MILL VALLEY, Calif. — October 27, 2026. Extremely high tides brought another round of flooding to low-lying Mill Valley roads on Tuesday, requiring drivers to detour near the Bothin Marsh area and the Highway 101 interchange. Mill Valley police reported the closure of Miller Avenue between Camino Alto and Almonte Boulevard and the west side of Redwood Highway (Frontage Road) between Hamilton Drive and the southbound US 101 ramp.

Police issued the warning around noon and said shortly before 4 p.m. that the water had receded enough to reopen the roads, according to Bay City News. Those earlier reopenings do not guarantee the streets will stay dry during the next high tide. The Marin County emergency portal separately publishes updated road restrictions.

Near Highway 101 does not mean the whole freeway is underwater

A nearby entrance or connector can flood even if most lanes of US 101 remain open. Caltrans logged flooding at the northbound US 101 to northbound Highway 1 connector in Marin County on October 27. Drivers should use Caltrans QuickMap for current conditions rather than assume every ramp or the whole freeway is closed.

What about the kayak video?

Footage widely circulated from Monday, October 26 shows a person paddling a kayak on a flooded roadway near the Shoreline Highway/US 101 interchange in the Marin City area. It should not be labeled as a kayak on the main travel lanes of US 101 or as video shot Tuesday. The Tuesday incident consists of renewed tidal flooding and road closures.

Safety and future tides

The National Weather Service extended a Coastal Flood Advisory through 5 p.m. Friday, October 30, covering San Francisco and San Pablo Bay shorelines. Up to 2.1 feet of water above ground level is possible in susceptible low-lying places. Marine tides can raise water on sunny days; driving into standing saltwater may damage vehicles and prevent rescuers from reaching stranded people.

Check the Marin emergency portal and Caltrans US 101 road conditions before travel. Do not drive or walk around closure barricades.

Sources: Marin County Office of Emergency Management; NWS Coastal Flood Advisory, October 27; Bay City News, October 27 police updates; CBS Bay Area, October 26 kayak report.

Updated event facts as verified on October 27; road status may change between tides.

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