CHINA CAMP STATE PARK
Back Ranch Meadows Campground Trailhead
San Rafael
Get a Map
FROM THE EAST BAY
- Take the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (580), continuing north to Highway 101.
- Take the Civic Center / North San Pedro Road exit Eastbound.
- Stay on North San Pedro Road for about 1.5 miles through a residential area.
- The road continues into China Camp State Park (big brown sign on side of road).
- Drive 500 feet past the sign and take the first right hand turn. This is at the Back Ranch Meadows Campground.
- A sign on the right shoulder of the road will say Back Ranch Meadows and we will also have a sign that says Trips For Kids on the right shoulder.
- After you turn into the campground, drive past the entrance station into the parking lot.
- We will be there with our big white Trips For Kids van.
FROM SAN FRANCISCO
- Take Highway 101 going north through Marin County.
- Take the Civic Center / North San Pedro Road exit Eastbound.
- Stay on North San Pedro Road for about 1.5 miles through a residential area.
- The road continues into China Camp State Park (big brown sign on side of road).
- Drive 500 feet past the sign and take the first right hand turn. This is at the Back Ranch Meadows Campground.
- A sign on the right shoulder of the road will say Back Ranch Meadows and we will also have a sign that says Trips For Kids on the right shoulder.
- After you turn into the campground, drive past the entrance station into the parking lot.
- We will be there with our big white Trips For Kids van.
Description of Trail: Some of the best single-track mountain biking trails in Marin are found within this state park. The park is located on the bay and the ride is a ten-mile round trip. We ride through oak forests and eat lunch at a beach at the site that was originally settled by a group of Chinese shrimp fisherman, hence the name. While there are not very many steep hills on this ride, the trail is narrow. Kids usually love it, but they need to be comfortable on a bike.
PHOENIX LAKE
Natalie Coffin Greene Park
Ross
Get a Map
FROM THE EAST BAY
- Take the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580).
- Immediately after the bridge take the Sir Francis Drake / San Francisco exit to the right.
- Stay on Sir Francis Drake Blvd for a few miles, (going past College Avenue & College of Marin).
- You will enter the town of Ross.
- Turn left onto Lagunitas Rd (there is a curved brick fence on the right housing The Art and Garden Center and a fire station on the left corner with a stone bear in the front yard).
- Go to the end of the road, where you will enter Natalie Coffin Green Park.
- Please park in the dirt parking lot (you may have to pull aside and wait for a space to open up).
- We have a white van with Trips For Kids logo on it.
FROM SAN FRANCISCO
- Take Highway 101 North and exit at San Anselmo / Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
- Stay on Sir Francis Drake Blvd for a few miles, (going past College Avenue & College of Marin).
- You will enter the town of Ross.
- Turn left onto Lagunitas Rd (there is a curved brick fence on the right housing The Art and Garden Center and a fire station on the left corner with a stone bear in the front yard).
- Go to the end of the road, where you will enter Natalie Coffin Green Park.
- Please park in the dirt parking lot (you may have to pull aside and wait for a space to open up).
- We have a white van with Trips For Kids logo on it.
Description of Trail: Located at the base of Mt. Tam and a part of the Marin Municipal Water District, this ride is challenging and rewarding. We start the ride by going uphill a few miles, until we reach the lake, which offers a great view of Mt. Tam. It is all downhill after lunch! The terrain is varied, and mostly wooded.
