The Bolinas post has been the single most-read piece on DogTrekker for weeks, and it’s no mystery why: the no-sign turnoff, the off-leash beach, the Marin lore. But Bolinas is one town. Marin is 520 square miles of coastal range, oak woodland and open-space preserve, and most of the best dog-friendly corners never make the Instagram feeds. We’ve spent enough weekends on these trails and outside these bars to know where the regulars go. Here’s what we aim for when we’re already past the Golden Gate Bridge.
Start in Mill Valley, then climb
If we could only recommend one Marin move that isn’t Bolinas, it would be this: park in Mill Valley and walk up the Old Railroad Grade. The trail is the old right-of-way of what they used to call the crookedest railroad in the world — from 1896 to 1930, steam-powered excursions hauled tourists to the summit of Mt. Tam. Today it’s a wide fire road with a gentle grade, perfect for a pair of dogs and a morning. The full climb is serious, but even the first two miles buy you redwood shade and a clean shot at the Bay.
One important note: the rest of Mount Tamalpais State Park is almost entirely off-limits to dogs. The one legitimate exception is the Old Stage Road — about a half- to three-quarter-mile stretch where dogs are legal. Don’t push past the signs.
When we come back down, we aim straight for the Buckeye Roadhouse. Open since 1937, it’s a Marin institution — as iconic as the Golden Gate — with outdoor tables a quick hop off Highway 101. Water bowl under the table, a warm afternoon, ribs: that’s a Mill Valley day done right.
Fairfax: the West Marin you don’t have to commit to
Bolinas takes a commitment — the turnoff, the road, the mood. Fairfax gets us most of the same energy without the one-way trip. Iron Springs Pub and Brewery is our standard meetup when we’re hiking the area: a locally owned brewery where dogs aren’t tolerated, they’re expected. Order the IPA and grab an outdoor table.
For the pre-pub walk, we head five minutes up the road to Cascade Canyon Falls Open Space. The falls are biggest in late winter and early spring, so April is prime — by June they’re a trickle. A warning: Marin County Parks has a strict leash rule here because of the endangered Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog. Off-leash will get us ticketed. On-leash is a perfectly good walk.
Larkspur for the dog-park crowd
When we’ve got the pups and no plans, Piper Park Dog Park is where we end up. It sits behind the Central Marin Police station — a little counterintuitive, but the layout is generous: shaded walking paths, room for zoomies and good water views. Afterward, Marin Brewing Company is a five-minute drive. This is one of the few brewpubs in Marin where we can say, without hedging, that the dogs at the outdoor tables are treated like regular customers, not barely-allowed guests.
Point Reyes Station and Novato if the day stretches into a weekend
If a day trip turns into an overnight, the options open up fast. The Mill Valley Inn puts us at the base of Mt. Tam surrounded by redwoods — the kind of place where you hear trees and birds, and the trailhead is a five-minute walk from the lobby. The next morning, head west to Point Reyes Station for Cowgirl Creamery and a bite at Café Reyes, then loop back through Novato’s open-space preserves. Mount Burdell Open Space is our pick for the ridge views most visitors never see.
Bolinas is worth the trip. Stinson is worth the beach day. But Marin is a lot bigger than two towns, and the corners the locals don’t post about are exactly the corners worth knowing.
