An undemanding hike along the mountainside, this hike begins in the shaded woods and leads to the open hills, with views of Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Location: Mount Tamalpais State Park
Length: 7.2 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: partially shaded, partially open
Parking: Pantoll Ranger Station ($8/vehicle)
Public Transportation: buses 61 and 61M (Stagecoach) stop at the Ranger Station
WC: toilets at Pantoll Station
Dogs: not allowed on trails; only allowed in developed areas, and must be kept on leash
Hiked: May 2022
Trail Route
This one’s pretty simple. From the Pantoll Station parking lot, cross Panoramic Highway and look for a trail heading towards the ocean to the left. You’ll start on Matt Davis Trail for 2 miles until the trail splits. Matt Davis heads downhill towards Stinson Beach; stay to the right, along the hillside on Bolinas Ridge Trail. We basically hiked on this trail for 1.6 miles until we’d had enough, but the trail continues for a few more miles. Then just hike back the same way.
Notes
I unfortunately found a tick in my hair after this hike, so I definitely recommend using tick spray and checking thoroughly for ticks after a hike on Mt. Tam in the spring/summer seasons.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this hike. It was long and varied, and hiking this, I felt as if I could just walk on and on. The woods were pretty, the weather was nice, and the views from the hills were spectacular.
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