Top Family-Friendly Waterfall Hikes in Marin

With our recent rain, now is the perfect time to check out the beautiful waterfalls nearby. Here are a few of the top family-friendly waterfall hikes in Marin. Don't forget your rain boots!

• Cascade Falls (Mill Valley): The easiest of the waterfall hikes, this one is a short 1/4-mile walk from the trailhead on Cascade Drive, just off Throckmorton Avenue.

• Waterfall Trail (Indian Valley, Novato): Though the smallest waterfall, this hike is also an easy one for all ages. From the back of College of Marin's Indian Valley Campus, take the Indian Valley Fire Road for 1/2 mile to the Waterfall Trail. Once you cross over a wooden bridge into the woods, it's another 1/4 mile until the waterfall.

• Fairway Waterfall (Novato): While only 1/2-mile each way, this hike is a bit more challenging since you often have to ford a rushing creek at two points along the
way. It's worth it to see the 30-ft waterfall at the end!

• Cataract Falls (Mt. Tam, Mill Valley): The most challenging but also the most dramatic, this hike is a little over 2.5 miles roundtrip, with some decent elevation changes. Park at the Rock Spring trailhead and follow the Cataract Trail, with more magnificent falls the further down the trail you go.

As with all of these hikes, please use caution when hiking with small children. And it’s always smart to pack extra towels (and of course, snacks). Happy Trails!