Home > Travel Guide > Marin County Scenic Drive > Part III
Marin County & Napa Valley, Part III
Marin County Scenic Route
On this awesome Marin County scenic drive, you'll explore Marin’s beautiful coastline, the Muir Woods redwood forest, Stinson Beach, the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, Mount Tamalpais State Park, and the Point Reyes National Seashore—all at your own pace.
Then, you can either continue on to the wine country or return directly to San Francisco.
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part I (Introduction)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II a (Reaching Marin from S.F.)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II b (Reaching Marin from SFO)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II c (Reaching Marin from Oakland)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part III (Marin County scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part IV (Napa Valley scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part V (Accommodation suggestions)
Try to start your scenic drive no later than 8:00 a.m.
As you leave San Francisco, stay in the right lane as you travel northbound over the Golden Gate Bridge. You are on both U.S. Highway 101 and California Highway 1.
This is the most scenic highway entry into Marin County.
At the north end of the bridge, take the exit on your right marked “Vista Point” for great views of the bridge, bay, and San Francisco skyline. Even in fog, you may be able to glimpse these.
Get back on northbound 101 and 1.
Mill Valley
Take the northbound CA 1 exit toward “Stinson Beach” and “Mill Valley.”
You pass through a corner of the city of Mill Valley, most famous as the home of the Grateful Dead band.
As its name indicates, Mill Valley was once a logging town.
However, early during the last century, the townspeople of Mill Valley decided that they did not want to lose any more of their magnificent redwood trees, and passed a truly radical law outlawing more cutting. Hence you'll find trees and ferns enclosed by glass in the middle of living rooms and other law-driven curiosities in the half of the city developed after the ordinance was passed.
This preservation of its natural heritage has helped make Mill Valley one of the most sought after places to live in the U.S.
There’s not time enough to explore the more natural neighborhoods of Mill Valley today, but you may wish to come back later.
Continue along Hwy 1. Use turnouts if you notice other traffic behind you that wants to pass.
When not in other parks, much of your route today passes through the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.
Muir Woods National Monument
When the scenery becomes more rural, you’ll see a large brown sign pointing to the Muir Woods National Monument on your right.
Turn right onto this road, unless you plan to continue your trip all the way to Redwood National Park—a larger redwood forest.
Continue to follow the signs to the Muir Woods.
Its proximity to San Francisco makes Muir Woods very popular, but you should find some serenity by walking away from the main parking lot. Check out the maps at the welcome center.
This is a very special place.
Some trees in this park are more than 2000 years old. They were alive when Christ walked the earth and already old when the Prophet Mohammed was born. You may be surprised to learn that these aren’t even the oldest or tallest redwoods in California.
Go back to northbound Hwy 1 the same way you came into Muir Woods. (Don’t use a shortcut.)
Turn right onto Hwy 1, and continue northbound.
You'll soon reach the Pacific Ocean.
The San Andreas Fault
You’ll notice that portions of this highway, which follows the infamous San Andreas Fault, are literally sliding down cliffs toward the sea. Road crews have to grade and put in new tarmac continuously. They don’t even bother to take their equipment away between jobs.
However, when thinking of the author suggesting this route, please remember the words of former mayor Alito of San Francisco, who, when confronted with nearly indisputable evidence that he and his citizens lived atop a geological death trap, said he’d “rather live just one day in San Francisco than 1000 days in San Jose.” Be brave.
On a California map, you can easily tell where the San Andreas Fault enters the ocean. It’s that narrow body of water between the bulk of the Point Reyes National Seashore and Hwy 1. Other easy to spot San Andreas features are Cajon Pass and the Imperial Valley with its Salton Sea in southern California and the Gulf of California in Mexico. There are incredibly powerful forces at work here.
Continue on Hwy 1—you're almost certain to make it past the slide area. On this winding road, you’re not driving in Kansas now!
Mount Tamalpais State Park
As you near Stinson Beach, you’ll notice its long sandy beach in the distance, as Hwy 1 descends toward the shore.
Just before you reach the bottom of the hill and the town, watch for the intersection of Panoramic Drive on your right. An easy-to-miss small street sign marks this junction.
If it’s not too cloudy (low clouds), take Panoramic Drive toward the east. Don’t worry if there’s just a bit of fog, as you’ll probably ascend above this.
As you go up into the mountains, you’ll see a large sign pointing toward Mount Tamalpais State Park. Turn left onto this road called Pan Toll Road, which winds northbound.
After several miles, you’ll come to a "t" junction, where the road splits to the right or left, with a large parking lot on its north side. Park there.
Walk across the road (toward the east) and take the trail up the gentle hill.
After walking several minutes, you may rewarded with a great view of the San Francisco Bay Area—if clouds and fog have not rolled in.
Mount Tamalpais Peak
If you are able to enjoy the view at the junction, go for an even better one.
At the junction, take the road toward the right—toward the east. This is called East Ridgecrest Boulevard.
This road winds up to near the very top of Mount Tamalpais, where you can park. With luck, your view of the San Francisco Bay area from here will be absolutely awesome.
And, if you climb from the parking lot to the top of the peak on a very clear day, your view will include some 1/3 of California, including the High Sierras in the distance.
There's a small picnic area here and washrooms, as well as several steep trails.
If you would like to know the history of the Mount Tamalpais Railroad that once climbed this steep mountain, whose right of way you've been following, check out a 9-minute You Tube video produced by students and their teacher at nearby San Rafael High School.
Stinson Beach
Go back the way you came toward Stinson Beach.
Turn right onto Hwy 1 and drive northbound.
Because Stinson Beach is often very much warmer than San Francisco during the summer, you may be able to enjoy the sun. Hopefully, you’ve brought your towels and sunscreen. The main entrance to the beach is on your left in the middle of town. There are changing stations and seasonal lifeguards.
In warm weather you’ll notice lots of people swimming, but beware of dangerous undertows in these cold waters.
If caught in a “riptide” that seems to be taking you out to sea, swim perpendicular to it along the shore, and you’ll soon be out of its grip. At that point, you can swim with the waves back to the beach. These riptides are characteristic of the California coastline. They’re usually very narrow bands, which are easy to escape, but some people panic and drown.
Beyond Stinson Beach
Continue on scenic Hwy 1 toward the village of Olema.
The rustic countryside beyond Stinson Beach—much of it protected as parkland or used for organic farming—is absolutely idyllic.
Breathe in the wonderful smell of the eucalyptus trees that line this road. Imported from Australia for use as railroad ties and fence posts, this species was found to be unsuitable for either.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Beyond Olema, follow the signs to the Point Reyes National Seashore Bear Valley visitor’s center.
At this very helpful visitor’s center, ask the rangers for a free map of the national seashore and for suggestions of hikes you’d enjoy based on your ability and time available and perhaps information about the horseback trails that lace the park.
In any case, drive as far as the Point Reyes lighthouse via Inverness, a center of organic cheese making. Limantour Beach is really nice, but it’s just one of many in the park.
Currently, the lighthouse closes at 4:30 p.m. and is closed entirely on Tuesday and Wednesday. Nevertheless, the 45-minute drive to reach it from the visitor’s center is pleasant on any day.
Limatour is a long sandy beach in the park that poses little danger other than rough surf and an occasional great white shark, but be very careful if you descend cliffs to some smaller coves in the national seashore. You don’t want your exit blocked when the tide comes in.
The San Andreas Fault—again
The drive to Inverness and the lighthouse follows Tomales Bay and Tomales Bay State Park. This is where the San Andreas Fault enters the Pacific Ocean.
Nevertheless, traveling north does not put you out of harm’s way.
Besides lurking off the coast, the San Andreas touches the coast again near Bodega Bay.
Then the Andreas connects to a major offshore fault system called the Cascadia subduction zone, which lies off northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southwestern British Columbia.
Based on studies of sand deposits, carbon dating, and the oral traditions of native peoples along the coast, the Cascadia has caused huge waves. Because this fault zone lies so close to shore, you'll get little warning.
The last smaller tsunami wave that killed along northern California coastline occurred in 1964, after a catastropic earthquake in Alaska. This caused damage all the way to Mexico. Since then, pressure in the earth has been building up again.
Sir Francis Drake
On a visit to Point Reyes, Sir Francis Drake claimed California for the British crown. Interestingly, Russia also claimed California based on a small colony it established along Hwy 1 at Fort Ross north of Point Reyes. These vied with claims from Spain, Mexico, the California Republic established by American settlers (with apparently the not so subtle help of U.S. president Polk), later the U.S., and of course the indigenous population. The state of California still uses the flag of the California Republic.
If the weather is fine, you may decide to spend the remainder of the day at Point Reyes National Seashore. That’s great!
When done in the national seashore, return to Hwy 1.
Turn right, and head northbound on Hwy 1 to Point Reyes Station.
Going back to San Francisco . . .
If you wish to return directly to San Francisco at this time, click here for directions.
Or, going on to Napa Valley scenic drive . . .
If you have another day, continue on toward Napa Valley.
From Point Reyes National Seashore, return to California Highway 1.
Turn left, and head northbound on Hwy 1 toward Point Reyes Station.
You’ll begin to see picturesque Tomales Bay on your left. As mentioned, this is where the powerful San Andreas Fault enters the Pacific.
After Tomales, you could continue up Hwy 1 to the waterfront of Bodega Bay, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed so many terrifying scenes for movie The Birds, but many of the buildings used in the film were torn down. The townspeople did not realize what a classic film this would become.
Instead (unless you really love the film), continue north on Highway 1 from Tomales Bay, passing through the village of Tomales.
At Valley Ford Road, turn left to continue on Hwy 1. You are now traveling toward the west.
Valley Ford Road and Highway 1 then turn toward the the north and you reach a junction.
Instead of turning left and continuing on Hwy 1, continue north on what is now called Valley Ford Freestone Road.
(Don't worry if all this seems confusing. If you miss these turns, later on you can turn right off Hwy 1 onto Bodega Road or right off 1 onto Hwy 116, and still reach Highway 12 and your overnight stop.)
When Valley Ford Freestone Road ends, turn right onto Bodega Highway.
Sebastopol: Gateway to the Wine Country
As you travel east on Bodega Highway, you begin to pass more and more vineyards. These produce sweeter wines than the drier Napa Valley region.
You'll soon reach your first wine country town, Sebastopol.
When Bodega Highway reaches Highway 116 in downtown Sebastopol, continue eastbound. You are now on State Highway 12.
Highway 12 quickly takes you into Santa Rosa, your overnight stop.
Click here to start your Napa Valley scenic drive at Santa Rosa!
Or, you can continue to Mendocino and the redwood coast on our Redwoods and Mendocino scenic drive and explore Napa after that.
Santa Rosa area overnight
Don’t worry if it is getting dark now. Both Santa Rosa and nearby Petaluma make good overnight stops. Most hotels and motels are along U.S. 101, which intersects with Hwy 12.
Check Hotels.com for discounted rooms in either city.
Click here to start your Napa Valley scenic drive at Santa Rosa!
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part I (Introduction)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II a (Reaching Marin from S.F.)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II b (Reaching Marin from SFO)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II c (Reaching Marin from Oakland)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part III (Marin County scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part IV (Napa Valley scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part V (Accommodation suggestions)
