9 Outdoor Activities to Do in Mill Valley

9 Outdoor Activities to Do in Mill Valley

  • Nadine & Camara Team
  • 09/14/22

If you’re on the hunt for Mill Valley real estate, you might want to learn more about fun outdoor activities in the area, especially if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. Here is a list of some of the best outdoor activities to do in Mill Valley.

Wander downtown Mill Valley

Mill Valley features a beautiful downtown area, so if you’re planning on purchasing property here, you need to walk on Throckmorton Avenue and explore the side streets. The old railroad depot is found in Lytton Square, which is the central part of town in Mill Valley. Grab a cup of coffee and a book at the Mill Valley Depot Cafe & Bookstore before continuing to walk and sightsee around downtown Mill Valley. You should definitely stop and look at the historic clock on the corner, recently tuned up in 2017 after a few decades of being broken.

View the mural on Throckmorton Theater


This theater is a wonderful local venue that hosts concerts, plays, and comedy shows. Robin Williams actually used to do regular comedy shows at the theater. Outside the theater on its side is a gorgeous mural created by a young local artist named Zio Zegler. The artist has created multiple murals around Mill Valley, including a mural on Playa, a trendy Mexican restaurant on Throckmorton Avenue. Take the time to explore these murals while you’re downtown.

Relax in Old Mill Park


If you continue walking down Throckmorton Avenue, the downtown vibes and buildings quickly disappear as you wander into a magical redwood forest known as Old Mill Park. Kids and adults alike love this park. Kids enjoy sliding down the slides and exploring the jungle gym in the center of the redwood forest, while adults love the public art benches. Take some time to relax, breathe in Mother Nature and take in the beautiful views in Old Mill Park.

Walk by the beautiful houses on Cascade Drive

Are you looking for Mill Valley homes for sale? If you’re looking for a fun and beautiful stroll in Mill Valley, look no further than Cascade Drive, home to some of the most gorgeous houses in Mill Valley. As a popular suburban oasis, Mill Valley is home to giant palatial houses, but it’s also considered a vacation cottage spot for people living in San Francisco, so you will also notice some adorable little cottages along Cascade Drive. Stevie Nicks used to own a giant home here, surrounded by forest trees.

Check out the hidden waterfalls


Once you’re done exploring all of the gorgeous houses on Cascade Drive, you can hike toward Cascade Falls. You will also find a beautiful swimming hole known as Three Wells, named for the three small waterfall dips that create small swimming holes for locals to swim and cool off in the summer. These little swimming holes are like natural hot tubs filled with cold water.

Hike the Dipsea Trail

Searching for Mill Valley real estate and want to find a great hike nearby? Then look no further than the Dipsea Trail. The Dipsea Trail starts right in front of the town’s public library, which is an incredible white building constructed with two floors of books, stacked from floor to ceiling, in the center of a redwood forest. The library features an outdoor reading room where patrons can read a book or browse online at an outdoor table.
 
After exploring the library, take Old Mill Park’s Lower Dipsea Stairs to begin this amazing hike. The round-trip hiking trail is approximately 15 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation loss and gain and takes you from downtown Mill Valley through the Muir Woods to Stinson Beach. If you don’t want to complete the entire hike, you can simply turn around after your hike to Muir Woods.

Hike the Bay Trail


If you’re looking for a more leisurely hike, walk to Sausalito with cute galleries, boutiques, and houseboats via the Mill Valley Bay Trail. This easy hike is only a little over 3.5 miles, and it’s pretty wide and flat, so you can walk or bike the trail. The trail is accessible for people using strollers, walkers, or wheelchairs. Begin the trail at Mill Valley’s Underhill Road, which connects to Sausalito’s Bridgeway and Harbor Drive.

Drive and walk up to East Peak on Mount Tam


Another great hike in Mill Valley is the hike up to East Peak. Simply take the scenic drive up to the East Peak on Mount Tam and park near the top of the highest mountain in Marin County. After you park your car, you can take a simple 0.3-mile walk up to the peak’s highest point through the Plankwalk Trail. If you want a longer hike, you can tack on the Verna Dunshee Trail, which brings the hike to 1.2 miles. Make sure to wear a jacket when making this hike. It gets a little cold up here since the highest point of Mount Tam is 2,500 feet.

Walk amongst the Muir Woods redwood trees

One of the best hikes in California is the walk through Muir Woods’ scenic redwood trees. Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, found north of San Francisco, and it’s well known for its redwood trees. Remember that Muir Woods is very popular, so it can get crowded quickly. You might need to make parking reservations. For a less crowded hike, take the Bootjack Trail, which is about a six-mile moderate hike. Muir Woods is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so you will have plenty of time to hike and explore, whether you want to take a morning or sunset hike.

Partner with the Nadine & Camara team to find your dream home

Looking for new Mill Valley homes for sale? Reach out to the trusted Mill Valley real estate agents at Nadine & Camara Team for guidance. Driven by the joy they get from seeing their clients find their dream homes, this power duo has decades of experience and hundreds of millions of dollars in sales under their belts. Nadine & Camara are your best bet for Mill Valley real estate.




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