Liberty Trail Loop to Carson Falls
Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, Marin County, CA
This is hands down my favorite, easy-ish hike in the Bay Area!
Talk about bang for your buck – this hike has it all!
Check out the trail highlights section below to discover this extraordinary hike’s incredible sights and features!
I’ve included two route options depending on how much time you have and how far you want to hike.
Route 1 measures 4 miles with a 1,450’ total elevation gain.
Route 2 takes you on an additional 2.4-mile detour off Route 1. It’s an extra 1.2 miles in each direction to Kent Lake (and back). It’s a great spot for a picnic. And ultimately lands you back in the same spot on Route 1, where you deviated for the Kent Lake detour.
What I love about this hike… EVERYTHING!
Highlights:
This hike packs an incredible variety of natural beauty into a relatively short distance—and the best part? It’s often quiet and lightly trafficked, especially on winter or early spring mornings. Rather than go into exhaustive detail, I’ll let the photos do most of the talking. But here are my favorite highlights along the trail…
The Towering Redwoods
What I miss most about living in California is the redwood trees—and this hike has some truly spectacular ones. Right after you exit Nail Trail and turn right onto Little Carson Trail, I recommend stepping off the path briefly to explore them. But please, don’t climb on them—many are slick with damp redwood needles and dangerously high off the ground. These awe-inspiring trees: some fallen, some burned or hollowed out, and many still standing tall, often in mysterious, perfect circles. This stretch is my favorite part of the hike—and chances are, you’ll have it entirely to yourself.
The Rainforest Vibes of Liberty Trail
My second favorite section is the lush creekside walk along Liberty Trail at the start and finish of the hike. This out-and-back segment winds through dense ferns and alongside a clear, peaceful creek. It’s impossibly green and feels like a slice of Costa Rica, Peru, or Australia right here in Marin. Keep your eyes peeled for banana slugs, centipedes, and various birds—the sounds and sights are truly magical.
The Cascading Wonder of Carson Falls
Carson Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall that seems to pour endlessly down the mountainside, right alongside the trail. After a winter rain, it’s absolutely roaring! It’s hard to believe such a powerful waterfall exists right here in the Bay Area. Be sure to stop at the multiple vantage points—each one offers a unique perspective and a chance to soak everything in. This is the section where you’re most likely to encounter other hikers—and maybe even a salamander or two.
The Enchanted Forest Feel of the Nail Trail
The descent into the valley is like a fairytale. Moss-draped trees, clusters of ferns, and—if you’re lucky—a fog will wrap the forest in a dreamlike haze.
There’s also a hidden mountain bike jump tucked into the trail. With its gnarly features and tight turns, it’s fun to imagine what it’d be like to take the leap. Don’t attempt it, as it’s an illegal part of the trail, but it is fun to spot.
Bonus Tip: Post-Hike Refuel in Fairfax
After your hike, treat yourself to a cozy meal at Fairfix Café, one of my favorite local spots. They offer something for everyone—whether you’re craving something healthy, hearty, or indulgent. Order at the counter and grab a seat out back in their wine garden patio (weather permitting). It’s dog-friendly, so we usually bring our pup, Gizmo, and unwind with a hot soup, colorful salad, small plate, or one of their veggie-packed house specialties. Add a pastry, a craft beer, or a tea/wine flight, and you’ve got the perfect ending to a perfect day. I’ve never been disappointed here! https://cafefairfix.com/
The Potentially Challenging Bits…
Trail Finding: Some trails are not marked. I recommend tracking your mileage with your phone or watch so you know when to look for key turnoffs. The Nail Trail is the easiest to miss—track 0.9 miles from where you turn onto Oat Hill Fire Road from Liberty Trail. Turn right onto Nail Trail.
Elevation Gains: There are two steep(ish) climbs. The first is 400 feet over 0.7 miles, and the second is a 650-foot climb over 0.8 miles up to Carson Falls. It’s steep but worth it. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.
Slick Terrain: There’s also a short, steep, torn-up section after turning onto Nail Trail—maybe 15 feet long—that can be a little slippery. Use caution. Hiking poles can help but aren’t necessary.
Please avoid creating new trails by walking off-path—conserve and protect plant life.
Beware:
Watch out for ticks, poison oak, and coyotes. I’ve seen all of these at some point while hiking this trail. Rattlesnakes are present, too, but I have yet to see one on this trail.
Best Season to Hike This Trail:
Late winter and early spring, after a big rainstorm for the waterfall flow, are my favorite times to hit this trail.
Where to Park and How to Get There:
Enter coordinates 37.96737 -122.63150 into your GPS navigation system. Park along the side of Bolinas-Fairfax Road. Your parking area will not be marked. You may see a couple of cars and/or notice the trail entrance (Liberty Trail) that you will take for this hike. The distance to the unmarked parking area on Bolinas-Fairfax Road is approximately 4.4 miles from the intersection of Bolinas Road and Broadway when departing from Fairfax city center.
Route 1 Option
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,450 feet
Trail Type: Loop with an out-and-back section
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-friendly: On leash
Features:
Waterfall, huge redwood trees, fern and redwood rainforest, creek, informative placards, views, wildlife, bird watching, a couple of steep climbs, beautiful boulders
Route 2 Option
For a little longer hike, try adding this out-and-back for an additional 2.4 miles, 300 feet of elevation gain, and a nice stop and walk along Kent Lake.
Distance: 6.4 miles (an additional 2.4 miles beyond Route 1)
Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet (rough estimate – my Garmin stats seemed a little off)
Trail Type: One loop with two out-and-back sections
Features:
Kent Lake (a great picnic lunch spot), waterfall, huge redwood trees, fern and redwood rainforest, creek, informative placards, views, wildlife, bird watching, a couple of steep climbs, beautiful boulders
Hiking Step-by-Step Directions for Shorter Route 1:
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Park at Liberty Creek Trailhead (coordinates: 37.96737, -122.63150) on Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
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Enter the trailhead and hike alongside a creek and ferns on Liberty Trail (single track). Continue into an open clearing for 0.7 miles until you reach Oat Hill Fire Road.
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Turn left onto Oat Hill Fire Road and hike for 0.9 miles. Pay close attention to your mileage on your phone or smartwatch so you don’t miss the unmarked single-track trail on the right for Nail Trail.
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Turn right onto Nail Trail (single track) and head slightly uphill. Then, walk down into the valley for 0.75 miles until you arrive at Little Carson Trail.
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Turn right onto Little Carson Trail (single track). Step off the trail here to explore the redwoods if you’d like, then continue up the trail toward Carson Falls.
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Enjoy the waterfall, stopping at multiple vantage points for views on the right side of the trail. Then continue 0.95 miles uphill until you hit Oat Hill Fire Road again.
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Turn left briefly onto Oat Hill Fire Road. Then make an immediate right turn back onto Liberty Trail.
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Follow Liberty Trail for the last 0.7 miles back to your car.
Hiking Step-by-Step Directions for Route 2 (with optional Kent Lake out-and-back):
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Park at Liberty Creek Trailhead (coordinates: 37.96737, -122.63150) on Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
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Enter the trailhead and hike alongside a creek and ferns on Liberty Trail (single track). Continue into an open clearing for 0.7 miles until you reach Oat Hill Fire Road.
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Turn left onto Oat Hill Fire Road and hike for 0.9 miles. Keep an eye on your mileage using a phone or smartwatch so you don’t miss the unmarked single-track trail on the right for Nail Trail.
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Turn right onto Nail Trail (single track) and head slightly uphill. Walk down into the valley for 0.75 miles until you arrive at Little Carson Trail.
Optional Kent Lake Out-and-Back:
From the Nail Trail and Little Carson Trail intersection, turn left onto Little Carson Trail and continue hiking out to Kent Pump Road.
You can follow Kent Pump Fire Road as long as you’d like.
I walked 1.2 miles from the intersection before stopping for a picnic lunch at the lake.
While there, I watched a beautiful osprey circle the sky, hover over the water, dive for fish, and then return to its nest in a tree overlooking the lake.
Afterward, I retraced my steps and walked 1.2 miles back to the Little Carson Trail and Nail Trail intersection to resume the main loop.
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Back on the main route, turn right onto Little Carson Trail. You can step off here to explore the redwoods if you’d like. Then, continue up the trail toward the waterfall.
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Enjoy multiple waterfall viewpoints on the right side of the trail. Continue climbing for 0.95 miles until you reconnect with Oat Hill Fire Road.
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Turn left briefly onto Oat Hill Fire Road, then quickly make a right back onto Liberty Trail.
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Follow Liberty Trail for the final 0.7 miles back to your car.
Please note in the trail map image below: the arrows take you in the opposite direction as my written instructions. I prefer the route I wrote in the step-by-step instructions. Therefore, I recommend you reverse the direction of the loop on the below by first turning left onto Oat Hill Fire Road from Liberty Trail rather than immediately heading down to the falls.
Gizmo loves this hike up to Carson Falls…
I hope you do as well!
Please share your thoughts and photos with me if you ever make your way to this trail.
If you like this hike, I recommend you read the post below on visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s another great California gem to explore!
Looking for more waterfall hikes? Think about stopping by one of these amazing waterfalls on your next Oregon/PNW road trip!
Looking for another Bay Area hike? How about hopping over to Mt. Diablo for the day?
