Explore the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Path

Marin strives to be a bicycle-friendly place to live, so it's never to early to get your kids up on two wheels, even if it's with training wheels (which would actually make it four wheels). One of our go-to places to ride is the Mill Valley–Sausalito Multi-use Path, a 3.5-mile trail that's popular with cyclists and walkers in southern Marin.

The trail starts at Vasco Court near Edna McGuire Elementary School and travels through Mill Valley south past Camino Alto and Tamalpais High School, through Bothin Marsh Open Space Preserve, over bridges that cross creeks and sloughs, along Richardson Bay, and eventually to Gate 5 Road on the Sausalito waterfront. The trail is wide and flat and suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Along the way, you can look for birds and other wildlife in the marsh and in Richardson Bay, and take in amazing views of Mt. Tamalpais.

A great place to start out is at Bayfront Park off of Sycamore Avenue in Mill Valley. There's plenty of parking and public restrooms here. The kids can also burn off any energy they still have left playing at the playground at adjacent Hauke Park, which is just on the other side of a small bridge. We made a stop at Hauke Park after our last bike ride here and had lots of fun on the swings and other play equipment. It's also a great place to take a break and enjoy a snack before or after your bike ride.

If You Go

To get to the Bayfront Park trailhead, take Highway 101 south to the Mill Valley/East Blithedale Avenue exit. Head west on East Blithedale Avenue and turn left onto Camino Alto, then turn left on Sycamore Avenue and follow it to Bayfront Park.

Public restrooms and drinking fountains are available at the park. There's no shade to speak of along the Mill Valley–Sausalito Path, so make sure you slather on the sunscreen before you go.