The 1,000-acre Martin Griffin Preserve near Stinson Beach is open to the public annually Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from mid-March to mid-July, following the annual return of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets to one of the most significant and well-studied nesting sites on the West Coast.

Created following a successful effort to stop development of a freeway and a marina in West Marin, the preserve offers visitors several hiking trails to explore the canyons and their diverse ecosystems, including forests of Douglas fir, coast redwood and California bay.

Open hillsides support grasslands and coastal scrub, while chaparral, streams, ponds and freshwater marsh habitats nestle in the canyon floors. Martin Griffin Preserve serves as ACR’s headquarters and is home to resource management, conservation-based research and environmental education programs that are conducted throughout the year.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Martin Griffin Preserve.