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Mount Tamalpais State Park
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136 reviews for Mount Tamalpais State Park
I went on a 4 hour hike today here and here are a few reasons why I give this place a 5-stars rating:
1.) Like one of the ladies in our group said, it is a luxury that we did ran into 3 bathrooms during the hike (though I warn you of the smell .... but that's inevitable - what do you expect in the mountains, right?)
2.) The scenery everywhere was beautiful - not just the moment when you're looking down from high above but all the scenery around you in the mountains that you're surrounded by as you're making the climb or coming back from it)
3.) The trails themselves - obviously without disrupting the natural harmony of the wilderness there were stones that were cleverly placed for steps in some places. And the way they designed the routes were just as great.
Oh and they have picnic tables along the way too. But yes, the hike was long and will most likely be long depending on the trail you take so bring something to eat on those picnic tables.
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Wow this place is gorgeous! I hiked here about a month ago and it was amazing! One area you're in the cold damp dirt with the sun hidden by stretches of trees while in another you're out on top of the hills with only dry shrubs to keep you company and another area you're treading creeks and huge plants!
The trails I went on were not that bad either, it's only a light sweat so you can enjoy the breath taking views with greater ease.If you're from the bay area you owe it to yourself to come here at least once in your life.
Awesome hike today at Mount Tam!!! Views were spectacular, you had a little of everything, seriously. Now I can cross this one off the list, but will definitely come back, even if it is by myself :). I have to say one of the best hikes I have been on as of date. It was sooo beautiful, loved it loved it.
Took the Fern Creek trail, going up took about an hour and a half or so, coming back down... much faster. Loved the picnic area right at the base of the east summit. I bought myself a well deserved soda, congratulating myself for making it up to the summit.
I know this is one of the jewels of the Bay Area. How amazing it can be - the smell, the redwoods, the views, this is the magic kingdom, heaven on earth. You start to believe in higher powers when you come here and you see the world around you. It has been a while since I went running or on a hike here, but the memories from hikes and runs in years past have been fresh in my mind together with the most amazing memories of other places I have been at. You should wear great shoes to stabilize your feet whether you run or hike here. The parking can be tricky, so you've got to make sure that you are parked in the right zone. My car has been towed (!) here once and it wasn't great - spoiled a perfectly great day. Other than that, if actually venture out of the city and make it to this great forest, you will be charged for the rest of the day. Take a camera with you. I made my photos into screen savers so that I can remember what it feels like to be here while I am in the middle of my work day or trapped inside for whatever reason.
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Snaking up the mountain roads to the summit of Mt. Tamalpais and admiring the greenery and ocean views, it's hard to believe that only a few minutes ago you were still fighting through the San Francisco traffic.
If you're planning a hike, I have a few trails mapped out, rated and photographed over here .. http://www.trailspotti...
The park is huge, and attracts hikers, bikers and sunday-drivers alike. Highly recommend that you get here early to beat the rest of the Mt. Tam/Muir Woods traffic.
If you're not an early-bird and you're getting frustrated with all the damn traffic, then continue North on the 101 and take Sir Francis Drake Blvd over to Mt. Barnabe instead .. http://www.trailspotti...
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SOS!!!
Tamalpais State Park is on the list of 180 possible State Park closures due to California budget deficit.
Don't let that happen! Save our parks! http://www.savestatepa...
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I had to give 5 stars Because it is a part of the Nature world and therefore always deserves a 5.
This place is a hidden treasure just across the Golden Gate Bridge. I suggest you get on a bike and ride across the golden gate bridge (not a tourist bike try a road bike) follow the path up to Mount Tam. I love any hiking trail and if you wander around you will find running water trails lush with vegetation. There is a pancake breakfast I hear is to die for up at the top of the mountain. The view is breath taking and it is a great day outside.
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BEST VIEW EVER.
I went on one of the most scenic bike rides of my life, which peaked on the east side of Mt. Tamalpais.
If you're a cyclist and willing to do some climbing, the breathtaking, spectacular views are definitely worth the effort. Words don't do the views justice. As a reward, there is a food stand at the top, so you can get anything from ice cream to a hot dog.
If you want a killer view of San Francisco and a serene, breathtaking journey on the way there, Mt. Tam is a great place to check out -- car, bike, or on foot.
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I think I like Mt. Tam more than Muir Woods.....there I've said it.
It's definitely more friendlier-- lots of hikers from Marin all say hello to you as you pass by them. From the East Peak trail, the views of the SF Bay are fantastic. You can see the the SF Skyline with the Transamerica building sticking out like a pyramid that it is, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge completely, the Rock, the top of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Richmond Bridge. It's really a breath-taking site to see such a gorgeous landscape from almost a 360 degree view.
I hiked Muir Woods last year and enjoyed it very much, but now going to Mt. Tam I can appreciate both parks for how different they are from each other. From Muir Woods, there is one opening and then from there you can pick several trails to go on. From Mt. Tam there are several hiking trails from several different locations. In fact I think you can start at one hike and then hook on several different hikes from there. They have several picnic grounds and watering stations.
I like how the ravens are so vocal and greet you when you arrive at the park. Whether that means, they're hungry or they know how to spot a sucker stands to be determined. I'll be back at least once more, as I'd love to take the Dipsea trail and picnic at Stinson beach. That sounds like so much fun!
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Mount Tamalpais State Park raped me today. My legs and booty are sore. I hiked 6 miles. 6 hours. Up and down. Rocky. Sandy. Leaves everywhere. Flies. Bee Territory. Branches poking me in the face. Plants brushing up against my legs. Trees blocking my way.
We got lost. =o(
Drive down to the parking lot nearest the Fairfax area. There are a bunch of great trails/trials that go around the lake/reservoir. It's beautiful. Don't try to walk around the lake like we did..that thing is HUGE.
Tips:
Bring a map. or an Iphone.
Get ready to use your Jazz hands and spirit fingers -- Marin and out of town hikers LOVE to wave at you and greet you while you're hiking. I said about..1000 hello's today to random hikers.
Bring Trail Mix..but not just any trail mix. You have to have "trail mix on steriods": granola, salted peanuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried banana chips, dried pineapple, almonds, and raisins.
Drink lots of agua.
Tomorrow, I will be walking like a crackwhore tomorrow. So if you see me tomorrow walking/shaking down the street -- you'll know why.
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I cant explain how awesome this place is.
Quite simply put, a breathtaking sexcellent view from up Mt Tam (East Peak), well worth the 20 mph hairpin turns up the roads.
Note: Mountain, gradient, curvature, not to scale.
Note2: The dude below is not me, but I saw a guy do it the other day.
O --- I'm da King O' The World!!!
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This is so far my favorite State Park to hike with plenty of trials to keep me coming back for more. Each trails is about 6 to 7 miles (so far the ones I've been on). The scenery is absolutely magnification! I get to see the ocean, appreciate nature, the beautiful bay area, and each trails has it's own uniqueness of adventures.
The hikes are moderate to hard, all depending on your level and what you like to see (waterfalls, oceans, just to get on top of the world?).
Public restroom is easy to locate and it's impossible to get lost.
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breathtaking, panoramic views of lush, green forests; enormous trees that teeter towards the sky; trickling waterfalls tumbling down the landscape; stinson beach and the glorious pacific ocean; the high-rising mountains of the marin headlands; golden fields of grasses basked in sunshine; and moss-covered boulders stacked as high as the eye can see.
take some water, take a friend, and tackle these trails. check the website for lots of loops that will bring you down the mountain, back up, and back to your car. i can't possibly convey the beauty of this place in words. i've tried in pictures, but trust me, this is something you want to see for yourself.
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Love this place! Sooo beautiful! Never been to the summit though, but it was pretty windy road going up. I went by to the neighborhood... and got to see part of the park... awesome!! You just have to go and experience it yourself! Breathtaking!
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This place is awesome! Most experience more than once if you live in the bay area.
MT. Tam state park is in my backyard so I get to hike all the time! We summited Tam today from Mountain Home Inn via fire roads, then some really narrow and steep trail that may or may not have a name. Headed back down via Fern Creek Trail (beautiful) to Hog Back Road which is INCREDIBLY STEEP! My knees are killin'. I love this state park because its so close to home and there's so much to explore. The trail signs are somewhat lacking at times and there doesnt' seem to be many good free maps out there, so getting lost is a definite possibility. Still, its a fantastic park and chock full o' beauty. Don't shut it down Governator!
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Yay Mount Tam!
I loved coming here for hiking and picnics in my younger days when I lived in Biz-erkeley.
This is a great national park.
Do not litter, please! We must preserve and conserve America's National parks.
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When you first begin your hike here REMEMBER, going down all those hills means you'll eventually have to go back up them later. Not all trails go in loops. Heheheh that being said I had one hellva workout! Its a sore butt, but a firm butt :)
Love, love, love all the trees! Give one a hug on your way down and use it for support when coming back up afterwards. Stop and say hello to the Norwegian tourists, pet their dog, keep on going! And don't go alone, you could get lost!
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Mt. Tam has SO MUCH that you can explore! I'm really into hiking and the outdoors, so I was so happy to stumble upon this state park these past few months. The latest hike that my friends and I did was to the East Peak (the highest point in the park - 2600 ft). We started off at the Bootjack parking lot, went up the Old Stage Road Trail, up the Fern Creek Trail, and up the Upper Plank trail to reach the very top. Take some time to eat lunch, enjoy the view, take some pictures, and explore the area near the summit. There are so many great spots to practice some climbing and monkeying around (but be sure to be careful).
The view is gorgeous up here on a clear day - you can see the top of the SF skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the rest of the bay.
All in all, the hike was about 4 hrs round trip. It wasn't a very strenuous hike, so if you're not severely out of shape, you should be fine!
Muir woods near the bottom of the mountain is another great spot to check out with a plethora of woodsy trails. I could spend days just exploring this place!
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Mt Tam SP is a Great place to hike. I've been there a dozen times and really enjoy going.
This Sat 11/22/08 we did the classic hike: Dipsea/Steep Ravine/Matt Davis. It's one of the best hikes in the Bay Area. Moderately strenuous, 7-7.5 mi loop starting @ Stinson Beach. Hike up the Dipsea & Steep Ravine trails and midway there's a split in the trail. Turn Rt on an unmarked trail, then another right where you'll see an old bunker. It's way cool! It's an extra 1/2 mi roundtrip to see it.
We then continued along Webb Creek w/ a 1,000 ft climb - the famous Ladder you have to climb up on, then continue to Pantoll Ranger Station (1,500 ft elev.) Hike down Matt Davis thru a grove of firs & grasslands w/ views of the Pacific Ocean to Stinson Beach- lots of steps. Can be hard for people with bad knees.
We had great weather, clear, sunny, & cool.
Parking at Stinson Beach is FREE, parking at Pantoll Ranger Station is $6. Bathrooms (flush toilets) available at both locations.
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Pretty damn beautiful.
I've only been here a couple of times, but both were memorable. The last time I was here, I was relying on my companions to get me to the airport in time so that I wouldn't miss my flight back to L.A. so I wouldn't miss an important meeting, which I had foregone tickets to see Tanya Donelly--Tanya Donelly!--to attend. So imagine my surprise when my normally reliable and expert outdoorsman guide got lost! So we were trying to get back down the mountain, and I had no idea whether I'd get to Oakland International in time to make my flight.
Well, I did make my flight, but I got dropped off at Oakland literally eighteen minutes before boarding ended. This was in the pre-September 11 days when you could actually get through a security line quickly if you were likely to be late for your flight. When I got to my meeting, I still had thistles in my shoes.
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When you finally reach the summit, pinch yourself...you've reached a little snippet of heaven right here on Earth. The views are spectacular, if that word can approach a fair description.
We rented the ragtop car and drove up on a chilly December morning, heater blasting at our feet, open to the vistas and forest that surrounded us.
This park and Torrey Pines State Park are the reasons I pay taxes in California.
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Stunning 360-degree view of the Bay Area from the top at the Fire Lookout tower. It's an easy hike from the parking lot ($6). It doesn't get much better than this! This is why I LOVE the California and living in the Bay Area!
Mount Tam is a great opportunity to get out of the city, take in some gorgeous views, and really enjoy the outdoors. I was lucky to pick a day that had beautiful weather, and this hike made me really excited about all my New Years Resolutions and overall commitment to focusing on my health and happiness this year.
And there's just something about being outdoors and active makes me really happy... must be all the endorphins from the exercise! The trail we chose was extremely steep on the way up (ahhhh yes, feel the BURN!), but that made it much easier on our way down at the end.
On the drive back to the city we went up to the Marin Headlands to take in the view of the Golden Gate and take some touristy pictures.
Next time I go I want to hike up the Bootjack trail because I heard that's a really beautiful view too.
Of all the Yelp reviews I've written, my hiking reviews seem to be the most popular judging by the UFC's they receive. So here you go: a review of my favorite hike in the Bay Area!
Start off at Stinson Beach. Plenty of free parking and bathrooms nearby. You have a choice of where to start: either the Matt Davis Trail or the Dipsea. Follow either one up to Pantoll Station (if you start on Dipsea, you switch to the Steep Ravine Trail after a while). At Pantoll, there are bathrooms with running water - a great place to rest for a few minutes before continuing on. I think that lots of people drive here to start their hikes, but I prefer starting at Stinson - more parking, and you get to hang out at the beach afterwards.
The total distance of this loop is about 7 miles, with about 1500 feet of elevation change. There are steep sections (the first time I ever did this hike was with OAC, and they called it a "calorie burner" hike), downhill parts, and sections that are more level. You hike along creeks in lush, green, woodsy, shady areas, and you hike in yellow grass in some of the exposed areas (where you're either in the blazing sun or shrouded in fog, depending on the weather). That's what I love about this hike - the mix of conditions. That and the fact that I feel like I get a great workout in a relatively modest distance.
Another thing I love about this hike: ending at Stinson Beach, and picnicing at the beach or lawn, or hanging out at one of the restaurants in town. I can't think of a better way to spend a day!
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Year-round, beautiful vistas of ocean, land and city -- there's nearly always a great opportunity for the photographer or outdoor enthusiast at Mt. Tam.
This was one of the late Galen Rowell's favorite areas for photography, and I was lucky enough to go there with him a decade ago with the rest of his class.
Mt Tam, the birthplace of mountain biking and nurturing grounds for militant tree huggers.
Rising high above in the wealthiest per capita county in the entire nation, Marin , exists a natural wonder of epic proportions, where you can drive a half hour, then do a brutual 5 hr hike with out of this world views.
(~2200 vertical, thanks to my James Bond-ey Suunto GPS/altimeter watch)
My legs and bod are still severly weakend three days after this endeavor
As others have mentioned, bring lots of water. even when you think you have enough, double it.
That area is always at least 15 degrees hotter than SF.
If your S.O complains that you are "telling them what to do", just remind them that you know better ;)
Also bring some trinkets to place in the makeshift Sitting Bull shrine
And most importantly, don't forget to take pics of your best blue steel pose at the top
TIP There is water at the top, but it tastes like ass
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Techtonic plates are cool.
If you've only got an afternoon here, experience the varied landscape that good ol' uplift and buckling can create:
Hop out of the car once you've crossed the Bolinas/Fairfax line and scamper to the top of the nearest hill laced with brilliant green serpentine for an incredible view from the north of the bay. On lucky days, a cotton-like fog will be billowing east from the ocean, so dense it appears that beyond the crags lies a vast land of snow. It's breathtaking.
From here a trek to the other side will drop you onto Cataract Trail which offers all sorts of grassland vistas, Douglas fir shade and in the spring, a meandering brook and several small waterfalls.
Even and clearly marked, it's a great hike for families, joggers and dogs alike. A pit stop at Laurel Dell provides gorgeous northern views. There's many a deserted grassy hilltop for an afternoon romp, if you're feeling frisky.
Continue on and it will intersect with O'Brian which is a bit more rugged, and will take you deeper into the woods to intersect half a mile or so later with Simmons trail. Ambling along, you'll find the landscape change to a manzanita (shrubby) scrubland mottled with reddish sandstoney looking rock and open sky.
The journey is serene, bright, breezy, damp and wondrous all in one.
I'd like to end with a quote from yelper Gil S: "Reviewing this mountain is like reviewing your lover's ass. It's perfect but there's nothing more to say."
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This place rocks. 5 stars for being beautifully peaceful. Great views of all over the bay area.
We did a 8-9 mile hike. Damn I'm tired.
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Hmm, it seems as if a lot of people hike up here. I guess that I cheated by driving all the way up. But, my friend very generously lent me his car for a couple of days in addition to putting me up me for a week in his house in Outer Richmond. So thank goodness for that, because I was able to spend a great day at Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais.
So, I did drive all the way up, up and up and up through the hairpin turns and undulating stretches. I stopped about half a dozen times to snap photos and take in the views, and every time that I got out of the car was even better than the last. At one point, which turned out to be about 2/3 of the way up, I climbed up an outcropping and through a copse of trees to a small thrust of land above the roadway. From there, I could see the entire Bay Area, just as my guidebook had promised. It was sunny but slightly hazy that day, but the views were still phenomenal.
I stopped briefly at the Mountain Theater, an outdoor ampitheater in the ancient Greek style. From there it wasn't far to the summit's parking lot, from which there is a .3-mile hike to the very top. After this trek, I was pretty sapped thanks to my earlier exertions at Muir Woods, but it was totally worth it. The views up here were astonishing: a 360-degree panorama of the entire Bay Area even better than what I had seen below.
I lingered for about twenty minutes, but there isn't much shade up there and it was a pretty hot day. All the way down and back to San Francisco, I was on a great high from the entire experience.
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Hiked Mt Tam for the first time last Saturday, fantastic! I liked the easy parking ($6 is a bit steep, but Parks gotta pay for trails/roads/etc too) and the cleanish (for a park) restrooms. The views, obviously, amazing and there weren't too many people on the area that a friend and I hiked. There was also a Mt Play going on, so a bit of traffic, but I'm sure the play would have been fun too.
The only thing more satisfying than hiking to the peak is hiking to the peak barefoot. Or so I've observed.
Exceptional, unmatched views of our most gorgeous Bay Area. Well-maintained trails are a good combination of California dusty/smouldering and shady glen. You can drive up to any point and hike whatever length you want. Of course then you won't be hard core, and don't even think about taking off your shoes to make up for it.
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i ran a race there today. It was a pretty nice view and the weather was perfect. The last mile of the race raped me! There were parts of the trail i didn't like too much because I felt that with one move I would fall and break my ankle. I would definitely come back though.
Great hiking trail with great views.
We got there late and could only take a short trail for about 1.5 hours We took the easy grade trail to mountain theatre and came back on old mine trail. The easy grade trail was shaded though a little bit steep. We took a break at the mountain theatre before heading downward.
As soon as we got on the old mine trail, we could see San Francisco, east bay and the ocean. So far it's the hiking trail with most views.
We will try different trails next time.
Hiked all the way to the top with kamal and auria last summer and the views are out of this world! I don't think it's possible to find better views of SF. the hike is steep, so get your hiking boots on and pack up your water and energy bars!
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The first time I came out here was probably 6 years ago. I came with a few girlfriends and when we asked the older lady at the ticket booth for a recommendation for a trail, she told us of this 2 hour hike. Man, I don't know if she was wonderwoman, but that hike took us 4 hours!
So, after so many years, I decided to try it again. This time, we made it in 3 hours with a little powerbar break.
This is one of the best parks to hike in - if you are an experienced hiker or if you are a not so experienced hiker. The many trails lead you to beautiful creeks, jaw-dropping vistas, and century old redwoods. If you want to leisurely walk, you can. If you want to huff and puff up the mountain to get your cardio on, you can. It has all that you want and more. Just try it...you might like it.
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It's useless for me to write this review but hands down the Dipsea and Matt Davis are my fave hikes of all space and time. How else can you see the ocean, panoramic views of SF, and a redwood forest all in one hike. It's outlandishly great. Start off early and then stop at Dipsea cafe on the way home before the lunch rush. Then have a great afternoon knowing you just had the best hike evah.
I don't camp.
I don't hike.
This is the only place I've ever been that makes me think of doing either.
Breathtaking views. Bring a camera.
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Wonderful hikes here, easy drive from SF/Oakland. Beautiful views. Highly recommend!
