Mill Valley-Sausalito Path

Nice views but the path itself needs to be repaired pretty badly in certain areas. It stays with the marsh pretty much the entire route which means if you want to go anywhere you need to get off the bike pathand the road conditions in mill valley are pretty atrocious at time.

The Mill Valley-​Sausalito Path is a convenient connection between the two towns and an easy way to admire the beauty of southern Marin and can be a great way to connect to other amenities, such as parks, marshes, restaurants, and some local flavor along the Richardson Bay shoreline. This path is the only way to connect, by bike or by foot, Sausalito, Mill Valley and ultimately Tiburon as the famed «string-​of-​pearls» of Southern Marin.
The best feature of the trail is its views of the bay, where it passes through a scenic wetland marsh. You will see many species of birds here, including the marsh wren, brown pelican and maybe even a raptor, if you are lucky. Be sure to enjoy the houseboats of Sausalito when you cruise by. Parking is available at many of the adjoining business areas and at Sycamore Avenue. The trailhead has a public restroom.
The trail starts at Vasco Court near Edna McGuire Elementary School and travels through Mill Valley south past Camino Alto and Tamalpais High School, through Bothin Marsh Open Space Preserve, over bridges that cross creeks and sloughs, along Richardson Bay, and eventually to Gate 5 Road on the Sausalito waterfront. The trail is wide and flat and suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Along the way, you can look for birds and other wildlife in the marsh and in Richardson Bay, and take in amazing views of Mt. Tamalpais.
The trail gets a good mix of cyclists, walkers, joggers and skaters. You can also access the trail by way of the ferry in Sausalito, making it possible to connect with other opportunities in San Francisco and Marin County. It’s very popular for visitors of San Francisco to rent a bike in SF and either bike or take the ferry to Sausalito to then bike through Sausalito, Mill Valley and onto Tiburon to take the Tiburon ferry back to SF. This can make for a great day of exploring the region. It is wheelchair accessible and iis kid friendly.
The Mill Valley-​Sausalito Path is part of a nationwide network of former railroad lines that have been transformed into hiking trails. Passenger-​train service ceased in 1940, although the tracks remained until the multiuse Mill Valley-​Sausalito Path was created in the 1970s.
The Mill Valley section of the trail takes you through Bothin Marsh, reclaimed as an open-​space preserve.
Pick up the Mill Valley-​Sausalito Path at the end of Sycamore Avenue in Mill Valley. The path has a paved middle section for bikers and side dirt sections for walkers, which makes for a safe and relaxing stroll. You pass a large dog park and soccer fields and then enter Bothin Marsh. Bothin Marsh is a tidal marsh, and during very high tides, your feet may get wet crossing the bridges and on sections of the path.
You will see an abundance of shorebirds — willets, stilts, dowitchers, egrets, gulls and many ducks. Surrounding you is pickleweed in the high-​tide areas and cord grass in the low-​tide sections. Although dogs on leash are permitted on the path, they are not permitted on the side paths that take you deeper into the marsh. Informational signs tell you about the fish, birds and plants of the marsh environment.
To explore Sausalito, continue under the bridge. Make sure to visit the Bay Model (see my review:
), which is a hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-​Joaquin River Delta system.
If you bought picnic supplies, visit Dunphy Park, where you can put your toes in the water while enjoying wonderful views. Then continue along Bridgeway, enjoying the Sausalito atmosphere until you come to the ferry terminal.