Top 5 Biking Trails in Marin

Marin County, just over the bridge from San Francisco, provides some of the best biking options we have encountered. From quiet rides through quaint seaside villages to serious mountainbike adventures, biking in Marin offers something for just about everyone. The following are five of our favorite biking trails:

1. Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

Kick off your bicycling adventure in Marin by riding across the Golden Gate Bridge. Huge container ships trudge slowly underfoot on their way out to sea. From the bridge, you will get sweeping 180-degree views of the San Francisco skyline, stretching from the Bay Bridge to Lands End. Note that bicyclists should use the west side of the bridge on weekends, while the east side is reserved for pedestrians. Bicyclists and pedestrians share the east side of the bridge on weekdays.

Once you cross the bridge, take Alexander Avenue into downtown Sausalito, a small seaside town filled with t-shirt shops and boutiques. Although Sausalito is often overrun by tourists by mid-day, it is still a quaint place to walk around and browse or to take a quick ice cream break. From the seashore, you can get great views of Angel Island and San Francisco Bay.

If you are inclined to ride further, you can continue onto Bridgeway (the main road through Sausalito) until you reach a paved bike path just before the Highway 101 entrance. The path is a popular route for joggers, dog-walkers and cyclists. It is level and leads you through some marsh and park land. Mt. Tamalpais looms in front of you.

On the way back, stop off at East Fort Baker. Check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum, a hands-on learning center focusing on Bay history and ecology for children, ages one to 10. You can also watch fishermen catching perch, flounder, smelt, salmon and rock crabs from the pier. The steep, winding road will lead you back up to the bridge. Roundtrip: about 17 miles.

2. Tiburon

From the end of the bike path in Sausalito, you can continue on an easy, level 15-mile ride around Tiburon, a tony peninsula lined with huge seaside homes. Turn right onto East Blithedale Avenue and follow it to Trestle Glen Boulevard, then right onto Paradise Drive. You will ride along the eastern edge of the peninsula, taking in views of San Francisco Bay, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the East Bay and San Quentin State Penitentiary.

Stop off at Paradise Beach county park for a break. Paradise Drive will lead you to downtown Tiburon where you can take in a tasty, reasonably-priced seafood meal at Sam's Anchor Café. The ferry landing is also located here, so if you are too full from fried calamari to attempt the return trip by bicycle, you can sit back and enjoy a ride back to San Francisco. Call the Red and White Fleet at (415) 546-2628 for the ferry schedule.

3. Old Railroad Grade in Mt. Tamalpais State Park

Marin is considered to be the birthplace of mountain biking. Icons such as Gary Fisher and Tom Ritchey were among the pioneers who first took their Schwinn cruisers down the trails of Mt. Tamalpais, thus giving birth to the now ubiquitous knobby tire sport.

The Old Railroad Grade is a popular route up Mt. Tam. The Mt. Tamalpais Railway ran trains (hence the trail's name) carrying tourists up the mountain's southern slope from 1896 to 1930. The trail is a steady, windy seven-mile climb up some 1,300 feet to Mt. Tam's east peak. Along the way, you can stop for a break at the West Point Inn. This is a trendy hangout for mountain bikers. There is a water fountain and restrooms at the inn. At the summit, you can take in sweeping views of the headlands, San Francisco and the East Bay. You will also find picnic tables and a small snack bar there. For more information, phone the Pantoll Ranger Station at (415) 388-2070.

4. Lake Lagunitas in the Marin Municipal Water District

This is one of the prettiest rides around Mt. Tam, taking you along two little lakes, Phoenix Lake and Lake Lagunitas. Starting at Greene Park in the town of Ross, this ride set on the northern slope of Mt. Tam, is extremely popular among hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers.

You will first ride on a trail that skirts Phoenix Lake's northern shores. Then, follow the trail to the paved Southern Marin Line to the Lake Lagunitas picnic area, where you will find a pleasant, level trail that loops around the entire lake. Along the trail, you will cross three small footbridges over three forks of Lagunitas Creek. Roundtrip: About six miles. Trail maps are available at the Sky Oaks Ranger Station (415- 459-5267) or at the Lake Lagunitas picnic area.

5. Coastal-Miwok and Bobcat Trails

You can take in spectacular bird's eye views of San Francisco while climbing the cliff-hugging Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands (part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). At the first intersection, you will see a trail head to the Coastal Trail, a gentle downhill route into Rodeo Valley. The valley opens to a lagoon and beach at the seashore. Fort Barry, Fort Cronkhite and Nike missile bases make up the former military installations in the valley.

From Rodeo Valley, take either the Miwok or Bobcat trail. The Miwok trail is a steep, short, one-mile climb above Gerbode Valley. The ride down is a thrilling, downhill single track trail (Old Springs Road) into Tennessee Valley. The Bobcat trail is twice as long as the Miwok, but is not quite as steep. It leads to Old Marincello Road, a gentle cruise down into Tennessee Valley.

Both routes wind through the rolling hills surrounding Gerbode Valley and offer breathtaking views of the ocean. On the Bobcat trail, you can occasionally spot its animal namesake crossing your path. For further details, contact the Marin Headlands Visitor Center at (415) 331-1540.

Rules of the Road
Battles have brewed over the years concerning trail access to mountain bikers. Hikers and equestrians have fought hard to keep many of the trails off-limits to bikers. As a result, stiff penalties are imposed on those who exceed the 15 mile-per-hour speed limit (5 miles per hour while passing or going around a blind curve) or ride on trails that are closed to bikers. Read trail signs and maps carefully to make sure you won't get slapped with a fine. "A Rambler's Guide To The Trails of Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands" is an excellent map to all of the trails in Marin. It can be found in most outdoors and bicycle shops in San Francisco and Marin.

Where to Rent Bikes
For those who need to rent equipment, we recommend contacting one of the following shops:

• American Bicycles at 2715 Hyde Street, near Fisherman's Wharf. Phone: (415) 931-0234

• Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals at 1095 Columbus Ave. Phone: (415) 202-8888.

By Sherri Eng

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