Tiburon Historical Trail:
California
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Description:
If you're looking for a gentle rail-trail in Marin County that offers stunning views of both San Francisco Bay and Mt. Tamalpais, the Tiburon Historical Trail is for you. Known alternately as the Tiburon Bike Path and Tiburon Linear Park, the trail begins at Blackie's Pasture, a scenic landing named after a celebrated swaybacked, retired cavalry horse named Blackie that once roamed here.
Soon after beginning the trail you pass the coastal mudflats of Richardson Bay, transition zones between land and sea that host a wide variety of plants and wildlife. A bird-and birder's-paradise, Richardson Bay hosts more than 1 million migratory birds every year, along with a diverse mix of year-round residents, including great blue herons, snowy egrets, and red-tailed hawks. Breathtaking views of the bay start here, and they stay with you for the remainder of the trail. Take it all in and enjoy!
The Tiburon Historical Trail passes a number of playgrounds, small parks and playing fields, so it's very family-friendly and a great destination for a picnic or afternoon outing. It's also very popular with cyclists and joggers, and with a paved section for cyclists and a wide dirt shoulder for walkers and joggers there's ample room for both.
The trail runs along the coast through Tiburon and into Belvedere. Now among the most exclusive communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, both had humble beginnings. In the early 1900s, Tiburon was a blue-collar railroad town, with cargo trains running daily. One of the railroad's "most famous deliveries" was Al Capone, who was carried by train to Alcatraz in 1934. Belvedere, meanwhile, once hosted the ever-pungent McCollam Fish Factory.
At about mile 2, the path becomes an on-street bike lane along Tiburon Boulevard. Continue into downtown Tiburon and the trail's end in Shoreline Park at the ferry terminal. Here you'll find more great views of the bay, a host of restaurants and shops, and the perfect spot to watch the sun set. The terminal is also a great launching point for more adventures: You can take a ferry to nearby Angel Island or San Francisco, or continue along the Paradise Loop, a popular on-street route for cyclists.
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the trailhead from San Francisco, take Highway 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge. Continue on Highway 101, take the Highway 131/Tiburon Boulevard/East Blithedale exit toward Tiburon Boulevard. Continue on Tiburon Boulevard for about 1.5 miles. Look for Blackie's Pasture on the right. The trailhead is at the southern end of the parking lot.
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Seasonal Restrictions:
The trail is wonderful year-round.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Excellent Bay Views
By dhusch in April, 2010
This trail passes along the bay on the route to Tiburon. The last mile is a bike lane along Tiburon Blvd. Lots of nice views. There are nice restaurants and shops in downtown Tiburon.
Connections from the trail to Mill Valley are somewhat tricky. There are shoulders along busy Tiburon Blvd. There is a signed bike route along Belvedere Dr, but then there is a long stretch along 101 frontage roads to reach a connection to the Mill Valley trail. Tiburon Blvd is the shorter and perhaps prefered connection. I suggest printing a street map of the area ahead of time.
A nice loop starting in San Francisco. Start on the Embarcadero Trail, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, ride through Sausalito, then the Mill Valley Trail, connect to the Tiburon Trail into Tiburon, and catch a ferry back to San Francisco.
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Tiburon Ferry Terminal to Blackies Pasture
Counties: Marin
Trail Length: 2.6 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Ballast
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Mountain Biking, Walking
TrailLink ID: 6031964

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Guidebook: Learn more about other Western rail-trails in RTC's Western Guidebook.
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