Mount Tamalpais State Park

All I can say is WOW!!! Mt. Tam is truly beautiful and a serious workout! I had an awesome time, the views were spectacular and the hike was unforgettable to say the least. We hiked 10.5 miles, climbed an unimaginable number of stairs, found ourselves crossing a beautiful river with a log bridge, hiked past waterfalls and through Muir Woods, which was truly breath taking and eventually came out above Stinson Beach. It was so gorgeous that I almost neglected to notice how truly exhausted I was by the end of the day! I repeat this is a serious workout! We started at the stairway entrance in Mill Valley and took the Dipsea Trail.
What an amazing experience. I recommend this hike to both tourists and locals alike. I have lived in Northern Ca. most of my life and this is the first time I have made the time/ had the opportunity to visit. It will not be the last.

We came here to see the outdoor play "Kinky Boots" in the Greek Theatre,
I must say it was excellent, the cast was fantastic and great singing voices and so much fun!
And the splenders of nature in the background.
My besties and my hubby had wonderful time! We brang a picnic lunch and some Champange of course.
Just fair warning you only get to sit on big rocks so not comfortable, so bring your own chairs or cushions, we brought blankets and jackets, and it was not good enough. You can rent some bleacher seats there I believe they were $10 per seat.
This is also an amazing state park its Nature at its finest.
I sat towards the top of Mount Tamalpious, locals say "Mount Tam" I had come here just to watch the sunset, oh yes it was spectacular you need to come here and check it out.
Cheers to you SYOY
Review #338
07/01/24

My first hike in San Francisco was here about 10 years ago. It's easy enough for a novice, but fun enough for any avid hiker.
It's a jaunt to the top of PCH, and then the views from above are awesome.
Very tree filled, not the most amazing views of the ocean or anything, but definitely fun to add to the list of things to do in the area.

My friend and I hiked the Mount Tamalpais West Point Via Nora Trail and Railroad Grade trail. It was a pretty hot Saturday, but most of this trail is shady, so it was bearable! It's a moderately challenging trail, but very well worth it! I personally love shady hikes in the woods and I enjoyed this very much. When we got to the top, instead of completing the loop, we went back down the same way after reading some reviews about how the other way down is steep and full of bugs.

This is another great place to hike as the views are spectacular. As you are hiking the steep portions try to enjoy the clouds and the overall view as it puts you one with nature. The trail allows for a great workout or just a chill time reading a book.

Parking lot just off the 5, with a fresh spring to fill up your water containers just across the street.

I went to the clothing option beach Red Rock which is down the trail right beside the sign.

I also went to the Deep Ravine trail that's more up the road, across from the gate that says deep ravine, on the side of the turnout with the call box and just a little bit further til you see the sign.

The beach was awesome even on a foggy day, i was there by myself for a while until a family and some guys showed up, but on one bothered me at all. Definitely bring hiking shoes for the walk down and hopefully the walk up. There aren't facilities down there either, so prepare!

The deep ravine Trail is an out and back trail- you can get a map on all trails, but i used google maps- with a very pretty ladder next to a ravine near the end. I didn't need to use bug spray! Despite the tall grass on the first 0.3 of the walk, I didn't get ticks either. I was running out of daylight so I turned back right at the ladder after snapping some photos, the fog rolls in at night so bring a flashlight to warn cars of your presence on the way back if you didn't get the turn out spot.
It all was super pretty, highly recommend stopping here on your way to wherever you're going.

Mt. Tam is one of my favorite places in Marin County. I was lucky to grow up here, and sometimes I forget how incredible our local destinations are because they're "in our backyard," so to speak.

Did you know that Tamalpais comes from támal pájiṣ, the indigenous Coast Miwok people's name for the mountain? Translated, that means West Hill. The legend of the Sleeping Lady (another name for Mt. Tam) says that a heartbroken Miwok woman whose lover abandoned her laid down to die on the mountain. The mountain, feeling her intense pain and sorrow as she sobbed, was so moved it changed its form after she died and took on the shape of her body lying on the mountain. I think about that legend every time I look out at Mt. Tam. The Sleeping Lady's silhouette and presence is something I look forward to seeing every time I drive home. When I see her outline, I feel comfort and happiness.

There's a lot of fascinating local history on and around Mt. Tam if you know where to look. The Old Railroad Grade trail follows the former path of the gravity train (part of The Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway, completed in 1896), designed to transport visitors from the top of the mountain to Muir Woods. It's now popular for mountain biking and hiking.

Speaking of hiking, there are over 200 miles of trails for you to explore! It's good to be aware that many trails are not dog-friendly. One Tam (a local organization combining the resources and knowledge of five partnering organizations) has collected all Mt. Tam information, including trail maps, in one place. They're a good resource if you're planning a visit or intend to camp or hike.

Some areas for hiking I recommend are East Peak (if it's not too foggy or overcast, the views from the summit offer a 360-degree view of the Bay Area). Cataract Falls (dogs are allowed on leash) is fun in the spring if we've had enough rain. Depending on where you start, it can either be 2.8 miles or a more challenging 5.6 miles. The Dipsea Trail, Steep Ravine Trail, and Matt Davis Loop (dogs not allowed) is 6.7 miles, and it's a popular destination for hikers and runners year-round. Stinson Beach to Mount Tamalpais via Matt Davis and Steep Ravine Trail (dogs not allowed) is a beautiful (and very challenging) 15-mile loop trail with lovely views once you leave the beach and navigate the switchbacks.

Ridgecrest Boulevard is my favorite part of Mt. Tam. Visitors may recognize it as it's a popular place for filming car commercials. While locals may fly through, creating the experience of your own personal car commercial isn't something I'd recommend, as people have driven off the sides of the road in this section.

I've found the rangers helpful and friendly here, and I've enjoyed talking with some of the friendly visitors I've encountered over the years. Mt. Tam is a place where you can have a new and different adventure every time if you choose to do so. For that reason alone, I highly recommend visiting.

Fantastic outdoor music venue! Fortunate that I was able to see The War on Drugs Sunday in this incredible setting!
I've never been to Sound Summit before and it was so spectacular.
I've been trying to catch WOD for some time and out of the blue they put on an epic show on top of Mt. Tamalpais in the rustic outdoor theater within the state park. What a wonderful show in this most awesome location!

Absolutely breathtaking to say the least. Mount Tamalpais State Park offers a wealth of diverse hiking opportunities. From strenuous treks up to East Peak to easy strolls around Bon Tempe Lake; you will never get bored on your journey through this incredible park.

The park encompasses a diverse range of hiking trails that include waterfalls, mountainous peaks, coastal views, Lakeside jaunts, and enchanting treks through Redwood Groves. Many of the trails are easily connectable to other popular nearby parks and beaches such as Muir Woods National Monument, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Stinson Beach, and Muir Beach. The view from Mount Tam is one of the most striking views that you'll find in all of Marin. If you're a camper, the park also has campgrounds available, one of the most popular being Pantoll Campground.

My absolute favorite hike within Mount Tam has got to be the Matt Davis-Steep Ravine-Dipsea Loop. It's a very popular trail and most people start in the opposite direction (Dipsea first). But, I find that starting on the Matt Davis trail is not only more secluded, but it can also be a lot more challenging despite not having to trek up the famous Dipsea staircase. I also love this loop because you incline through the shade and come down with the view of the ocean on your way back. It's a win-win in my book.

The Steep Ravine trail is my favorite part of this loop hike because it feels like you're in an enchanted forest full of redwoods. It's strikingly green and you can hear the sounds of the stream passing you by as you maneuver your way through the forest. Also, you get to climb down the infamous bridge which is kind of gnarly but also exciting. This part of the trail is very popular and many people tend to linger to smell the fresh air and to soak up the greenery.

There are so many trails to choose from in Mount Tam. Can't wait to hike them all someday.

I'm an adventurer at heart and love exploring new places, especially in nature. Mt Tam is simply gorgeous and it's not to be missed for those visiting the Bay Area!

The area is huge and you can choose several different trails to go on. I've had my share of climbing different boulders in this area but I'll have to go back soon to experience more of the trails and gorgeous views!

It's 0930 and the park service has not opened West Ridgecrest Boulevard, which was supposed to open at 0900.