San Anselmo: Parks, Nature, and Local History

San Anselmo offers plenty of opportunities for walks, nature watching, outdoor recreation, and exploring local history. Its parks each have something different to offer: at Sorich Ranch Park, a trail leads to a ridge with views of San Rafael, San Francisco Bay, and San Francisco. Creek Park is all about birdlife and creek habitat. Other parks offer spacious areas for walking and picnicking, a community garden, or sports and play facilities. Historic walking tours and GPS-guided audio walks round out the town’s attractions. You can tailor your stay to your interests in nature, recreation, or local culture.

Trails and Parks in San Anselmo

East of the parking lot at Sorich Ranch Park, the trail climbs gradually to a ridge. From there, you can enjoy views of San Rafael, San Francisco Bay, and San Francisco. A trail in the park connects San Anselmo with the fire roads that lead to Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery and Terra Linda Divide. The Sorich Park Trail is a 2.1-mile loop of moderate difficulty.

At Creek Park, visitors can observe local birdlife and creek habitat. Robson-Harrington Park has spacious grounds for walking and picnicking, as well as a community garden. For family outings and outdoor recreation, Memorial Park offers sports fields, lawns, tennis courts, outdoor facilities, and a playground. The options range from nature watching to parks with sports and play facilities.

Film Connections and Local History

Imagination Park celebrates the creative legacy of George Lucas and the film series Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The park features life-size statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones, created by sculptor Lawrence Noble. George Lucas gifted the park to the town in 2013. Several town events are held there, including the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

The historic walking tours explore the historic hub, the role of the railroad in the town’s development, and changes in the shops and architecture along San Anselmo Avenue. One specific historical landmark is the North Pacific Railroad: in 1875, it completed a line from Sausalito to Tomales that ran through San Anselmo. Artifacts found near the hub suggest that the area now occupied by the town was a crossroads when the Coast Miwok roamed the surrounding oak-covered hills and fished in the fresh waters of San Anselmo Creek.

The Robson-Harrington House also connects local history with architecture. Edwin Kleber Wood completed it in 1906; the house features a picturesque turn-of-the-century design. San Anselmo also has a large collection of photographs, memorabilia, historical records, walking tour brochures, and video and oral history materials. The collection also includes materials about the Miwok and railroad history.

Audio Walks and Historical Themes

The Historical Commission’s audio walks use GPS to trigger audio content at points of interest. You can walk at your own pace and stop along the way. One tour in the audio program focuses on the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a historic and architectural gem in the heart of San Anselmo. Together with the tours on railroads, shops, and architecture, the program offers different ways to explore local history.

Discover more destinations: Point Reyes Station, Stinson Beach, Mill Valley, Fairfax, Sausalito, Tiburon, San Rafael, Corte Madera.

See the overview of the wider travel region: Marin.