Tenderfoot Trail

The Tenderfoot Trail is a scenic, 1-mile hiking and mountain biking route in Mill Valley, California, located just north of the Mount Tamalpais State Park. This region is sprinkled with a paw-lethora of parks and trails to explore, with Tenderfoot Trail being one of the more pawpular among the mountain bikers and seasoned explorer pups. Depending on your direction and your dog's physical capabilities, you can choose to hike the Tenderfoot Trail uphill or downhill. Just keep in mind that bikers will be coming down the hill, oftentimes at high speeds.

Beginning from the bottom of Cascade Drive, Tenderfoot Trail starts with a fairly easy ascent. The trail features mostly a scenic redwood forest, with the occasional panoramic view of Mt. Tamalpais peak in the distance. This trail is woofderful for bird watching and quiet strolls in nature. There are no animals to be wary of as this trail is moderately-frequented, although it's wise to stay cautious nonetheless. The Tenderfoot Trail is a mix of road and dirt, so wear proper footwear that can get a little ruff-ed up! Puppies or healthy dogs will have no problem along this trail, but senior dogs might have trouble with some of the inclines and/or rocks.

The hike will take the average pup around 50 minutes to complete, however, there are several connecting trails that can lengthen your overall hiking time if you wish to continue your adventures! At the end of the trail, you will have the choice to continue hiking on the nearby Pipeline Trail, or you can hike back down to Cascade Drive (where you parked) and visit the nearby Cascade Falls inside Cascade Park, which features a short and family-friendly hike to a beautiful waterfall.

The Tenderfoot Trail offers pet owners and their canines a fun day out exploring the thick redwood forests surrounding Mill Valley. Remember to pack out what you pack in to keep the trails clean and litter-free.