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In the heart of Marin County, Cypress Springs Ranch is surrounded by rolling hills between Petaluma and Point Reyes Station. On ranch activities include trail and arena riding, hiking, bird watching, road and mountain biking, or just playing horseshoes or ping-pong,. Nearby hiking and riding trails lead the way to the coastal trails and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. With the Golden Gate Bridge only 40 minutes South, and Napa Valley and Sonoma an hour to the East, we are well situated for a wide range of activities.
Point Reyes Seashore and Tomales Bay
(20 minutes from the Ranch)
With 80 miles of undeveloped coastline and 70,000 acres of habitat, Point Reyes National Seashore is a great place to see whales, sea lions, seals, elk and over 900 species of flowering plants, and is perfect for hiking, biking, and romantic walks on the beach. Tomales Bay, a 40-mile estuary within the park, is a beautiful location for sea kayaking, boating, clamming, fishing and simply relaxing by the sea.
Sea kayaking
— Information
— Outfitters:
Fishing
Not only do we have fishing right next door in Nicasio Reservoir but within minutes have access to world class Dungeness crab, salmon, halibut, cod, and albacore tuna.
— Lawsons Landing
— Miller County Park Boat Launch
Birdwatching
With nearly 490 bird species, West Marin is a premier birdwatching area, and home to 24 endangered species. At different times of the year the ranch hosts various types of raptors, including red tail hawks, kites, osprey, golden eagles, burrowing owls, barn owls, kestrels, as well as water fowl and song birds. Every spring hundreds of cliff swallows make their trek up from South America with a nesting stop at the ranch.
— Marin Trails Top Seven Bird Spots
— Point Reyes Bird Observatory
— Audubon's Canyon Ranch
— Park Service Recommendations
— Guided Birdwatching
— Bird Watching Sites
Whale Watching
The Point Reyes Lighthouse and Chimney Rock offer the continent's best opportunity to witness the migration of the gray whale. Whale watching outlooks are just a short drive from the ranch.
— In Point Reyes
— Whale Watching Trips to Farallones Marine Sanctuary
— SF Whale and Great White Shark Watching
Beaches and tide pools:
— National Seashore Beaches:
Biking
West Marin County and the surrounding area is a favorite of road and mountain bikers. The local hills make up the first stage of the Tour of California, and provide the perfect location for serious trainers. Nearby Parks offer great family and fun rides.
— Biking Point Reyes Park
— Point Reyes Bicycle Tours and Rentals
— For Mountain and Off-Road Biking
— Information on Local Roadbike Routes
— Tour of California, First Stage
Hiking and Running Trails
Marin County has over 500 miles of trails in 3 National Parks, 6 State Parks and 24 open county spaces, which give all hikers and runners numerous optionsfrom the beautiful vistas of Mt. Tam to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Nearby Point Reyes alone offers 120 miles of trails.
— Marin Trails
— Great Hikes in Point Reyes
— Bay Area Hikers features comprehensive trail guides
— Hike and taste your way through Marin's famous creameries, farms and oyster bays
— Guided Hikes in Point Reyes
— Mt. Tamalpais
— Dipsea
Horseback Riding
With the area's long history of ranching, horseback riding is an important part of life in West Marin. Point Reyes National Seashore has 120 miles of horse trails as well as trails outside the park.
Guides
— Five Brooks Stable in Olema
— Chanslor Ranch in Bodega Bay, for rides on the beach
— Point Reyes Arabians
— Horse Trails in Point Reyes Park
Golfing
Accessible courses include:
— San Geronimo
— Adobe Creek in Petaluma
— The Links at Bodega Harbour in Bodega Bay
— Indian Valley Golf Club in Novato
Local Food and Entertainment
Just down the road on the Nicasio town square is Rancho Nicasio which puts on great barbeques and has a wide mix of music on the weekends.
— Great local oysters can be found at the Hog Island Oyster Farm on Tomales Bay
— Pt. Reyes Farmer's Market
— Petaluma Farmer's Market
— Point Reyes Books for interesting reading material and speakers
— Tony's Seafood Restaurant (cash only), 18863 State Route 1, Marshall, 663-1107. Open on weekends for lunch and dinner, this hangout with a deck built over Tomales Bay is popular with locals for fish, shellfish and local oysters.
— Nick's Cove Pat Kuleto
Marin Headlands
Beaches, extensive hiking and many historic landmarks, the headlands offer an excellent opportunity to explore the area. Home of the mountain bike – there are several hundred miles of trails along the pacific coast over all types of terrain.
— Fort Cronkhite, WWII military post
— NIKE Missile Site Cold War Museum
— Tennessee Valley Hiking
Muir Woods National Monument
30 minutes from the ranch. Home to ancient coast redwoods, some of which are 1000 years old and close to 300 feet high. It is quite a site to see the steelhead and salmon migrate up Redwood Creek. Muir Woods National Monument
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
— Redwood and Douglas Fir Forests of Samuel Taylor State Park only 15 minutes from the ranch
— Mount Barnabe Hike
— Bay Area Hiker Suggestions
Wine Country
The ranch is just an hour from the heart of the California wine country.
— Sonoma Valley
— Russian River
— Napa Valley
— Alexander Valley
San Francisco
The Ranch is just 45 minutes from the City. We enjoy several neighborhood restaurants in the City:
— Quince
— Betelnut
— Venticello
— Terzo
Museums
— Asian Art Museum
— Museum of Modern Art
— Deyoung Museum
Other Atractions
— California Academy of Sciences
— Cable Car Rides
— Alcatraz
— Walking Tours
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