Hiking with Kids in Marin: Deer Island Open Space Preserve

One of the great things about living in Marin is that you're never far from open space and nature. A favorite Marin spot for a quick outdoor getaway is Deer Island Open Space Preserve in Novato. Just a few minutes away from Highways 101 and 37 it's a calm oasis of nature that's perfect for a short and easy hike with children.

Despite its name, Deer Island really isn't an island. It used to be one at one time, but now it's a small hill surrounded by grassy meadows and seasonal wetlands. At this 135-acre preserve you'll find two main trails, the Deer Island Loop Trail, which circles the preserve, and the De Borba Trail, which leads up and over the hill. Two short spur trails take you to other parts of the preserve.

The 1.8-mile Deer Island Loop Trail is relatively flat and even with only minor elevation changes and is a great hiking choice for families with kids. It passes through grasslands and oak and bay forest and provides plenty of stunning vistas of northern Marin, including wetlands and Novato Creek. There's even a tumbled-down old farm to look at along the way.

We usually strike out to our right on the Deer Island Loop Trail. This portion of the trail is open and sunny, with sweeping views to the south. Once you round the east end of the loop, you'll end up in the forest, which is pleasantly cool and shady, especially on a warm day.

You'll see plenty of birds, either in the trees and sky overhead or in the nearby creek and ponds, including hawks, turkey vultures, egrets, and even pelicans. Make sure you bring binoculars! Wildflowers abound here in the spring and early summer, too. We also usually see many of the preserve's namesake deer, too.

Deer Island is frequently the subject of the great Nature for Kids and Junior Ranger programs offered by Marin County Parks. Led by open space district rangers and naturalists, these free family hikes are a fantastic way to explore our open space lands and learn about nature in Marin. You can read about our experience on a Nature for Kids walk here.

Accompanying a naturalist on your walk leads you to see things that you might have just passed by on your own. Check the Marin County Park online calendar for upcoming events, which take place throughout the year.

If You Go

Deer Island is a popular place, and you're bound to run into other hikers, runners, and dog-walkers on your visit; bicycles are not allowed, however. Parents should be able to tackle this trail easily with a sturdy off-road jogging stroller.

Make sure you bring plenty of drinking water, as there's neither water nor restroom facilities nearby. Hats and sunblock are advised, too, since much of the trail winds its way through open grassland before entering the forest shade.

There's also plenty of poison oak along the trail as it passes through the forest, so keep an eye open and remember the saying "leaves of three, let them be." Also remember to check everyone for ticks after your hike, especially if anyone has gone off the trail into the grass.

To get to Deer Island Open Space Preserve. take Highway 101 to the Atherton Avenue exit in Novato. Head east on Atherton Avenue, then turn right onto Olive Avenue. Follow Olive Avenue until you reach Deer Island Lane, then turn left. Go about a quarter mile and you'll see the trailhead and parked cars on your right.

Before you go, make sure you visit the Marin County Parks Deer Island page to download a printable trail map, and to check out their open space field guide to get an idea of the kinds of birds, butterflies, and animals you might run into on your outing.