Dog-friendly Alto Bowl Open Space Preserve

Alto Bowl Open Space

Camino Alto
Mill Valley, California 94941
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Local Phone: (415) 473-2816

Marin County Parks Open Space Leash Policy: Dogs on leash are welcome to enjoy trails. Dogs are allowed off-leash under strict voice control on fire protection roads. Please follow posted rules.

Marin County Parks Open Space Preserve

This is a small preserve (87 acres), but its story is a perfect example of how many areas that are now open space were spared from development.

As the town of Mill Valley grew in the late ‘60’s, the citizens realized that the surrounding ridges would soon be covered with buildings.

Grassroots activism squelched the plans of several developers, and eventually the County was able to acquire the first 50 acres, which form the eastern half of the preserve.

The southern half of the Alto Bowl Preserve is known as “Horse Hill” and is leased for horse pasturing by the Alto Bowl Horseowners Association.

The sight of horses grazing peacefully on this grassy hillside has been a landmark for decades.

Directions:

• From Hwy 101 in Mill Valley, take the Tiburon Blvd/East Blithedale Ave exit west on East Blithedale Ave, turn right at Camino Alto, turn right at Azalea Drive, turn right at Vasco Drive (becomes Underhill Road), and turn left at Coach Road. Blithedale Ave exit west on East Blithedale Ave, turn right at Camino Alto, turn right at Azalea Drive, turn right at Vasco Drive (becomes Underhill Road), and turn left at Coach Road. MCOSD gate is at the end.

• Leash rule: Dogs are allowed to be off leash as long as they are under voice control.
• Parking: Parking for about 4 vehicles in a narrow roadside pullout
• Fee: None
• Water: Bring your own
• Distance: 2.2 miles
• Best time of year for this hike: Often muddy in winter and early spring
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Hours of operation: Sunrise to sunset

Help us keep this trail beautiful and dog-friendly:
• Always follow the posted rules as they may have changed
• If in off-leash area, keep your dog under voice command
• Respect and protect wildlife and habitats
• Pack in and pack out, leaving only paw prints

Alto Bowl Preserve is a wide open space near Mill Valley where dogs can run off-leash under voice control.

Wide Open Spaces

Wide Open Spaces
The Marin County Open Space District, which turns 40 this year, was born from a heroic movement to preserve natural lands and contain urban sprawl. Today it administers 34 preserves—all but one of them dog-friendly—totaling more than 20,000 acres and providing Bay Area residents and visitors with many ways to play. Four-legged hikers enjoy the rare privilege of accompanying their humans off-leash on the fire roads in the preserves, and while tethers are required on other trails, none of the paths are off limits to canines.  more »

Marin County Land-Lovers
Boy and dog in Bon Tempe MeadowMore than 60,000 dogs live in Marin, according to estimates from the Marin Humane Society. Open space is the draw for residents and visitors alike, with tens of thousands of acres available for on- and off-leash activities. The Marin County Open Space District alone manages 34 preserves totaling 15,000 acres open to public recreation. At all but 10, well-behaved dogs under voice control can accompany you unleashed on fire prevention roads. more »
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