We know, the instructions are unclear: should you chase waterfalls or not? Here, we highly recommend you at least seek them out. A bit of a longer haul, Alamere Falls is a quintessential Marin hike. The falls spill off the rocky cliff face and flow directly into the ocean. There’s a shortcut (not maintained by the NPS) that can shave off about four miles, but requires a bit of climbing. If you forego this option, the actual trail is mostly flat and leads you directly to the beach where the falls, well… fall. Go early, the parking lot is small. Tip: Poison oak grows along the trail. Wear clothing that covers extremities if you’re prone to the “I don’t even know how I got poison oak there” syndrome. Or just know how to spot it before you go.