Santa
Venetia Marsh Open Space Preserve,
Marin County Open Space District,
Marin County
In brief:
1.2 mile flat loop through a San Rafael marsh.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit North San Pedro Road. Drive east on North San
Pedro Road about 2 miles, then turn left on Vendola. Drive about 0.1 mile on Vendola
and park near the open space gate on the left.
Trailhead details:
Side of the road parking at the edge of a residential neighborhood. No parking
or entrance fees. No drinking water, restrooms, maps, or designated handicapped
parking. The single trail is flat, and when dry it could be navigable by wheelchair.
Golden Gate Transit bus #34 stops on North San Pedro Road, a short distance from
the trailhead.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Stores, pay phones, restaurants and gas back toward Highway 101 on North San Pedro
Road. No camping.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
The single trail is flat, and this 1.2 mile loop hike is very easy.
Rules:
Trail is multi-use. Dogs are permitted on leash.
The Official Story:
MCOSD's Santa
Venetia page
MCOSD 415-499-6387
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get there.
• Download the park
map pdf from MCOSD.
• Trails of Northeast Marin County (map), published by Pease
Press is a great guide to Santa Venetia Marsh.
• Open Spaces: Lands of the Marin County Open Space District,
by Barry Spitz (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and trail descriptions.
Santa
Venetia Marsh in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the
featured hike.
View
photos from this hike.
With so much bayfront open space in northern San Rafael,
Santa
Venetia Marsh largely escapes public notice. Tucked back in a residential neighborhood,
the preserve lacks the facilities and extensive wildlife viewing opportunities
of nearby Las Gallinas and China
Camp, and offers only a single 1.20 mile levee loop trail. The flat path is
a good choice for a morning run or daily dog trot, but unless you live nearby
I doubt you'd want to make a special trip to Santa Venetia Marsh.
Start at the open space gate to the right of
a pumphouse. After a few feet, the multi-use trail splits at a bridge. An
interpretive sign announces the presence of the endangered California clapper
rail. Turn right.
Marsh grasses dominate the landscape, although there
are a few clusters of fennel and gumweed, as well as coyote brush and toyon shrubs
sprinkled along the trail. You'll have nice views north and east as the trail
follows
along a tiny creek. Where the trail draws near to Las Gallinas Creek only a slim
waterway separates Santa Venetia Marsh from the marsh and golf course of McInnis
County Park, just to the north. You'll likely see ducks in the creek, but larger
birds of prey have been sighted here as well. The trail curves left, presenting
nice views of Mount Tamalpais and the hills of several MCOSD preserves, including
Big Rock Ridge. As the trail reaches the edge of a residential neighborhood, it
veers left and follows along the preserve boundary, a short distance from the
community. A line of fennel plants forms a screen on the left. There are neighborhood
access points at the end of each street, and attendant noise. The forested green
hills of San Pedro Mountain frame the view to the south. The trail takes a turn
to the left, and at 1.20 miles, you'll reach a previously encountered junction
with the other end of the loop trail, at the bridge. Continue straight and
retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
Total distance: 1.20 miles
Last hiked: Wednesday, January 16, 2002
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
Santa
Venetia Marsh largely escapes public notice. Tucked back in a residential neighborhood,
the preserve lacks the facilities and extensive wildlife viewing opportunities
of nearby Las Gallinas and China
Camp, and offers only a single 1.20 mile levee loop trail. The flat path is
a good choice for a morning run or daily dog trot, but unless you live nearby
I doubt you'd want to make a special trip to Santa Venetia Marsh.
along a tiny creek. Where the trail draws near to Las Gallinas Creek only a slim
waterway separates Santa Venetia Marsh from the marsh and golf course of McInnis
County Park, just to the north. You'll likely see ducks in the creek, but larger
birds of prey have been sighted here as well. The trail curves left, presenting
nice views of Mount Tamalpais and the hills of several MCOSD preserves, including
Big Rock Ridge. As the trail reaches the edge of a residential neighborhood, it
veers left and follows along the preserve boundary, a short distance from the
community. A line of fennel plants forms a screen on the left. There are neighborhood
access points at the end of each street, and attendant noise. The forested green
hills of San Pedro Mountain frame the view to the south. The trail takes a turn
to the left, and at 1.20 miles, you'll reach a previously encountered junction
with the other end of the loop trail, at the bridge. Continue straight and
retrace your steps back to the trailhead.