Old St. Hilary's Preserve sits on a hillside in Tiburon with views that stretch across the bay to San Francisco and the surrounding ridgelines. The 1-mile loop trail is easy enough that you’re not huffing and puffing, which means you can actually enjoy the scenery instead of just focusing on your feet. Getting there involves taking Highway 101 to the Blithedale Exit, then heading toward Tiburon on Route 131. From there, you’ll turn left onto Lyford Drive and right onto Vistazo Street West to find the trailhead.

The trail itself is pretty open with minimal shade, so on a hot day you’ll definitely feel the sun. That’s actually a good thing if you’re visiting in cooler months—you get the warmth. But it also means you need to bring water. Lots of it. Both you and your dog will appreciate having something to drink partway through, especially since there aren’t facilities along the path.

Dogs are welcome on leash, and the trail gives them plenty to investigate—different plants, ground textures, and the ambient sounds of the bay area. It’s a good spot to run into other people hiking with dogs, so if your dog enjoys that social aspect, you’ll likely have company. The views are legitimately nice, not the kind where someone’s overselling them. You’re looking at actual distance across the water and hills rolling away, which makes for decent photos if you’re into that.

The preserve is managed by Marin County Parks, and they maintain the trail regularly. Since it’s only a mile, you’re not committing to a huge time investment—maybe 45 minutes to an hour depending on how often you stop to look around or let your dog sniff something interesting. The straightforward loop means no navigation confusion, so you can focus on the walk rather than checking a map. Parking at the trailhead is on-street along Vistazo Street West, so arrive early on weekends if you want a spot close to the entrance.