A pleasant walk to a small hill with great ocean views.

Location: Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve

» Official Trail Map: Good map showing various trails.

Trailhead: Pullout on Paradise Rd.

Route in brief: Phyllis Ellman Trail → Ring Mountain Fire Rd to summit. Return by Ring Mountain Fire Rd → Loop Trail.

Notes: Phyllis Ellman Trail and Loop Trail have signs. However, the preserve is criss-crossed by unsigned fire roads and unofficial trails and short cuts. For your first trip, it would be helpful to take a map along with. The mountain top is a mesa with no clear peak. Great views of Tiburon peninsula and Richmond - San Rafael Bridge.

Location: Pullout along Paradise Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925 . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From US-101 North, take exit 449 for Tamalpais Drive toward Paradise Drive. Soon after the exit, turn slight right onto San Clemente Drive. After 0.5 miles, continue onto Paradise Drive. Within 0.9 miles, there is a dirt pullout adjoining the road with a sign for Ring Mountain.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: May 2011)

Capacity: About 4 to 5 cars may be parked here. Some more parking on the other side of the road.

Latitude: 37.920961     Longitude: -122.494372

Thick groves of trees are present near the top.