Hiking Map of Marin County, Issued by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad

Depression-era map of hiking trails across Marin County

This fantastic promotional map of Marin County, California’s hiking trails was originally designed and copywritten by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1925. This example, revised to 1930, was published in San Francisco by Edward Denny & Co. and shows a detailed overview of the available footpaths around Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods, and the Marin Peninsula.

Camps, notable features, elevation data, and other locations of interest are noted throughout the image. Several ferries are shown in operation across San Francisco Bay – construction on the Golden Gate Bridge wouldn’t begin for another three years. An inset map in the lower left shows the area around the Northwestern Pacific’s Mill Valley Station, a convenient starting point for many of the popular trails.

The verso provides black and white photographs, descriptive text, fire warnings, fare information, and ‘The Tramper’s Ten Commandments.’ In 1929, much of Mill Valley and the surrounding area was destroyed by fire.

The map was likely re-issued by the Northwestern Pacific to encourage ridership along the line, but its efforts were apparently unsuccessful. The lingering effects of the Great Depression, competition from automobiles, and other changing transportation preferences led to the end of service to Mill Valley in 1941.

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