Hike through woods and open hills, stop for a break at the historic West Point Inn, and hike back along the gradient to the Mountain Theater.
Location: Mount Tamalpais State Park (and Marin Municipal Water District)
Length: 4.0 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: mostly shaded
Parking: Mountain Theater (if the small lot is full, you can park at Rock Spring, just before the theater on Ridgecrest Blvd.)
Public Transportation: n/a
WC: toilets at the mountain theater, and at Bootjack Campground about 0.7 miles into the hike
Dogs: not allowed on trails, only in developed areas in the state park (allowed on MMWD trails though)
Hiked: Feb 2021
Our Trail Route
We began at the base of the Mountain Theater on Bootjack Trail. It was a very gentle downhill for 0.7 miles. At the 0.5-mile mark, Bootjack crosses Old Stage Road but then continues for another 0.2 miles until you reach Bootjack Campground. We turned onto Matt Davis Trail towards Nora Trail. Matt Davis meanders for 1.3 miles through woods and open trails with views of the bay. The trail took us out of the state park and into Marin Municipal Water District. We turned left onto Nora Trail, which took us on an uphill climb to West Point Inn.
After a snack break at the picnic tables, where there’s a beautiful view of the bay with San Francisco in the distance, we hit the trail again. Rock Spring Trail begins up to the left of the inn, not down by the picnic area like Nora Trail and Old Stage Road. We followed Rock Spring Trail all the way back into Mount Tam State Park and to the Mountain Theater.
Notes
Bikes are not allowed on these narrow trails, but foot traffic was pretty heavy on Matt Davis and Nora Trails. There are also some rough patches to these trails, lots of uneven rocks and roots. And after the morning rain, we also had to traverse some mud, but none of the trails were completely flooded out.
I’d definitely hike this route again. The loop could just as easily be started at Bootjack campground, where there’s more parking ($8/vehicle). The landscape varied enough to make it interesting, and the views were stunning. And it was nice to take a quick break at West Point Inn after the steepest uphill of the hike.
Gallery
We parked right at the Mountain Theater. 
At the bottom of the theater, you’ll find the trailhead. 
Take the left fork onto Bootjack. 
Bootjack Trail 
Bootjack Trail is mostly shaded, following the path of the stream to the right. 
Bootjack Trail 
Bootjack Trail 
To cross Old Stage Road, go a little to the right then down to rejoin Bootjack. 
Rejoining Bootjack from Old Stage Road. 
Bootjack Trail 
Bootjack Trail 
Bootjack Trail, leading to Bootjack Campground. 
At Bootjack Campground, we took Matt Davis Trail. 
Matt Davis Trail alternates between tree cover and open sky. 
Matt Davis Trail, looking back on our path. There are some spots where it’s easy to slip or trip. 
Matt Davis Trail 
Matt Davis Trail 
Matt Davis Trail, with the marker for Nora Trail at the end of the bridge. 
We turned left onto Nora Trail. 
Nora Trail is a pretty steady uphill. 
Nora Trail 
Emerging from the woods on Nora Trail, we could see a cabin of West Point Inn. 
The view from West Point Inn’s picnic area. 
West Point Inn, built in 1904 where the railway met the stagecoach that took visitors to the beach. 
Skirt around the inn to the left to find Rock Springs Trail. 
Rock Springs Trail 
Rock Springs Trail, like Matt Davis, has some open trail and some wooded trail. 
Rock Springs Trail, at the point where the MMWD ends and the state park begins. 
Rock Springs Trail 
The end of Rock Springs Trail, with the Mountain Theater ahead. 
We kept to the top of the Mountain Theater to get back to the parking lot.
