The north trailhead sits at the end of Woodoaks Drive off North San Pedro Road in San Rafael, and it’s the jumping-off point for some serious ridge hiking in Marin County. This 358-acre preserve has steep climbs no matter which route you take to the top, but the payoff is genuine—expansive views across forests with actual eagles soaring overhead, and on clear days you get a sense of why those forested slopes of San Pedro Ridge form such an impressive backdrop when you’re driving south on Highway 101.

The terrain here is mixed oak, bay, and madrone forest with a few pockets of redwoods tucked into the upper canyons. By late spring the open grassland patches near the ridgetop get scattered with wildflowers, which makes the steep push worth it even if the views weren’t spectacular. Marin County’s leash policy gives you options—dogs need to be leashed on the main trails, but you can let yours off-leash on the fire protection roads as long they have solid voice control.

What makes this spot particularly useful is how the trail system connects outward. From the north trailhead you can link into Henry Barbier Park, which the city of San Rafael manages, or keep going toward China Camp State Park. This means you’re not locked into a single route or destination—if your dog isn’t feeling the steep climbs one day, you have alternatives.

The forest coverage keeps things reasonably cool even on warm days, and the north-facing slopes mean you won’t be baking in direct sun for most of the hike. Just accept from the start that you’re going uphill either way you go, so plan accordingly for water and pacing. The trailhead parking area fills up on weekends, so arriving early or going on a weekday makes a real difference.