"Just an hour's drive from San Francisco in the wilds of Marin County, the Cataract Falls trailhead in Mount Tamalpais State Park is easy to find along Bolinas-Fairfax Road after you pass Alpine Lake. Hikers can follow the rushing waters of Cataract Creek through a primordial forest of redwoods, live oaks, and Douglas firs, and past numerous small waterfalls along this out-and-back trail. Spring is the best time for wildflowers and to see the chutes at their full flow, while summer is a great time to find relief from the heat under the trees. Meanwhile, the foliage in fall — look out for the bigleaf maple trees — is magnificent. The trail is not too long, but there are some steep climbs, so pack a good pair of hiking boots." - Travel + Leisure Editors