Carquinez Regional Shoreline
Nature preserve
281 acres5.5 mi of trail
Hulet Hornbeck TrailRankin Park TrailNedjedly - Rankin connector pathHulet Hornbeck Trail (MC2CT)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Photo: Federico Pizano · CC BY 3.0A+Outdoors
Outdoors in Martinez
Martinez has 38 miles of mapped trails, 3.0 for every square mile of land
99% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 15% of Martinez’s land is conserved, about 1,203 acres. The biggest trail networks: Carquinez Regional Shoreline (5.5 mi), John Muir National Historic Site (4.7 mi), Hidden Lakes Park (3.5 mi).
Ahead of 95% of U.S. towns · #107 of 847 in California. What drives it
Conserved land
15%
1,203 acres · of 12.6 sq mi of land
Trails
38 mi
3.0 per sq mi of land
Park land
736 ac
20 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
36 mi
31 mi lanes · 5.2 mi paths
Highest peak
659 ft
Mount Wanda
Lakes & rivers
2
3 beaches · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Martinez?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Martinez have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Martinez is ahead of 95% of U.S. towns, #107 of 847 in California. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, park acres per resident lowest.
A+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Martinez’s overall grade.
Conserved land15% of the land · typical CA town 4% · U.S. 4%A−Trails3.0 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (38 mi) · CA 0.9 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land20 acres of park per 1,000 residents (736 acres) · CA 5 · U.S. 13BParks close to home99% of residents within a half mile of a park · CA 91% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 95%
LessMore
California towns of 2,500+ (847)Ahead of 87%
Water is 7% of Martinez’s area (1 of 14 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 14%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Carquinez Regional Shoreline, with 5.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
John Muir National Historic Site
Managed by National Park Service
354 acres4.7 mi of trail
Main Fire TrailJohn Muir Nature TrailRiparian TrailBrashear N Trail+1
Dogs usually limited
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Hidden Lakes Park
Managed by City of Martinez
72 acres3.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Martinez Waterfront Park
Managed by City of Martinez
69 acres1.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Hidden Valley Park
Managed by City of Martinez
18 acres0.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Rankin Park
Managed by City of Martinez
8 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Nancy Boyd Park
Managed by City of Martinez
8 acres0.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Mountain View Park
Managed by City of Martinez
5 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 19 parks & preserves
Carquinez Regional Shoreline281 acres · 5.5 mi of trail
DirectionsJohn Muir National Historic Site354 acres · 4.7 mi of trail · National Park Service
DirectionsHidden Lakes Park72 acres · 3.5 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsMartinez Waterfront Park69 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsHidden Valley Park18 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsRankin Park8 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsNancy Boyd Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsMountain View Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsGolden Hills Park19 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Martinez
Holiday Highlands Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Martinez
John Muir Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsSusana Street Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsJohn Sparacino Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Martinez
DirectionsFoothills Park4 acres · City of Martinez
Morello School Park4 acres
DirectionsAlmond Ranch1 acres · John Muir Land Trust
Ridgeview Open Space1 acres · Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District
Cappy Ricks Park1 acres · City of Martinez
DirectionsPlaza Ignacio Martinez Park1 acres · City of Martinez
DirectionsWho protects it
1,203 conserved acres
15% of Martinez’s land. Water is left out: Martinez has 12.6 square miles of land and 1.0 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Martinez’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Regional agency620 ac
National Park Service331 ac
Town or city196 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits56 ac
Local Park · 646 acHistoric or Cultural Area · 331 acLocal Other or Unknown · 153 acConservation Easement · 56 acLocal Recreation Area · 8 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 64 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir National Historic Site Historic or Cultural Area | National Park Service | 331 | Restricted |
| Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline Local Park | Regional agency | 296 | Open |
| Martinez Regional Shoreline Local Park | Regional agency | 282 | Restricted |
| Martinez Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 146 | Restricted |
| Briones Regional Park Local Park | Regional agency | 25 | Open |
| Golden Hills Park Local Park | Town or city | 21 | Open |
| CA State Riding & Hiking Trail Local Recreation Area | Regional agency | 8 | Open |
| Ferry Point Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 7 | Open |
| Mountainview Park Local Park | Town or city | 4 | Open |
| Nancy Boyd Park Local Park | Town or city | 3 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
71 places to go in Martinez
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Martinez
3 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Martinez
2 public pools without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Martinez
37 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Boat launches in Martinez
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Martinez
1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Peaks in Martinez
Mount Wanda659 ft elevation · In John Muir National Historic Site
DirectionsMount Helen643 ft elevation · In John Muir National Historic Site
DirectionsPicnic areas in Martinez
Acorn Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
DirectionsBeech Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
DirectionsEast Picnic AreaIn Martinez Waterfront Park
DirectionsOak Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
DirectionsOlive GroveIn Rankin Park
DirectionsPoplar Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
DirectionsRedwood Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
DirectionsSycamore Picnic AreaIn Hidden Valley Park
Directions1 more picnic area
West Picnic AreaIn Martinez Waterfront Park
DirectionsPlus 16 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Trails & water
17 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 4.1 miHorses · 3.4 miUnpaved · 13.8 mi
Hulet Hornbeck Trail1.5 mi
California Riding and HIking Trail1.4 mi
California Riding and Hiking Trail1.3 mi
Main Fire Trail1.1 mi
John Muir Nature Trail0.8 mi
Vaca Creek Trail0.7 mi
Rankin Park Trail0.7 mi
Brashear N Trail0.6 mi
Riparian Trail0.5 mi
Duck Pond Trail0.4 mi
7 more trails
Nedjedly - Rankin connector path
0.3 miArabian Heights
0.3 miKilldeer Trail
0.3 miCal Riding & Hiking Trail
0.3 miTo Tavan Trail
0.3 miPickleweed Trail
0.3 miBoardwalk Trail
0.2 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
36 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
31 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
5.2 mi
off-road bike paths
0.3 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
26Tennis
20Basketball
14Baseball
3Soccer
2Pickleball
1Beach volleyball
1Skate park
1Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →9 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 28 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Contra Costa County Courthouse BlockDistrict · listed 1989
About itContra Costa County Hall of RecordsBuilding · listed 1991
About itTucker HouseBuilding · listed 1999
About itMartinez City LibraryBuilding · listed 2008
About itPort Chicago Naval Magazine National MemorialDistrict · listed 2009
About itMartinez Downtown Post OfficeBuilding · listed 2012
About itBorland HouseBuilding · listed 2015
About itMartinez Grammar School AnnexBuilding · listed 2018
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Martinez: April to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.1 | 9.5 |
| High (°F) | 56 | 61 | 65 | 70 | 75 | 82 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 76 | 65 | 57 |
| Rain (in) | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.3 |
July is the driest month (under 0.1 in) and the warmest (highs of 85 °F). 4.3 inches fall in December, the wettest month. The climate in Martinez →
Next door
Martinez and its neighbors
Martinez has the most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinez | 15% | 3.0 | 20 | 99% | A+ |
| Vine Hill | under 1% | 1.4 | under 1 | 66% | C |
| Alhambra Valley | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Pacheco | 1% | 0.9 | 2 | 87% | B− |
| Pleasant Hill | 4% | 1.8 | 6 | 95% | B+ |
| Reliez Valley | 13% | 2.0 | 62 | 89% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Martinez
Where can I hike in Martinez?
The longest trail networks: Carquinez Regional Shoreline, 5.5 miles; John Muir National Historic Site, 4.7 miles; Hidden Lakes Park, 3.5 miles; Martinez Waterfront Park, 1.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Martinez is conserved land?
15% of its land, against a typical 4% for a California town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Martinez’s trails?
Carquinez Regional Shoreline and John Muir National Historic Site don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Martinez?
36 miles of bike routes are on the map: 31 of painted or protected lanes, 5.2 of off-road paths and 0.3 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Martinez?
46,989 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Martinez or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 736 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Martinez have?
Ahead of 95% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #107 of 847 in California. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Martinez neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →