The Lovell Loop is well known among Mill Valley residents for walking your dog, going on a run or just just going on a really relaxing walk. I live nearby and I have two dogs so «doing the loop» is a multi-weekly routine that I get never tired of.(Note: you’ll be walking on a one-lane asphalted road for most of this loop.) As it is a loop, there’s no definite start or end point but if you’re in downtown Mill Valley, I suggest you start at the fire station… because right across from it is wether Lovell Avenue begins. You then stay on Lovell Avenue for a very long time. There’s gonna be a pretty steep ascend after a while and you’re gonna be climbing for some time. But trust me, it’s all worth it, as you’re soon gonna be rewarded with views over the canyon. When you get to house numbers 300 – 400 you will notice that the road starts to level out and basically from here on you’ll be gently meandering through the canyon.(It’s so peaceful… especially in the early weekend mornings or evenings.) When you have reached 800 Lovell Loop you have the choice to go for a shortcut: down the Cascade Canyon along the waterfall. But I suggest you continue on Lovell until it intersects with Cascade Drive at 1002 Lovell Ave.(Here is where the infamous Zig Zag trail starts, which will bring you up to the Mountain Home Inn on a super-steep climb.) But in order to complete the Lovell Loop, you walk down Cascade Drive… Soon you will come to the intersection of the Tenderfoot Trail, which is well-known amongst mountain bikers as one of the first-ever established technical trails. This also will bring you up to the Mountain Home Inn… on a much more gently pace than the Zig Zag trail though. But again, the Lovell Loop continues slightly downhill along the Miller Creek. Especially in the spring after all the rain, this is a pretty intense little river! Soon you will come to the parking lot for the Cascade Falls. And this is where you would’ve come out, if you’d taken the shortcut earlier.(It’s actually only a couple minutes walk to the waterfall, so you might as well check it out now.) Now you have several options to continue your walk. If you have somewhat good shoes, I suggest to take the«Three Wells Trail», which starts kitty corner from the parking lot at Cascade Falls(you’ll see a little foot bridge crossing the creek). Walk along this trail and you’ll eventually join up with Cascade Drive again. If you’re on high-heels, I suggest you continue on Cascade Drive. Note: after a short while you will come to an intersection with Throckmorton Avenue — I suggest taking the right pathetic and continuing on Cascade Drive. At the bottom of the hill, when you’re crossing a small bridge, is where the«Three Wells Trail» merges again. Now you continue on Cascade Drive all the way to Old Mill Park. The road winds along the creek and you will see some pretty spectacular houses here.(Local gossip says that Tyler Florence used to live in the bungalow-style house where Marion & Cascade intersect.) Once you’ve reached Old Mill Park, join the main road, which is Throckmorton, and you will soon be in downtown Mill Valley again. I suggest a pit-stop at Beerworks, where they not only serve delicious home-brewed beers, but their food is also amongst the best in Marin. Cheers!
