This hike starts with a long climb up Marincello, then winds down along Miwok and Old Springs Trails back down to Tennessee Valley.
Location: Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: open
Parking: lot at Tennessee Valley Trailhead, or along the road nearby
Public Transportation: none
WC: toilets at the trailhead
Dogs: not allowed on most trails, including these, check the map for other trails that allow dogs in the Headlands
Hiked: Nov 2024
Trail Route
At the Tennessee Valley parking lot, look for the sign post pointing out the way to Marincello Trail. Hike 1.5 miles uphill on Marincello Trail. You’ll see views of Tiburon and Mill Valley along the way. At the juncture, turn a sharp right onto Miwok Trail. It’ll climb just a little bit but then start heading around the hill and down. You can catch glimpses of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge behind the hills. Miwok Trail circles a hill until you’ll see views towards the ocean across the Headlands. After 0.9 miles on Miwok Trail, turn right onto Old Springs Trail to hike the 1.3 miles to Tennessee Valley.
Notes
I had a couple of moments on Miwok Trail when I thought maybe we’d taken a wrong turn, but we were on the right trail. I mostly got nervous when we started hiking down the hill seemingly away from Tennessee Valley. But we were just circling a hill and we came back around eventually. Old Springs Trail was the highlight; the rest of the hike was great for the views but the trails themselves weren’t so special.
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