Marin County, California
Overview
The highways of Marin County traverse the rugged peninsula between the populated areas along the bay and the protected lands of Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, Golden Gate, Muir Headlands, Tennessee Valley, and Point Reyes National Seashore. This above view photographed by Pete Sison on May 25, 2012 looks south from the Mount Tamalpais toward San Francisco Bay and the city of San Francisco. Also visible are Angel Island, Tiburon, Tamalpais Valley, and Richardson Bay.
Marin County, located in the northern Bay Area, is home to a wide variety of scenic and natural features mostly clustered along the California 1 corridor between Sausalito and Valley Ford, where the Shoreline Highway enters Sonoma County. Some of the key attractions along the route include:
- Marin Headlands (part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area) and including Point Bonita Lighthouse
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Muir Beach
- Stinson Beach
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Tomales Bay State Park
Numbered highways in Marin County include:
- Interstate 580
- U.S. 101
- California 1
- Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Profiled below are some of the roads, highways and scenery located in Marin County, along with routes that connect with U.S. 101.
Routes
Panoramic Highway
Panoramic Highway is a long, scenic route that traverses Mount Tamalpais and connects California 1 near Muir Woods with California 1 near Stinson Beach. Panoramic Highway initially travels north from the southern junction with California 1, then northwest toward the coast. Mount Tamalpais dominates the view along northbound Panoramic Highway. The mountain is within the Marin Hills segment of the Coast Range, and it actually includes two peaks: West Peak (el. 2,563 feet) notable for the white radar dome on top of the flattened peak, and East Peak (el. 2,571 feet).
Marin Headlands - Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The undeveloped Marin Headlands, protected as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, offer incredible views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Pacific Ocean. This series on this guide showcases the scenic headlands, the bridge, and Rodeo Beach along with the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse, which sits at the far southwestern corner of Marin Headlands. The final series of photos showcase Rodeo Beach, another portion of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beach includes a lagoon that is often separated from the ocean by a narrow spit of land.
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Mount Tamalpais State Park offers incredible, scenic views, such as from the East Peak of Mount Tamalpais (el. 2,571 feet) within the state park boundaries. Some of the notable features visible from the peak include Angel Island, Tiburon, Richardson Bay, San Pablo Bay, distant Mount Diablo, San Francisco Bay, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (Interstate 580), the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Interstate 80), Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island, and Downtown San Francisco. A fire watch tower is also located at the East Peak.
Muir Woods National Monument
Photos on this guide show the pathways that lead to the tall trees found within Muir Woods National Monument, located off California State Route 1 in Marin County. Limited parking is available, so early arrival is advised. Paved and wooden walkways connect the groves of redwood trees. While pictures are nice, this is another of those experiences best had in person.
Point Reyes National Seashore
The westernmost coast of Point Reyes National Seashore is accessible via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Bluffs line the oceanfront, which has been shaped by the San Andreas Fault as well as the relentless impact of ocean waves. The Point Reyes Lighthouse (built 1870) is located at the tip of Point Reyes, a promontory notable for its extreme fog and winds. As a result, the point is hazardous for mariners, and a lighthouse was erected at the point to help guide ships around the land. July 30, 2002 photos by Pete Sison.
