Hiking with Kids in Marin: Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Samuel P. Taylor State Park, located off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard just outside of the small San Geronimo Valley town of Lagunitas, is a favorite spot for outdoor recreation for Marin County families. Situated among towering redwoods, rushing creeks, and oak woodlands, the park really has something to offer for everyone. Samuel P. Taylor State Park boasts numerous family friendly trails, and some of the best and most accessible are located right near the park headquarters and main picnic areas.

The park is named after Samuel Penfield Taylor, who came to California during the 1849 Gold Rush and went on to found the West Coast's first paper mill on the park site in 1856. The land that is now the park later — after the arrival of the railroad — played host to Camp Taylor, a popular resort that offered camping, a hotel, dancing, swimming, boating, and more to guests from the 1870s to the early 20th century.

Now it's a prime spot for outdoor recreation in Marin. Start your visit at the Camp Taylor entrance to the park, where you can purchase a day-use pass and get a park brochure and map; you can also get a free park pass for this and other California State Parks at your local library. The main Azalea picnic area here is sited in a delightful redwood grove along Lagunitas Creek, where Taylor's hotel once stood. Each picnic site has a table and a BBQ grill, and drinking water and clean restrooms are located close by. It's really a magical place to have an outdoor lunch or snack, especially if it's a warm sunny day. An added bonus: with all the shade, the park stays much cooler than other places in Marin on a hot summer day.

When you're done with your picnic, get ready to hit the trail. Start out on the paved Cross Marin Trail, a wide, flat trail that follows the old railroad bed along Lagunitas Creek. It's a favorite with cyclists, walkers, and joggers of all ages and is perfect for an off-road stroller or wagon. From here, you can branch out onto other easy hikes like the Ox Trail and the accessible South Creek Trail Along the way, look for information panels that tell about history and nature of the park.

The accessible South Creek Trail is a great option for families. It's cool and shady and offers great views of the creek. Look for the markers along the Cross Marin Trail where the unpaved South Creek Trail branches off.

The Ox Trail follows the path of the road that Taylor's ox teams used to move goods to Bolinas for transport to San Francisco via schooner. This narrow path is for hikers only, and winds through redwoods and ferns. There are a few hills, although none are too steep, and is a great route to take for families with older children who enjoy more of a challenge.

To get to these trails, head out of the far end of the picnic area toward the Camp Taylor camping area. Cross the little bridge with the "Salmon Crossing" signs (salmon and steelhead trout spawn every winter in Lagunitas Creek), and turn right onto the Cross Marin Trail. Watch out here, though, because this section of the trail is open to vehicular traffic coming to and from the campgrounds.

To get to the South Creek Trail head west on the Cross Marin Trail past the Creekside camp ground. Look for the trail entrance on your right just past the gates and "Do not enter" signs. To get to the Ox Trail, head up the hill on the road leading to the Orchard Hill campground (look for the sign directing you to sites 26–61). At the top of the hill where the road splits you'll see the entrance to the Ox Trail.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers numerous additional trails, as well as campsites in several areas throughout the park. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov or call (415) 488-9897.

If You Go

Samuel P. Taylor State Park is located at 8889 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Lagunitas. To get there, take Highway 101 to the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit in Greenbrae, then follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through San Anselmo, Fairfax, and the San Geronimo Valley. You'll soon enter a redwood forest and see the signs for the park. Turn left into the entrance to Camp Taylor. The park is open from 8 am to sunset daily.

There's an $8 per car day-use fee to enter Camp Taylor; pay with cash or credit card at the entry booth or at the self-pay station if the booth is closed. You can also check out a free park pass from your local Marin County Free Library branch.

Camping is available at tent and RV sites, as well as in the rustic Madrone Cabins. Tent camping costs $35 per night and cabins $100 per night. Campsites and cabins are available on a first-come, first-served basis from late September through March; reservations are required during the spring and summer. Camping reservations are usually booked up well in advance, but you can often fine one-night sites or walkups available on the Reserve California website.

Campsites have access to restrooms, coin-operated hot showers, and drinking water. Cabins have electricity, bunk beds with mattresses, and an electric heater. No RV hookups are available.

Restrooms, drinking water, and picnic facilities are available in the park. Weather can vary in West Marin, so dress in layers and pack a fleece jacket or sweatshirt in case it's chilly in the woods. Most of the picnic areas and trails around Camp Taylor are shaded. You'll also see plenty of poison oak around the park, so stay on the trails to avoid contact.