San Rafael is in Marin County, one of the greenest and most eco-friendly regions in California and the country. This lovely part of the San Francisco Bay area has many paved bike trails, unpaved trails and paths that weave through public lands and residential neighborhoods for recreational riding. In addition to recreational biking, many people ride their bicycles as part of their daily commute.
Bike Routes
There are a variety of adventurous and gentler routes around San Rafael. Some trails run along roadways, while others are on off-road trails. It is possible to bike over the Golden Gate Bridge also to get an unparalleled perspective of San Francisco and the Bay.
Mount Tamalpais State Park - Ridgecrest Boulevard
This narrow road, winds on the west side of Mt. Tamalpais and is a popular ride for residents and visitors. The 8-mile trail climbs hard for 380 feet to the top and takes an hour-and-half to complete. It is fairly busy but sometimes you can enjoy a quiet morning and a cool breeze from the ocean when you reach Ridgecrest.
Tiburon Peninsula
This is a relatively easy ride to the town of Tiburon. The 9-mile loop takes 1-2 hours to complete depending on your speed. The gradual climb up to the highest elevation is more than 150 feet. This is one of the most popular rides in Marin.
San Pedro Peninsula
This scenic tour of the San Pedro Peninsula on a smooth paved road with few cars is a lovely ride. It’s a 14-mile loop with little hills. On a hot summer day you can stop at McNear's Beach to cool off halfway through the trail.
Mill Valley to Sausalito
This is easy ride is ideal for the whole family. The beautiful, paved path is only for bicycles, joggers and walkers and takes you from outer Mill Valley to downtown Sausalito. You’ll get a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. The route may seem a bit confusing, so please check the map to get to the back roads and avoid the traffic.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking first started here in Marin County on Mount Tamalpais. During the early 1970s, Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Otis Guy, and Charlie Kelly retooled old depression-era fat tire bicycles to bike over the off-road terrain found in our local Mt. Tamalpais area. Today, trails cut through Mt. Tam’s woods, follow along the bluffs at China Camp State Park and traverse Angel Island.
Mountain bike trails are well-maintained in Marin County. It is possible to ride along the scenic coastal bluffs at Pt. Reyes National Seashore and have a trouble-free trip along the Novato ridgeline at Mt. Burdell. Each year, Marin County attracts mountain bike fans from all over the country who travel to California to ride the Marin County bike trails. Information can be found at http://www.marinbike.org.
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) was founded in 1998. MCBC promotes bicycle-oriented public awareness campaigns, and leads the creation of new or improved biking and walking routes and bicycle safety classes for new riders of all ages. To support its many projects, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition has created an excellent bike route map that covers all sections of Marin County in Northern California.
To obtain a copy of the MCBC Marin County bicycle maps in San Rafael, visit:
Mt Tam Interpretive Association
22 Park Street, #5
(415) 453-4502
Performance Bicycles
369 Third Street
(415) 454-9063
The Re-Cyclery
610 Fourth Street
(415) 458-2986
BASD
1942 Fourth Street
(415) 456-6694
California Bike-N-Bean
100 El Prado, #2
(415) 507-1992
Demo Sport
1101 Francisco Blvd
(415) 454-3500
Mike's Bikes of San Rafael
1601 Fourth Street
(415) 454-3747
California Bicycle Guidelines
The state of California lists rules for bicycles in the California Vehicle Code. Local counties, cities and private properties may create additional rules for bike riders who travel through their neighborhoods. In Marin County, bicyclists must comply with all rules found in the California Vehicle Code mandates. Please see the vehicle code on the Department of Motor Vehicles’ website and enjoy your ride safely.
