Hiking with Kids in Marin: Roy's Redwoods Preserve

When we want to go experience Marin's incredible old-growth redwoods, the first instinct of many is to head to the famous Muir Woods National Monument near Mill Valley, with its attendant tourists crowds and parking hassles. But what if there was a smaller, quieter, place in Marin County to go see some really big trees? You'll find just the spot at Roy's Redwoods Preserve in the San Geronimo Valley.

Roy's Redwoods is a 300-acre preserve run by Marin County Parks, featuring some of Marin's tallest coast redwood (Sequioa sempervirens) trees, as well as numerous hiking trails and fun features, most of which are brand new, having just been unveiled to the public this past winter. It's a perfect destination for an outdoor adventure with the kids, and boasts cool elements like accessible trails, a Wilderness Way adventure trail that encourages visitors to hop and scramble over a path made from natural materials, and an Exploration Area where kids can build forts and other structures out of branches and logs.

Formerly part of the Roy brothers' ranch and then a '60s hippie commune, where squatters lived inside some of the larger hollowed-out trees, Roy's Redwoods is a really magical place, that looks like it could be right out of a fantasy movie. In fact, Lucasfilm used Roy's redwoods as a filming location for its 1980s TV movie The Ewok Adventure, where it stood in for the forest moon of Endor. (Contrary to some sources, the Return of the Jedi forest scenes were not shot here, but in an old-growth redwood stand up near Crescent City).

While several of the trails can be combined into hikes of varying lengths. You can start out on the easy accessible Boardwalk Trail and combine it with other routes like the Fairy Ring Trail, the Forest Trail, and the Roy's Redwoods Loop Trail to make longer, more challenging hikes. The trails are bordered by stands of redwood, bay laurel, Douglas fir, manzanita, and ferns and they're a cool, calm oasis of nature that's especially welcome on a warm day. You can even extend your hike into the neighboring San Geronimo Park. Most of the trails here are flat or gently sloping and are pretty easy for all ages to tackle.

Roy's Redwoods has always been a great place to visit, but after the recent improvements — a partnership between Marin County Parks, One Tam, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy — it truly may be our favorite spot in Marin for an enchanting hike in the woods. Learn more about Roy's Redwoods, and get a printable trail map, at parks.marincounty.gov.

If you go

Roy's Redwoods is located along Nicasio Valley Road just north of the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard intersection. There's no parking lot, but parking is available along the road; you'll see a number of cars already there. It's open daily from dawn to dusk, and (unlike Muir Woods) there's no admission fee.

From central and southern Marin, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through San Anselmo and Fairfax over the hill to the San Geronimo Valley. Turn right on Nicasio Valley Road, at the San Geronimo Golf Course and follow it about a half mile to Roy's Redwoods. Start looking for a place to park just as you pass the West Nicasio Road.

From northern Marin, take Lucas Valley Road west to Nicasio Valley Road, then turn left. Follow Nicasio Valley Road south approximately 3-1/4 miles, then start looking for a place to park. Alternately, you can take Novato Boulevard west to Point Reyes–Petaluma Road. Turn left on Point Reyes–Petaluma Road, then left on Nicasio Valley Road.

Note that Google Maps and other online mapping services list Roy's Redwoods as being in either Nicasio or Woodacre, but it's really closest to the town of San Geronimo, and is adjacent to the old San Geronimo Golf Course, now San Geronimo Park.

No drinking water is available on site, so make sure you bring your own. Although there aren't any picnic tables, there are a few spots with rough-hewn redwood log benches that are pleasant places to stop and take a break or have a bite to eat. There's an accessible portable restroom near the trailhead. A great deal of effort has gone into making Roy's Redwoods a place that everyone can enjoy, and the preserve now boasts two accessible entrances that provide easy access to the Boardwalk Trail. On-leash dogs are also welcome.

Like many places in West Marin, the weather can change really quickly, so layered clothing is a must. Also, the shady redwood forest here can be substantially cooler on a hot day.