Discover Mill Valley
8 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Temelpa Trailhead
Trailhead on Mill Valley’s Mount Tam ridgeline offering redwood-shaded approaches, mixed oak chaparral, and quick access to sweeping Bay Area panoramas (San Francisco, Golden Gate, Marin Headlands). Best at golden hour or during coastal fog for mood. Small roadside parking on Summit Ave; expect limited spaces so arrive early on weekdays. No entry fee; trails are moderate with uneven surfaces—bring layers for wind and sudden temperature change. Respect local trail etiquette and dogs on leash.
Bothin Marsh Preserve
Bothin Marsh Preserve is a coastal tidal marsh with winding channels, mudflats and grasses framed by Mount Tamalpais — excellent for birdlife, reflections and intimate waterscape patterns. Visit at golden hour or high tide for mirror-like reflections; winter/early spring for migrant shorebirds. Trails are mostly flat and accessible from Shoreline Hwy parking; no entry fee but parking is limited—arrive early on weekends. Expect cool breezes and variable light near the bay.
Mayor’s Lookout
Small roadside vista perched above Mill Valley offering expansive views of Richardson Bay, Sausalito and the Golden Gate + SF skyline on clear days. Ideal for wide panoramas, city/bay layering and fog-draped moods. Easy, short walk from Greenwood Way; no entry fee but parking is limited on residential streets. Best at sunrise for soft light and fewer people, or at golden hour/sunset for warm backlight on the city. Weather is variable—coastal fog creates dramatic shots but can obscure distant sky
Camino Alto Open Space Preserve
A coastal-ridgeline preserve with sweeping Bay and Mount Tamalpais views, grassy slopes, oak woodland and trails — ideal for panoramas, fog/marine-layer atmospheres and golden-hour color. Best at sunrise or sunset for warm side-light and long shadows; foggy mornings add mood. Accessible from Sandy Lane trailhead with limited roadside parking; open dawn–dusk. Trails are moderate; expect wind on exposed ridges. Weekdays/early mornings are least crowded.
Blithedale Summit Trailhead
Trailhead for Blithedale Summit in Marin: gateway to oak-and-manzanita ridgelines with sweeping views of the Corte Madera Valley, Mt. Tamalpais and San Francisco Bay. Easy access from Mill Valley, limited street parking; best at sunrise or late afternoon for warm side-light and fewer hikers. Trails are open year-round; bring layers and shoes for dusty/rocky singletrack.
Cascade Falls Trailhead
Short, photogenic waterfall and mossy creek set in a shaded redwood/Coastal scrub ravine. Best after winter/rain for water flow; morning or late afternoon gives soft side light through trees. Trail is fairly short but steep and slippery; limited street parking on Cascade Dr or at nearby Old Mill Park. No permit required. Expect hikers on weekends — weekdays and early mornings are calmer.
Horse Hill Preserve
Low coastal ridgeline with open grassland, native wildflowers and sweeping views of Richardson Bay, Mount Tam and occasional Golden Gate glimpses. Great for layered landscape compositions, fog moods and sunset/sunrise color. Best in spring for blooms; visit at golden hour or early morning for soft light and fewer hikers. Small roadside parking at trailheads; mostly easy hikes on unpaved trails. No entrance fee; dogs usually allowed on leash. Expect breezy conditions and changeable coastal fog.
Cascade Park
Small, wooded urban park in Mill Valley featuring a series of rocky cascades, mossy banks and shady trails — ideal for intimate water-and-forest scenes. Best at golden hour or after light rain when foliage and moss pop; soft, diffused light under the canopy. No entry fee; limited street parking nearby and narrow paths (bring a compact tripod). Weekday mornings are quiet. Close to Mount Tamalpais community — a local, residential feel rather than a tourist site.