Bootjack to Pantoll Loop via TCC Trail

Heading down Bootjack Trail towards Van Wyck Meadow

Hike through a sunny meadow and along a lengthy redwood path, and stop at a bench with ocean views.

Location: Mount Tamalpais State Park
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: mostly shaded
Parking: Bootjack Campground ($8/vehicle)
Public Transportation: buses 61 and 61M (Stagecoach) stop at Pantoll Ranger Station
WC: toilets at Bootjack Campground and Pantoll Station
Dogs: not allowed on trails; only allowed in developed areas, and must be kept on leash

Link to park website

Hiked: Mar 2021

A long walk along the gradient on TCC Trail.

Our Trail Route

We had to park at Bootjack Campground because we couldn’t find parking at Pantoll Station. So, though we intended to begin this loop at Pantoll, we started at Bootjack—either works.

To follow our trail route, cross Panoramic Highway to the trailhead, which will take you 0.2 miles downhill to a trail marker. Continue to the left towards Van Wyck Meadow, then take Troop 80 Trail for 0.2 miles, taking a sharp right turn onto the TCC Trail towards Van Wyck Meadow. The meadow is a nice spot for a quick break, especially on a nice day.

There are a few trail markers at the meadow—take the one for the TCC Trail towards Stapelveldt Trail. The TCC Trail is a pretty flat trail in the woods, though we came across some fallen logs we had to climb over. After 1.4 miles, you’ll come to a bridge with a trail marker on it next to a bench, with another trail marker about 100 feet further down the trail. At this intersection, continue on the TCC Trail towards Dipsea Trail. Then at Dipsea, turn right to go up hill towards Coast View Trail.

Dipsea emerges from the woods onto an open hill with a view to the Marin Headlands and the ocean. From here, look for the trail marker towards Pantoll Station. (We took a few steps off the trail to sit at the bench that’s marked as a viewpoint on the map.) Follow Old Mine Trail to Pantoll for half a mile.

At Pantoll Station, head to the parking lot entrance to cross Panoramic Highway to Old Stage Road. Then after 50 feet, take the first trail to the right onto Matt Davis Trail heading to Bootjack. Stay on Matt Davis until you reach Bootjack Campground.

The viewpoint at the end of Lower Old Mine Trail.

Notes

As I noted above, we weren’t able to find parking at Pantoll Station, and we arrived just after 9:00 am. Bootjack had plenty of parking then, but when we returned a couple of hours later, it was completely full.

The trails themselves were beautiful, and I’d definitely hike this route—or a variation thereof—again. The hike is almost entirely shaded, but it’s rarely dark, as the trees let enough light through. The meadow was a nice spot and heading up Dipsea to the viewpoint was a good choice, even though we could have taken a shorter route back.

The trails are pretty busy around Pantoll—less so around Bootjack. The Troop 80 and TCC Trails were rough in spots, with fallen logs, loose rocks, and tree roots. Matt Davis Trail between Pantoll and Bootjack also had a fallen log that we had to climb over.