Rock Spring to Bootjack Loop via Pantoll Station

The view from the top of Old Mine Trail at Mt. Tam.

Incredible views, a walk through redwoods, and a stop at the Mountain Theater make this one of my favorite hikes at Mount Tam.

Location: Mount Tamalpais State Park
Length: 3.3 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shade: partially shaded
Parking: Rock Spring (free)
Public Transportation: none (but if you start the loop from either Pantoll Station or Bootjack Campground, both have stops for buses 61 and 61M, the Stagecoach)
WC: portable toilets at Rock Spring, also toilets at Pantoll Station, Bootjack Campground and Mountain Theater, which are all along this route
Dogs: not allowed on trails; only allowed in developed areas, and must be kept on leash

Link to park website

Hiked: Mar 2021

There are other ways to hike from Pantoll to Bootjack, but I prefer Alpine Trail because of the redwoods.

Our Trail Route

From the Rock Spring parking lot, cross Ridgecrest Blvd. to the trailhead. Climb up the hill, then take the trail to the right for Old Mine Trail towards Pantoll. There are a few wonderful viewpoints along the hill here, so take in the view before you enter the woods and start descending. The R&H Trail meets Old Mine Trail about a mile in, so go right to stay on Old Mine Trail. At Old Stage Road, follow the sign for Pantoll to the right. (I actually took Matt Davis Trail towards Stinson, going up the hill to the right, because I wanted to see where it took me, and it stopped at a parking lot and then I had to come down along the road anyway, so don’t do that.)

At Pantoll Station, next to the bus stop, there’s a trail marker for Alpine Trail—take that trail. It begins along the road but starts to veer away into the redwoods. After 0.4 miles, Alpine Trail ends at Bootjack Trail. Go left up the hill towards Bootjack Campground. There’s a day-use picnic area here, too, where you can stop for a break like we did. Then take Bootjack Trail towards the Mountain Theater.

Bootjack meets Old Stage Road after 0.2 miles; at the top of the stairs, you should be able to see the trail marker for Bootjack Trail where it continues up the hill. Continue following the signs on Bootjack towards the Mountain Theater.

At the Mountain Theater, climb up a bit along the amphitheater then go left on the dirt path. You should see the trail marker for Mountain Theater Fire Road. You’ll pass the picnic area and see a fork in the path; go right towards Rock Spring. From there, just follow the signs towards Rock Spring.

We took a slight detour at the last marker before heading downhill to the parking lot. The marker shows “Forbes Bench.” I had no idea what this was but thought it might be a bench with a nice view, so I went to look. The bench is in the shade, which is nice, and you can see the city in the distance.

Bootjack Trail is a bit rough, but the climb up to the Mountain Theater is not steep, just a constant slight uphill.

Notes

I would absolutely hike this route again. For visitors unfamiliar with Mt. Tam, this is a great introduction, too. And you can start at any of four different points: Rock Spring, Pantoll Station, Bootjack Campground, or the Mountain Theater. The hike showcases views of the ocean and the bay (we could even see the city), and it takes you through several different kinds of woods, including a bit of redwoods. Bootjack Trail also climbs up along a stream. There are restrooms along the route, as well as picnic areas for your mid-hike snack.

Most of the trails on this route are rough—that is, there are rocks and tree roots, and even a fallen tree or two, along the path. It can also be a little windy at the top, but once you climb down into the woods, it starts to abate.

The only other thing I’d note is that there are a few instances of crossing the road on this trail route. On busy weekends, this can be difficult and dangerous. If you prefer to avoid crossing the road, when you hit Old Stage Road coming down Old Mine Trail, you could take Matt Davis Trail to the left towards Bootjack to get to Bootjack Campground that way. The only thing you’ll miss out on is the redwoods.