Best attractions and places to see in Camino Alto Open Space Preserve, located in Mill Valley, California, offer visitors a range of natural beauty and an extensive trail system. This 170-acre preserve features diverse ecosystems, including grasslands, oak and bay woodlands, and redwood and Douglas fir stands. Visitors can find panoramic Bay Area views, including the San Francisco skyline and Mount Tamalpais, making it a notable destination for outdoor activities. The preserve is primarily valued for its natural environment andโฆ
Last updated: May 5, 2026
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Popular around Camino Alto Open Space Preserve
Pretty view of the SF skyline from the entrance to a vast trail and fireroad network, for long hikes into the Marin Hills and Mt Tam, some shared with mountain bikes.
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Fine hiking trail, in part along a wide fire road, other sections narrow single tracks, connecting Camino Alto and Horse Hill Open Space Preserves
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To get off the busy Camino Alto road, Chapman drive offers a quiet alternative, with shaded switchbacks and occasional wide open views of the bay.
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As the bike trails dead-end on both sides of the closed Alta tunnel, Camino Alto is a popular, albeit hilly and narrow, road ride alternative to connect Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
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Escalon Fire Road runs through Camino Alto Open Space Preserve on a ridge high above Corte Madera to the north and Mill Valley to the south. It begins below Summit Drive which is a short residential street dropping steeply Northwest-to-Southeast from Blithedale Ridge ( https://www.komoot.com/highlight/198159 ) along a mostly forested ridge with steep ups and downs. It ends at the south side of Camino Alto OSP where it splits into the paved Escalon Drive and Overhill road, which continues to drop further down east to the terminus of the Mill Valley-Sausalito Bike Trail. This is a good way to avoid paved road traffic when going into or coming from Mount Tamalpais trails, for example on a longer dirtroad tour https://www.komoot.com/tour/13627077 between Point Reyes and San Francisco.
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The preserve offers expansive panoramic views of the entire Bay Area. You can see the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge, and even the distant peaks of Mount Diablo. From certain points, Mount Tamalpais is also visible. The Camino Alto OSP - Fire Road Trailhead is known for its pretty views of the San Francisco skyline.
Camino Alto Open Space Preserve is home to diverse habitats, including grasslands, oak and bay woodlands, and stands of redwood and Douglas fir. You can observe various plant species such as coast live oak, California bay, toyon, madrone, coyote brush, monkeyflower, and seasonal wildflowers like rockrose with bright pink blooms in early summer.
Yes, Camino Alto Road is a popular, albeit hilly and narrow, road alternative for cyclists to connect Mill Valley and Corte Madera, especially when bike trails dead-end near the closed Alta tunnel. Additionally, Chapman Drive alternative to Camino Alto, Corte Madera offers a quieter cycling route with shaded switchbacks and bay views.
The preserve features an extensive trail system. The Bob Middagh Trail is a fine hiking trail that connects Camino Alto and Horse Hill Open Space Preserves, featuring both wide fire road sections and narrow single tracks. The Middle Summit / Escalon Fire Road ๐ป๐ต also offers a multi-use path with diverse plant life and views.
Yes, the Camino Alto OSP - Fire Road Trailhead serves as an entrance to a vast network of trails and fire roads, making it suitable for long hikes into the Marin Hills and Mount Tamalpais.
Beyond the preserve itself, the surrounding area offers numerous outdoor activities. You can find various waterfall hikes, running trails, and mountain biking routes, catering to different skill levels and preferences.
Visitors appreciate the preserve for its diverse natural environment and recreational trails. The panoramic Bay Area views, including the San Francisco skyline, are a significant draw. The variety of trails, from wide fire roads to narrow single tracks, also makes it popular for hiking and cycling.
While some fire roads are multi-use, the preserve is primarily valued for its natural environment and recreational trails. For dedicated mountain biking, you can explore nearby MTB trails in the broader Camino Alto Open Space Preserve area, which include routes like the Tennessee Valley Trailhead loop and the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Fire Road Trail.
Yes, the Bob Middagh Trail is a good example, offering a mix of wide fire road sections and more challenging narrow single tracks, connecting different open space preserves.
The Escalon Fire Road, part of the Middle Summit / Escalon Fire Road ๐ป๐ต highlight, is a key multi-use path within the preserve. It offers a relatively even path through diverse plant life and provides views south to San Francisco and east to Horse Hill and Ring Mountain. It's also a good way to avoid paved road traffic when accessing Mount Tamalpais trails.
Camino Alto Open Space Preserve is primarily valued for its natural environment and recreational trails. There is no information available indicating specific cultural or historical sites within the preserve itself.


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