Touring * Street *

Heading south on U.S. 101 from San Rafael or north from San Francisco, exit at Tiburon/Mill Valley (it's also called the Tiburon Boulevard/Highway 131/East Blithedale Avenue exit) and head west. Turn left at Roque Moraes and follow the road as it curves to the southeast to meet Hamilton Drive. Turn right on Hamilton and park across from the fire station at Bay Front Park.

The Richardson Bay marshes and the views of the hills to the south and west sure are pretty, but this is no trail for a first-time skater, even though it's as flat as can be. On fair-weather weekends, it's crowded with walkers, joggers, and serious cyclists, but the main problem is that the pavement is extremely coarse at the trail's northern end. If you go less than five miles per hour, you feel like you're riding a jackhammer. Softer wheels (with a hardness or durometer rating in the low 70s) help absorb some of the vibrations, but a fast pace can also make it tolerable enough to enjoy the scenery. Just be sure you don't collide with anyone! (Full protective gear would be well-advised here.) To reach the main trail, head west from the parking lot on the rough pavement. Cross the first of three wooden bridges you'll encounter on this trip and turn left to join the trail, heading southeast through the park along the edge of a marsh. (You can continue west here if you're interested in a diversion on the grounds of the shoreline condominiums in that direction). As you approach the freeway, you'll cross two more wooden bridges, also easier to skate when you keep your speed up. It's somewhat noisy under and alongside the Shoreline Highway, but you'll be partly compensated by smoother pavement from here on. The dedicated trail ends at Gate Road in Sausalito, next to the Harbor Center Shopping Center. Street skating in the harbor area beckons, for those who are ready for more adventure.