Marin County Hikes

I’m Tim Kizirian. When fog skims Marin’s sea cliffs and I’ve only half a day to spare, I default to the Coastal Trail from Rodeo Beach north to Tennessee Valley and back. It’s 8.2 miles round-trip, 1,400 feet cumulative climb, and all on durable tread. No navigation games, just point north, turn around, and breathe. Prep and start Rodeo Beach lot charges nothing and rarely fills before 8 a.m. I arrive 7:30 with a small waist-belt: 750 ml water, wind shell, and the same blueberry muffin I buy from Grace Coffee on Lincoln Boulevard each visit. Consistency helps compare split times across seasons. Southbound vs. northbound winds Going north first means I fight typical NW winds outbound, then cruise back. It mirrors a principle I used in budgeting lectures: handle the tough variable early, reap the smoother ride later. Key segments Rodeo to Battery Townsley climb—0.8 mile, 400 feet gain, bench at the top. Coast cut to Pirates Cove—1.5 miles undulating; stairs near...

I’m Tim, still filing my weekends with trail mileage instead of audit memos. Phoenix Lake above Ross is the starting point for dozens of Mount Tamalpais variations; my favorite is the 7.1-mile loop that tags Mount Baldy Ridge, swings by Hidden Meadow, and circles the reservoir on return. It delivers 1,500 feet of gain in bite-size increments—ideal for runners and hikers aiming for continuous effort without a massive single climb. Arrival and parking Parking at Phoenix Lake’s lot is capped at 30 spaces and fills by 8 a.m. I pull in at 7:15, jot plate number on a dashboard card (parking patrols appreciate clarity), and step out with a 12-liter pack: two liters water, soft-shell jacket, and one Clif bar. Route outline Fire Road to Five Corners (0–1.6 miles): warm-up grade, filtered views of the lake. Baldy Trail to Ridge Spur (1.6–3.2 miles): intermittent 12 percent pitches—heart-rate zone 4 for me. Hidden Meadow descent (3.2–5.1 miles): rolling sing...

I’m Tim Kizirian—Chico resident, ex-CPA at Ernst & Young, long-time hiker, and steady believer that you squeeze the most from a Saturday by pairing simple logistics with guaranteed views. Angel Island’s Perimeter Road is my go-to loop when I have visiting relatives who want a “Bay panorama” without a punishing climb. The circuit clocks in at 5.9 miles, 820 feet of rolling gain, and because it’s on an island, traffic is capped by ferry capacity—automatic crowd control. Ferry timing Vallejo and San Francisco both run morning boats; I favor the 9:20 a.m. from Tiburon. That means leaving Chico by 5:45. Early, yes, but the schedule works: I’m back on Interstate 80 by late afternoon and still home for dinner. If you’re parking in Tiburon, Sixth & Main garage offers $8 all-day weekend rates—cheaper than many hikes that require state-park permits. Lap clockwise or counter? I always walk clockwise, stepping off the ferry dock and turning right toward Ayala Cove bathrooms. The gr...

Tim Kizirian reporting from Marin’s eastern edge. Ring Mountain Preserve above Tiburon is small—just 367 acres—but it’s a powerhouse for serpentine wildflowers and wide-angle bay views. When April or early May bloom windows align with a free morning, I run a 3.9-mile circuit here that climbs 600 feet and still leaves time for lunch meetings back in the city. Entry point Park along Taylor Road at the Phyllis Ellman trailhead. Respect driveways; it’s a neighborhood. I start at 7 a.m. to beat dog-walker traffic and valley heat drifting over from the Central Valley. Trail notes Ellman Trail climbs 0.8 miles through chamise and manzanita. Serpentine outcrops appear on the right; that ultramafic soil supports rare species like Marin dwarf flax. I note bloom dates every year in a Google Sheet—same compulsive data capture I used preparing audit evidence. Pass Turtle Rock, angle left on Fire Road to the summit boulder stack. From here you see Mount Tam, San Francisco skyline, and Mount ...