West Marin, where Smiley’s is situated, is blanketed with precious protected lands and open space. Please visit the official websites for the different parks to learn about hiking trails as well as important visitor information.
Point Reyes National Seashore: From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover. Home to several cultures over thousands of years, the Seashore preserves a tapestry of stories and interactions of people.
Mount Tamalpais State Park: Mount Tamalpais has redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot peak. On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the Sierra Nevada’s snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away. Coastal Miwok Indians lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In 1770, two explorers named the mountain La Sierra de Nuestro Padre de San Francisco, which was later changed to the Miwok word Tamalpais. With the Gold Rush of 1849, San Francisco grew and more people began to use Mount Tamalpais for recreation. Trails were developed and a wagon road was built. Later, a railway was completed and became known as “The Crookedest Railroad in the World.” It was abandoned in 1930 after a wildfire damaged the line.
Marin County Open Space District: 34 open space preserves include an extensive network of approximately 249 miles of roads and trails, 335 entry points to nearly 16,000 acres of lands offering visitors outstanding scenic vistas, redwood groves, cascading waterfalls, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and other natural amenities.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area:The park chronicles 200 years of history, from Native American culture, Spanish Empire frontier, California Gold Rush, evolution of American coastal fortifications, and growth of urban San Francisco; comprising of 19 separate ecosystems & home to 1,273 plant/animal species. It has hundreds of ways to recreate including horseback riding, ranger-led programs, bicycling, hiking, and walking your dog.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park: This park is located in the steep rolling hills of Marin County and includes a unique contrast of coast redwood groves and open grassland. The park features a variety of flowers and trees, including oak, tanoak, madrone, live oak, laurel and Douglas fir. California native wildflowers include buttercups, milkmaids, and Indian paintbrush.
