For most runners, nearly every day is filled with miles and miles of running. One of the most enjoyable things for a recreational or competitive runner is a change of scenery, whether it be various trails or views along the way. Several things that determine the run’s enjoyability include inclines, terrain, shadiness and views. Luckily, Marin offers many exceptional trails that mostly share these benefits. These trails are ranked from favorites to ones with room for improvement with an additional award for which component is most proficient.
Dipsea Trail-Best trail for views
The Dipsea Trail is a 7.8 mile run that spans from Old Mill Park in Mill Valley to Stinson Beach.
The Dipsea may require some previous training because it begins with 680 stairs, and the entire route has 2000 feet of elevation. Once the stairs have been completed, the trail features an intense downhill leading to an incline that eventually reaches the peak. The terrain is a road at first and later ends up on a shaded dirt path overlooking various mountains of Mill Valley. A clear view of Stinson is shown at the mountain’s peak, giving you a full view of the town and beach. As the trail descends, it ends up in a dry patch for the rest of the path, taking you right by the entrance to the beach. Overall The Dipsea made a great all-day activity and an excellent run regarding the views and terrain.
Madrone Canyon- Best trail for shade
The Madrone Canyon trail is convenient for Redwood runners as it’s about a 10-minute run from the school. It starts in Dolliver Park, which then leads through a neighborhood up into the hills of Madrone Canyon. The path features a dirt path on a completely shaded loop that continues for about four miles from the park towards the popular end mark of a sizable boulder. The trail can easily be done out and back, making it about eight miles, or can continue on a loop through a nearby neighborhood cutting the run’s length. While running on the path, the tall trees of Larkspur tower over you as the journey continues, eventually bridging towards Baltimore Canyon. The trail contains minimal hills and, for the most part, remains flat without any tripping hazards. Madrone Canyon is a great everyday run as you can switch up your route and still get a substantial workout.
Phoenix Lake- Best trail for terrain
The Phoenix Lake loop is a favorite for high schoolers around Marin as it features a brisk three-mile path once you hike from the parking lot at the bottom in Ross. The run is surrounded by beautiful views as it encompasses the reservoir and looks up at the hills of Fairfax.
Like most running trails, Phoenix Lake has multiple ways to go aside from the usual loop; one trail branches off to a nine-mile out-and-back run all the way to Crown Road in Ross. The loop around the lake is essentially flat, with occasional roots in the ground and stairs ascending and descending throughout. The trail is partially covered, sporadically going through the trees, creating shaded areas. Overall, Phoenix Lake is a great beginner’s trail and can be finished off with a nice snack from Barton’s Bagels, which is only a mile down the road.
Ring Mountain- Best trail for incline training
One good thing about Ring Mountain is that it extends from Southern Corte Madera to Northern Tiburon, allowing access to a many different trailheads. One route starts in Corte Madera via the Phyllis and Ellman trail. The first noticeable trait of the trail was that it was entirely uphill. Some may prefer this for hill training, but other runners may struggle with the constant incline and the little to no sun protection. The way up was a bit rocky and slippery, but overall led to a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay and made a great run filled with unique, grassy, and rocky terrain.
