A short hike from the town of Stinson Beach to White Gate Fire Road and back, this hike features a wooded stream and views of the Pacific Ocean.
Location: Mount Tamalpais State Park
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: easy
Shade: partially shaded
Parking: Stinson Beach, along the road (free)
Public Transportation: bus 61 stops in Stinson Beach
WC: toilets in town
Dogs: not allowed on trails; only allowed in developed areas, and must be kept on leash
Hiked: January 2023
Trail Route & Notes
Dipsea Trail begins right at the side of the road. Driving north on CA-1, the trailhead is to the right, just after the intersection with Panoramic Highway. We drove past it at first, but the fire station ahead was a good marker that we should look for parking and then walk to the trailhead.
The hike is an easy out-and-back. You do have to cross Panoramic Highway, but other than that, there’s really no way to get lost.
This trail was really pretty and had some lovely views of the ocean and Stinson Beach. We went out for brunch in the town and did a little walk afterwards. As part of a short day trip to Stinson, this hike is great, but there are definitely better trails at Mt. Tam that are also a lot easier to reach.