TrailStompers.com: San Francisco Bay Area Trail Running

Mount Tamalpais is a trail running paradise!  The area surrounding the mountain is divided between Mount Talampais State Park and Marin Municipal Water District.  Between the two, there are literally hundreds of miles of beautiful trails.  The trails to the east of the summit are primarily fire roads which were the birthplace of mountain biking.  To the west of the summit, challenging singletrack takes you all of the way to the beach.  To the south, the area connects to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which allows you access to the Marin Headlands.

There are too many trailheads into the Mount Tamalpais area to list all of them here.  The runs listed here start from the town of Stinson Beach.  Other possible starting locations for runs include the Mountain Home Inn, Mill Valley, or a multitude of other locations along Highway 1 or the Panoramic Highway.

The Dirt:

• Click here for the official site of Mount Tamalpais State Park.
• Click here for the brochure with trail map (no mileages on the trails)
• A much better trail map for Mount Tam is available from Tom Harrison Maps.  It is a topo map with mileages on all trails.  This is the map to use for exploration of Mount Tam.  It is available at a variety of stores around the Bay Area (REI, Sports Basement, etc.) or online from Sonoma Outfitters.
  
• Click here for directions to the trailhead for the connector to the Dipsea Trail in Stinson Beach via Google Maps.
  

Extras:

• There is drinking water available at the Pantoll Ranger Station, and the East Peak Visitor Center.
  

This run lets you experience the amazing Steep Ravine Trail with it's 10-foot ladder (really!) and a long, swooping descent down the Matt Davis Trail.  It starts in the town of Stinson Beach, which, if you've never been there, is worth the drive in itself.  It is a funky little escape on the coast, with a large public beach and a variety of different shops and restaurants.  You can park anywhere in town for this run (the town's not that big) but my favorite place to park is in the Stinson Beach State Park.  There are bathrooms and drinking water available.  To begin the run, head through the parking lot away from the beach and walk through the gate that leads to Arenal Avenue.  Turn right on Arenal and go until it ends at Highway 1.  You'll see the trailhead for the connector to the Dipsea Trail across the road and to your right.

• 0.0 mi: Start up the connector to the Dipsea Trail (the stairs are already starting...)
• 0.1 mi: Cross Panoramic Hwy and continue on the Dipsea Trail.
• 0.9 mi: Cross the Hill Trail.  Continue straight toward Steep Ravine Trail.
• 1.2 mi: Turn left onto Steep Ravine Trail.  Get ready for a grunt of a climb with stunning scenery and a 10-ft ladder!
• 2.9 mi: At Pantoll Ranger Station.  Cross over Panoramic Highway and look to your left for the trailhead for the Matt Davis Trail (if you are on a fire road you're on the wrong trail!)
• 4.5 mi: Coastal Trail junction.  Veer left to stay on the Matt Davis Trail.  You will start descending a LOT of wooden steps.
• 6.8 mi: Matt Davis Trail ends on Belvedere Ave.  Turn left, then turn right on Highway 1.  Turn left on Cll Del Mar to get back to your car.
• 7.0 mi: Back at your car!
  

This run is identical to Favorite Run #1, but with an extension from Pantoll to the East Peak and back.  The climb up Old Stage Road and Old Railroad Grade can be hot in the summer, but there is water available at the East Peak Visitor Center and at Pantoll Ranger Station. 

To do this run, follow the directions for Favorite Run #1 up to mile 2.9, then continue as follows:

• 2.9 mi: At Pantoll Ranger Station.  Cross over Panoramic Highway and look to your right for the trailhead for the Old Stage Road.  The road is initially paved, then becomes dirt.  It is a very gradual climb that can be exposed and hot in the summer.
  
• 4.3 mi: At the West Point Inn.  Turn left onto Old Railroad Grade.
• 5.6 mi: Old Railroad Grade ends at the paved road to East Peak.  Turn right on the paved road and continue up to the parking lot.
• 5.9 mi: At the Visitor Center parking lot.  Get some water and then continue up the Peak Trail to enjoy the actual summit.
• 6.2 mi: At the summit!  After a rest, retrace your route back down Old Railroad Grade and Old Stage Road back to Pantoll Ranger Station.
• 9.5 mi: Back at Pantoll Ranger Station.  Get some water, then cross over Panoramic Highway and look to your left for the trailhead for the Matt Davis Trail (if you are on a fire road you're on the wrong trail!)

• 11.1 mi: Coastal Trail junction.  Veer left to stay on the Matt Davis Trail.  You will start descending a LOT of wooden steps.
• 13.4 mi: Matt Davis Trail ends on Belvedere Ave.  Turn left, then turn right on Highway 1.  Turn left on Cll Del Mar to get back to your car.
• 13.6 mi: Back at your car!