping is allowed in the watershed.
Trailhead
The trailhead is at a curve in on Fairfax-Bolinas road, just south of the Alpine Lake dam. There is very limited parking right at the trail, so you may have to park a ways down the road in one of the scattered pullouts along the road. There is no parking fee. There is a portable toilet but no other services.
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Route
The trail quickly begins climbing up a series of stairs and switchbacks over a mile of small cascades, through relatively lush, fern-covered forest. The slope moderates and the forest opens up a bit as the trail exits the valley. A further half mile up the trail, we took a right on the Laurel Dell fire road, which climbs up to West Ridgecrest Blvd. This road forms the eastern boundary of the Mt. Tamalpais state park. Dogs aren't allowed on the trails in the park, but just north of the spot where the Laurel Dell fire road gains the ridge, one of the Twin Knolls on the east side of the road gives a nice view of the Pacific Ocean and Stinson Beach. On the return trip, a detour on the High Marsh Trail gives another nice view to the north on an open hillside.
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| More ferns on the way... |
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| Looking north from the high marsh trail |
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| Looking north from the Twin Knolls. |
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| Wide shot looking north from the Twin Knolls. |
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| Stinson Beach from the Twin Knolls |
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