Hikers have been taking in the natural and scenic splendors of Mount Tamalpais for decades.

Many have favorite trails such as Steep Ravine, Cataract Falls or Matt Davis. Apparently, not only locals.

Mount Tam has been named the No. 1 hiking haven in a poll conducted by the California State Parks Foundation. It wound up at the top of the list of California’s 280 state parks, beating out Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz and Humboldt County’s Prairie Creek State Park which rounded out the top three vote-getters.

Tam may be treasured by locals who consider it the best “backyard” around, but the foundation’s poll shows it is enjoyed by plenty of visitors beyond the Bay Area, as well.

Its scenery, including sweeping views of the bay and the coastline; its grassy ridgeline trails and tall redwoods and its numerous tree-shaded pathways, Tam has it all.

It is no wonder that generations have long made preserving and protecting Tam’s slopes, keeping them free from development, a top priority. Today, we benefit from that commitment as Tam’s trails are actually a network of paths not only in the state park, but seamlessly connecting to trails in Muir Woods National Monument, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Marin Municipal Water District’s watershed.

Even a short hike — about a half-mile, around the East Peak trail, shows off the splendors Tam offers.

Whether it’s for a short hike to a picnic or a long run, Tam has it all — a magnificence, if not magic. It’s a place to escape the hustle and bustle and noise of daily life in the Bay Area and to find quiet and pause and ponder, take a breath of tree-filtered air and recharge.

And it doesn’t take hours for most people to reach a trailhead. It has trails for both ardent and casual hikers.

At 2,571 feet, its peak is not the highest in the Bay Area, but it is one of the area’s most iconic natural features.

Winding up atop the foundation’s poll is a testament to the vision shared by generations of conservation-minded Marin and Bay Area hikers who worked to preserve it.

Today, Marin residents and visitors are beneficiaries of that historic foresight.

The foundation’s poll told us what we already know. Taking a hike on Tam is one of the best things about California. Of the 5,200 miles of trails that cross California’s state parks, they are topped by Tam’s.

Its trails are special. We see Tam every day. We see it as a pinnacle on our horizon. We see it as fog creeps over its ridges.

We may take it for granted. Yet it’s still nice to know that statewide it has earned appreciation as one of the best places to hike.