Marin County & the Bay Area - California - page 254

( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 415-331-2787; www.headlands.org ; 944 Simmonds Rd; noon-5pm Sun-

Thu)
In Fort Barry, refurbished barracks converted into artist work spaces host open studios
with its artists-in-residence, as well as talks, performances and other events.

Activities

Hiking
At the end of Bunker Rd sits Rodeo Beach, protected from wind by high cliffs. From here
the Coastal Trail meanders 3.5 miles inland, past abandoned military bunkers, to the Ten-
nessee Valley Trail. It then continues 6 miles along the blustery headlands all the way to
Muir Beach.
All along the coastline you'll find cool old battery sites - abandoned concrete bunkers
dug into the ground with fabulous views. Evocative Battery Townsley ( MAP
GOOGLE MAP ) , a half-mile walk or bike ride up from the Fort Cronkite parking lot, opens
for free subterranean tours from noon to 4pm on the first Sunday of the month.

Tennessee Valley Trail HIKING

This trail offers beautiful views of the rugged coastline and is one of the most popular
hikes in Marin (expect crowds on weekends), especially for families. It has easy, level ac-
cess to the cove beach and ocean, and is a short 3.8-mile round trip. From Hwy 101, take
the Mill Valley-Stinson Beach-Hwy 1 exit and turn left onto Tennessee Valley Rd from
the Shoreline Hwy; follow it to the parking lot and trailhead.

Mountain-Biking
The Marin Headlands have some excellent mountain-biking routes, and it's an exhilarating
ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to reach them.
For a good 12-mile dirt loop, choose the Coastal Trail west from the fork of Conzel-
man and McCullough Rds, bumping and winding down to Bunker Rd where it meets Bob-
cat Trail , which joins Marincello Trail and descends steeply into the Tennessee Valley
parking area. The Old Springs Trail and the Miwok Trail take you back to Bunker Rd a