Marin County Parks Open Space Leash Policy: Dogs on leash are welcome to enjoy trails. Dogs are allowed off-leash under strict voice control on fire protection roads. Please follow posted rules.
At the headwaters of Larkspur Creek in Larkspur, this 193-acre preserve encompasses a lovely canyon filled with history, stately trees, and a spectacular waterfall. The trail system here connects to several of the main fire roads that traverse the north slopes of Mount Tamalpais, as well as to other MCOSD preserves including King Mountain and Blithedale Summit.
This canyon was once home to some of the largest redwoods in the Bay Area, but all were cut in less than a decade to build the homes and businesses in rapidly growing San Francisco. Many redwoods have re-sprouted, but now the canyon is shaded by a mix of trees that includes bays, madrones, and Douglas firs. Certain parts of the creek remain wet year-round, so there are young steelhead and California Pacific giant salamanders lurking in the deeper pools.
You can see the remnants of a stone dam that once created a small reservoir at a wide spot in the canyon. The dam was dynamited in the 1920s as a result of a drowning. Further up the creek is the quarry that yielded the stones for the dam, as well as the Larkspur restaurant known as “the Blue Rock Inn.”
At the head of the canyon lies Dawn Falls, a spectacular 30-foot cascade during the wet winter months through early spring. The 2.2-mile trail is easy enough for most dogs, though bring your own water since none is available on-site. Off-leash hiking is allowed as long as your dog has reliable voice control on the fire roads.
To reach Baltimore Canyon, take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west towards Kentfield, turn right at Woodland Road, then left at Evergreen Drive. Continue uphill and turn left at Crown Road just past Ridgecrest Drive. There’s a small turnaround for parking at the end of the road, with no fee required. Visit late winter through early spring for the best combination of water flow at the falls and wildflowers along the canyon floor.
