For bikers, the paved Cross Marin Trail bike path runs about three miles through the park, beginning near the entrance of the park. The trail is nearly level and follows the old Northern Pacific Coast Railroad right-of-way through Samuel P. Taylor and into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Hiking among the gargantuan Redwoods in Samuel P. Taylor, is a beautiful experience. There is an extensive network of hiking trails and fire roads that make it easy to explore the park. There is an easy 2 mile loop called The Pioneer Trail, which is the most popular, but for a little more excercise (and adventure), we recommend the 9-mile round-trip loop to Mount Barnabe.
With over 2,700 wooded acres, Samuel P. Taylor is the perfect place to take on horseback . The park offers an equestrian camping area as well as many trails.
For nature lovers, there is a large variety of flowers and trees, including oak, tanoak, madrone, live oak, laurel and Douglas fir. California native wildflowers include buttercups, milkmaids, and Indian paintbrush. As for animals, the most common is the black-tailed deer. There are also raccoons, striped skunks and gray foxes. Coho salmon and steelhead trout migrate up Lagunitas Creek to spawn. The fish should arrive after the first good rain storm in fall and may be visible a couple days later, once the waters have cleared.