Blithedale Summit Open Space is the largest piece of a 899-acre chain of preserves that runs along Mount Tamalpais’s ridge between Mill Valley and Corte Madera. What makes it worth the drive is the sheer variety you get on a single outing—dense redwood canyons, open chaparral hillsides, and fire roads with serious elevation gains all within a few miles of each other.

The fire roads along the ridges climb steeply through rocky terrain, but if you want something gentler, stick to the quieter routes that wind through redwood groves where sword ferns and huckleberries line the path. The deeper canyons stay cool and damp, making them ideal if you’re hiking in warmer months and your dog needs relief from heat. Spring is particularly rewarding here—listen for winter wrens singing in those shaded canyons, and you’ll spot trilliums and fetid adder’s tongue lilies scattered along the forest floor. In the more open chaparral sections, look for the uncommon tree poppy mixed in with manzanita and ceanothus.

The wildlife here is notable. Pileated woodpeckers work the fallen trees during the day hunting for carpenter ants, making a distinctive loud chipping sound. The endangered northern spotted owl nests in these woods too—you won’t see them often, but knowing they’re here adds something to the experience. Dusky-footed woodrats are their main food source.

For dog access, you have two entry points. The east access comes off East Blithedale Avenue via Carmelita and Buena Vista (which becomes Glen Drive)—the gate is roughly a mile up on the left. The west access is simpler: take East Blithedale as it becomes West Blithedale and look for the gate just past Lee Street on the right. Dogs can be off-leash under voice control on the fire roads, though leashed hiking is fine too. The full loop runs about 6.6 miles at moderate difficulty. Bring your own water—there’s nothing available on the trails themselves, and year-round exploration works, though spring shows off the best wildflower displays.