TrailStompers.com: San Francisco Bay Area Trail Running

The Marin Headlands is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  Being just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the trails offer spectacular views of San Francisco, Sausalito, and the Pacific Ocean.  The area is expansive, and much longer runs can be done by connecting to Mt. Tamalpais State Park to the north via the Miwok Trail.  The trails in the Marin Headlands are mostly narrow fire roads or wide singletracks, with a few challenging climbs thrown in for good measure.  The weather can be warm and sunny, or cold and foggy, so bring extra clothes!  All of the runs on this page start from the Fort Cronkhite area at the end of Mitchell Road.

The Dirt:

• For the official NPS web site click here.
• For a printable trail map click here.
• For driving directions to the trailhead via Google Maps click here.

Extras:

• There is no drinking water along the trails, so be sure to bring some with you.
• Pacific Coast Trail Runs holds a regular trail race here (Pirates Cove).
  

This run starts out with a pretty intense climb, so be prepared!  But, you are rewarded with great views of the ocean and Marin.  To begin the run, run past the gate at the end of Mitchell Road.

• 0.0 mi: Continue up Mitchell Road past the gate, then turn left onto the Coastal Trail.
• 0.3 mi: Turn left onto the road.
• 0.5 mi: Turn left onto the Battery Townsley Trail.
• 0.8 mi: Turn left onto the Coastal Trail.  Continue climbing toward "Hill 88".
  
• 1.7 mi: Veer left onto the Wolf Ridge Trail and start descending.
• 2.5 mi: Turn left onto the Miwok Trail.
• 2.8 mi: Turn left onto the Old Springs Trail.  Continue through the farm all of the way down to the trailhead on Tennessee Valley Road.
  
• 4.1 mi: At the Tennessee Valley Road trailhead.  Start heading up the Marincello Trail (fire road).  This is a long climb!
  
• 5.6 mi: Continue straight onto the Bobcat Trail (fire road).
• 6.4 mi: Quick jog left and then right onto the Alta Trail (fire road).
• 7.1 mi: Trail ends on Wolfback Road.  Turn right and then immediately turn left onto the SCA Trail (singletrack).  In about a mile you'll run very near the Hwy 101 tunnel.
  
• 8.2 mi: Veer right onto the Coastal Trail towards McCullough Road.
• 8.7 mi: Turn left briefly on McCullough Road, then turn right to continue on the Coastal Trail heading down towards Bunker Road.
  
• 10.5 mi: Trail ends on Bunker Road.  Cross Bunker Road, run through the dirt parking area, then continue onto the narrow connector trail towards Rodeo Valley Trail.
  
• 10.8 mi: Turn left onto the Rodeo Valley Trail.
• 11.2 mi: Turn left at Bobcat Trail and then left again at Miwok Trail.  Stay on the fire roads.
• 11.7 mi: Trail ends at a dirt parking area.  Continue straight ahead and run along Bunker Road.
• 12.0 mi: Veer left onto Bunker Road and run along side the road back to your car.
• 12.5 mi: Back at your car!
  

This run is a longer version of the first run, with an extra loop around Pirates Cove thrown in!  The views of the Pacific Ocean at Pirates Cove are great.

• 0.0 mi: Continue up Mitchell Road past the gate, then turn left onto the Coastal Trail.
• 0.3 mi: Turn left onto the road.
• 0.5 mi: Turn left onto the Battery Townsley Trail.
• 0.8 mi: Turn left onto the Coastal Trail.  Continue climbing toward "Hill 88".
  
• 1.7 mi: Veer left onto the Wolf Ridge Trail and start descending.
• 2.5 mi: Turn left onto the Miwok Trail.
• 2.8 mi: Turn left onto the Old Springs Trail.  Continue through the farm all of the way down to the trailhead on Tennessee Valley Road.
  
• 4.1 mi: At the Tennessee Valley Road trailhead.  Cross Tennessee Valley Road and get on the Miwok Trail.
  
• 5.7 mi: Turn left onto the Coyote Ridge Trail (fire road).
  
• 6.4 mi: Turn right onto the Coastal Fire Road.
• 7.3 mi: Turn left onto the narrow Coastal Trail/Pirates Cove Trail.  Prepare for a few steep sections!
• 8.7 mi: Continue straight ahead onto the Coastal Fire Road toward the Tennessee Valley Trail.
  
• 9.4 mi: Turn left onto the Tennessee Valley Trail.  This wide dirt fire road will eventually turn to pavement.  Continue back to the Tennessee Valley Road trailhead.
• 10.6 mi: Back at the Tennessee Valley Road trailhead.  Turn right into the parking area, then left onto the Marincello Trail (fire road).  This is a long climb!
  
• 12.1 mi: Continue straight onto the Bobcat Trail (fire road).
• 12.9 mi: Quick jog left and then right onto the Alta Trail (fire road).
• 13.6 mi: Trail ends on Wolfback Road.  Turn right and then immediately turn left onto the SCA Trail (singletrack).  In about a mile you'll run very near the Hwy 101 tunnel.
  
• 14.7 mi: Veer right onto the Coastal Trail towards McCullough Road.
• 15.2 mi: Turn left briefly on McCullough Road, then turn right to continue on the Coastal Trail heading down towards Bunker Road.
  
• 17 mi: Trail ends on Bunker Road.  Cross Bunker Road, run through the dirt parking area, then continue onto the narrow connector trail towards Rodeo Valley Trail.
  
• 17.3 mi: Turn left onto the Rodeo Valley Trail.
• 17.7 mi: Turn left at Bobcat Trail and then left again at Miwok Trail.  Stay on the fire roads.
• 18.2 mi: Trail ends at a dirt parking area.  Continue straight ahead and run along Bunker Road.
• 18.5 mi: Veer left onto Bunker Road and run along side the road back to your car.
• 19.0 mi: Back at your car!