Samuel's Place

Picnic and bike ride at Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin

03.09.2022

Samuel P. Taylor State Park has all the fixings for a beautiful picnic combined with a hike or bike ride: redwood forest, babbling Lagunitas Creek, barbecue grills, and beautiful trails.

Pick your spot under the spectacle of hulking redwoods and enjoy a picnic or barbecue surrounded by an oasis of NorCal nature. Combine a picnic and a pedal by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail. Once a railroad used by the Northwestern Pacific, this converted path parallels free-flowing Lagunitas Creek, with redwood trees to admire and several streamside trails. 

Simply follow the paved path just south of Lagunitas Creek and pedal for 3 miles west (one-way). (Tip: Seasonally, a lucky few of you might even spy salmon swimming upstream to spawn; keep an eye out for the “red salmon” crossing signs.)

Bonus Hike: For those who’d rather hike than bike, this short hike featuring old-growth redwood trees can be pleasantly peaceful.

Here’s a map to Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The picnic area is just inside the entrance. The paved path is 3 miles (one-way) heading west to Platform Bridge Rd. The Cross Marin Trail is dog-friendly!

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