Mount Tamalpais State Park

Arrived here Thursday early morning, it’s a first come first serve camping ground. The parking per day is $ 8.00 and the camping per day is $ 25.00. We got camp site number 12 it was private and overall beautiful.
When you check in its all self serve before 2pm. After 2 the ranger station is open and they can give you more information regarding camping and trails and other information you might need.
This was my very first time camping and I loved it! Getting to the ranger station was little tricky and I got a little motion sickness going up the mountain and then again going down. But it was all worth the experience. All the locals were super friendly, and the rangers are super knowledgeable and friendly. Plenty of scenery and don’t be discouraged if your not a super fit person there is something for everyone. Stinson beach is about 10 min down the road. But there is arum trail you can take down to the beach.
There are park restrooms and each campsite has a table and a BBQ grill. There is fresh water available to the campers along with a dish washing station. NO showers.
Our favorite part from the whole experience was just really taking some time away from our hectic schedule and day to day traffic and really breathing in some fresh air.

Beautiful Mountain with lots of great hiking trails and fun activities offered such as horseback riding, astronomy star gazing, and outdoor theatre productions by Mountain Play every May-​June. Stinson beach is also located on the coast of this lovely scenic mountain, and has a cute lil town with shops and restaurants and surfers. Cool ocean breezes help hiking here be enjoyable and the views are amazing.

Hiked up to East Peak. Parked near mountain inn hotel and walked on hog back Rd., turned left on old railroad grade trail, merged into fern creek trail and it took us to east peak. Be prepared to hike up some steep hills. The trail is constantly going up when reaching the peak. You can always drive up and pay for parking but it’s so much more rewarding when you reach the final destination after the tough hike. Bring lots of water and wear sunscreen! As we were hiking down around 3pm the sun was facing towards the trail which made it really hot. I would suggest going early in the morning or late afternoon, especially when the weather is getting warmer.

Absolutely beautiful. If you love to hike and just relax and enjoy the scenery you’ll love this hike. Definitely hydrate and drink lots of water before any hike!

I’ve been here 3 times, but that’s barely any when you compare me with my friends. I have barely explored half of the park, but that’s great — it means it’s always an adventure when I go here! There are so many different locations to roam and explore — and that’s excluding the weather factor! In the sun, you can walk around the east peak around the summit and enjoy the view — a beautiful expanse of Marin and the Bay. In the fog, you can bust out your cameras and go fog chasing, capturing great moments with feelings of wanderlust and mystery. Sometimes the fog is below you when you ascend the peak — I have yet to visit during this time, but the pictures are amazing — you’re swimming above a sea of rolling fog.
For anyone that loves a great variety of hikes and a nice day getaway from the city, this is the place. If you want a weekend, there’s camping areas too! One thing, however, is to make sure you know how to read a map — you won’t get good or any service up there, so make sure you know where you’re going!

I hiked the Fern Creek Trail to get to the East Peak Trail and it was lovely. I parked down at the inn on panaromic hwy and walked up which was a bit of a struggle since I am not fit at all but we finally made it to the beginning of the trail. It’s a slow incline up with good views of the trees and lots of greenery and shade. You can also see a good look of the forest with the sea in the background too. The width of the trail is a bit narrow, about 3 feet with only room for one person to walk across so, definitely watch where you’re going. I recommend good footwear if you plan to go here since I just wore my regular running shoes (Nike Free Run, I know, I should invest in hiking boots) and felt that it was too loose and floppy for this trail. There were plenty of twigs, branches, and rocks on the trail for you to easily twist your ankle if your footing is off.
Getting to the East Peak Trail there was a pit stop before going up another .3 miles and it was a lot easier with more people there. We made several breath stops but still made it to the top within an hour and a half (this is probably slow compared to other people). Overall, I would say this was an easy to medium hike with the hike going back to our car a lot easier and fun as we were going down.

Incredible views with a nice short hike. That moment when you see one of the world’s most iconic cities and the world’s most vast ocean side by side and everything comes into perspective.

absolutely gorgeous views from the peak of this state park! every morning, when i watch the news, i hear the weatherman (or weatherwoman) report the sky conditions from «mt. tam» otherwise known as mount tamalpais (pronounced tam-​ul-​pie-​us).
despite living in the bay for nearly 7 years, i had actually never set foot on mt. tam and was excited to finally see this famous landmark that serves as a vista for gorgeous vies of the bay. i was not disappointed, as i saw so many picturesque views of the bay, not only from the very top, but as we ascended and descended… i guess you could say, i didn’t want to stop taking pictures nor could i stop oohing and ahhing! we were lucky that we came on a cloudless, blue-​skied, sunny day, b/​c had we not, it would have been very difficult to enjoy these views.
now, parking is a little tough, b/​c there isn’t any official parking here, at least, not that we could see, so we had to park along the side streets on route 1 and walk a bit. but good news is that parking is free all along route 1, if you can get a space!
this is not to be missed, whether you live in the bay area or are visiting!

Mt. Tam is not very far from SF and is a great hike any time of the year. Bring some trail mix and two water bottles.
Took Bootjack Trail to the Mountain Theater. Parking was easy and there were plenty of spots for a Friday morning. There were not too many people so it was not too crowded. Occasionally, there were runners that you have to get out of the way for. The Bootjack Trail was a loop hike and very easy to navigate. It was not difficult and a couple of steep spots. We took a leisurely pace and got to relax on the rocks at the Mountain Theater. Before we knew it, we had been out there for three hours. It is certainly a great place to escape from reality not far from the city. Nature is very therapeutic after all.
Stinson Beach is about a 15 minute drive away if you are looking for food.

One of my FAVORITE HIKES ever! The whole hike was BREATHTAKING! So many trails to choose from. Amazing view along all trails. It would not disappoint.
My goal the whole time was hiking to the very top. I was nervous that this hike would be too rough for me because of how steep it was mentioned from some of the reviews hiking to East Peak. It wasn’t bad at all. From the Matt Davis Trail junction to the Hoo-​Koo-​e-​Koo Trail, it took my friend and I 40 mins with one restroom breaks. Great butt workout by the way! All up hill from that point. When we got to the top of the peak, it was the most amazing feeling ever. Felt like I’m on top of this world, especially with some of the fog this past Sunday morning. The view really took my breath away.
My friend and I stayed there for an hour and half. Ate our late breakfast. Got some good photos. Not too many people because we woke up super early to make sure we don’t hit much of the crowd. That was a plus. Super peaceful. Can’t wait to go back and hike the other trials.

I didn’t think there were so many trails until I saw the map. It was overwhelming to choose which one to try but after hiking the steep ravine trail, I’m super excited to go back out there and see what views we see next!
PS: The steep ravine has the 10foot ladder and is about a mile hike in from the cabins on the ocean side! There is a somewhat-​hidden right turn you have to make (right before you reach an open area with almost no trees)
Update:
Went back again last this week! Apparently my dad and I were talking about hiking the same area without even realizing it haha he wanted to visit Muir Woods and I wanted to visit the north side (Friends of Mt. tam??). We went to the visitors center, luckily found free parking, and paid $ 10 each to get in… Sure, if you’re just admiring the trees, which are absolutely beautiful.
I prefer getting my shoes dirty from the get-​go and finding the hidden spots. We asked a park ranger which trail near the Muir Woods visiting center would give us a panoramic view. She directed us up Canopy trail and then Lost trail. The route was STUNNING but the end view was very disappointing. We could have DRIVEN up there, not to mention half the view was hidden by nearby trees. It was only an 800 ft elevation. Next time we’re going for Friends of Mt. Tam, which should give a better view at roughly 2,400 ft: D
Its all trial an error, 5 stars still

I love this state park. Yeah, it’s a bit of a drive to get here, but it has some of the best routes you can take.
I personally love starting down at Stinson beach and going all the way to the top until making my way back down a different route. I absolutely love this park, and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great view of the Marin area. It’s usually very foggy, but that’s perfect.
On a clear morning or early afternoon, it’s just gorgeous.

Mount Tam is hands down my favorite state park. My boyfriend & I come here every other month, trying to make it a monthly thing, he said only if I drive.
Each time we visit, we discover a new trail and we fall more in love with Mt. Tam. What I love the most about this place is the wide range of trails the park offers, suitable for just about anyone. From steep and strenuous to flat and facile… you’ll find a trail that suits your hiking needs. Similarly, the climate conditions are variable. Some hikes will provide a surplus of shade, while others will be free of trees and supply you with tons of Vitamin D. I’d recommend wearing some layers, a hat & sunscreen. Be prepared for a variety of weather and terrain conditions.
Tips for hiking here is to arrive early, we always arrive about 8am to avoid traffic getting up and finding parking. Note that some lots are free of charge, but other require a fee that is usually about $ 8.00 (pantoll & east peak stations). Bring cash! Also bring tons of water, snacks & lunch… get lost & have fun! Mt. Tam is beautiful in all aspects, I never get tired of this place!

Wonderful hike and scenic view. Wear hiking shoes, and rent a car because it is a bit of drive from the city. I took amazing pictures. It was an amazing experience

I cannot believe I grew up in California and have never been here before! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL trails that offer something for every tyoe of hiker — easy to difficult trails, ocean views, forrest views, etc.
We came here with my two five year olds, the 8 month old and my husband and sister in law. My kids do a lot of hiking, but they top out around 4 miles, so we decided to do the loop of Steep Ravine to Dipsea back to the car. The Steep Ravine trail is truly special — the waterfalls and moss covered felled trees are nothing short of magical. This is where you encounter the ladder (which was wet from the previous day’s rain and I watched my husband go down with my baby on his back as I internally kept telling myself to relax).
I will say that we probably should have come in via the Dipsea trail and then back up through Steep Ravine. The steps on Dipsea almost took out my poor babies. But they rallied and pushed themselves and DID IT!
We are definetely going to come back soon and do the trail to Stinson Beach. I am so excited ot make this one of our new go to spots for hiking!

Took the Matt Davis-​Steep Ravine-​Dipsea route like many others, starting at the trailhead on Belvedere Avenue. Around 7 miles and a beautiful workout! I finished the trail in 3 hours but I’m a fast walker. Be sure to stop to take in the view when you get to the grassy clearings on the top of the hill because you don’t see it again once you dip into the forest again to land at the Pantoll Ranger Station. And don’t forget to stop at one of many gorgeous spots along the way to enjoy your packed lunch.
I was also glad that I’d dressed a little warmer than I felt necessary when I started the trailhead in Stinson Beach. It gets colder as you move higher and further inland. At least that’s how it was today in January. There was also lots of mud so don’t forget to wear grippy shoes.
Warning: don’t trust whatever location pops up on Google Maps for Mt. Tam! It took me to a random switchback on the Panoramic Highway; thankfully things worked out.

My favorite place in the Bay Area to get away from the city! Beautiful drive to get there and gorgeous hikes with several scenic vista points. It’s amazing to watch the fog roll in and out over the redwoods. Also a great spot to go camping. Make sure you don’t get a spot under a redwood though during foggier seasons or all your things will be drenched!

My friends and I finally made our way to Mount Tam this Black Friday. There was a promotion for free parking passes for a number of state parks in California, which was awesome. Just a short 45 minute to an hour drive away from San Francisco, Mount Tam is a paradise for outdoors-​y folks.
We parked at the Pantoll Station and redeemed our voucher for the free parking pass. There were 2 clean bathrooms at the station as well. We hiked down the Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach and back up the Steep Ravine trail, which led us directly to our parking spot. The trails were about 7 miles long total, with a number of stairs and narrow walkways. The scenery was beautiful and we were shaded by the towering Redwoods, which kept us cool along the way. Do bring layers and prepare to make the trek back up from Stinson Beach, it’s not easy! I would say that the Dipsea and Steep Ravine trails were moderate difficulty, but definitely doable! We encountered plenty of families along the way. After our hike, we drove up to East Peak for sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay Area.
I would love to come back and hike another one of the many trails.

There are some great views of the San Francisco Bay from Mount Tamalpais State Park, no doubt. My partner and I were visiting from Washington and our local friends told us to head over here for the good view and to stop for drink at Little Mountain Café. That’s a great idea, because you’re on a high mountain overlooking the bay. But on the drive up, you can see both sides of the peninsula.
We weren’t really able to explore the hiking options at Mount Tamalpais State Park, but I’m sure the vistas are spectacular. We took the easy route up and drove to the café, which I certainly would recommend if you are short on time.
Being so close to SFO, this is a great day trip for visitors and residents alike!

Love this hike. Some great hiking trails that lead out to some amazing views. I also take my dogs when I go and they love it.

Let me update. After driving some pretty windy roads, you start to get some great views on a clear day. The view of the Pacific Ocean and SF in the distance.
Tons of trails. and it is peaceful.
At the end of the road, is where yo can climb to the furthest point, which let’s you see the Bay Area cities.
Breathtaking and nothing short of amazing.

My friends and I followed Bradley N’s thorough review. So here’s my take on the stairway to nirvana.
Step 1: Decent preparation and timing.
My friends and I wanted to do the Muir Woods –Mt Tam trail, and if you’re like us, that’s the one to do!
For prep, you should pack several bottles of water and some snacks along the way. The journey will probably take around 8 – 9 hours, and so you want to stay full and hydrated.
Muir Woods is actually free if you come before 8am, SO COME EARLY. It’s worth beating the traffic and getting a prime parking spot. Interestingly, there are people who come as early as 7am. We got there at 720 –40 min drive from Berkeley– and we still had to park on the second lot.
Step 2: It begins
Before you start the trek, check out the bathroom and take a pause at the model of the park in the center. It’s very detailed and you can map out your route! Ultimately, you will be traveling 11 miles north east until East Peak.
The first part of the hike is pretty easy as you are just going through the national monument. As Bradley said, when you hit bridge 2 (about 15 min walk from start), make sure to get a map. It will definitely save your life because there are plenty of turns along the way. Don’t forget to donate $$!
Step 3: Bootjack Trail
The first leg of your trip starts with the Bootjack Trail. There are plenty of signs along the way so just pay attention to that path. If you get lost, it’s also called the «alpine trail.» Along the way you will see cones that block off a usual bridge. Don’t give up and just go across the trunk! It takes about 2.7 miles or about 1 – 2 hours to get to the end of Bootjack and the end of leg 1.
Along the way, if you do get lost, you’ll be fine if you head up toward the campgrounds– that’s where Davis Trail is. You’ll get close when you start hearing cars on the road.
Step 4: Mt Davis Trail
If you need water, I suggest that you fill up at the visitor center. Unfortunately when we went, only 1 – 4 bathrooms were open which is kind of ridiculous given how nice the park is. But use it if you need it.
We were a bit confused as to which way to go when we got to Davis. Following Bradley’s instructions, we knew to go right to Hoo Koo E Koo trail, but all we saw were campgrounds. You’ll be able to find the right Mt Davis trail if you go southeast. There’s two paths and you want to take the lower path.
After that, there’s some moderate climbing on stairs and some exposure to the sun, but the Davis Trail is a pretty good 1 – 2 miles. It will again probably take you 1 – 2 hours.
Step 5: Hoo Koo E Koo trail.
Once you come out of Mt Davis Trail, you’ll see several splits. There’s a path up and two other paths straight and right. You already know which way to go: up! I advise that you take your time because you are pretty much hiking up the last 1 mile or so. This part will probably take you about 1 hour at most so take your time and conserve energy. You’ll see the sign for Fern Trail, which is where you’ll go next.
Step 6: Fern Trail
Fern Trail is the second to last leg and the most difficult. It’s all uphill from here, so go slow. Just follow the rocky path up and watch your footing. This will probably be about 0.7−1 mile and take you another hour. You’ll be close again when you reach the road and then…
Step 7: Peak Finish!
Once you get to the road, take a gander and look at the amazing view. It’s so spectacular, that you’d wonder how it can get better. But you’re so so close… Now you’re about 0.3 miles away from the end and this last stretch is honestly the easiest. Just follow the stair path up and you will reach the tippy top. You’ll see the top when you get to the lookout. Unfortunately, there’s no way to get inside, but enjoy the amazing view! Picture attached :)
Go and enjoy your lunch because you deserve it! It sucks that there’s plenty of bees here otherwise the area would be perfect.
Step 8: Return
If you followed the directions above, you should get to the peak in 5 – 6 hours (about 5 miles up). We took lots of breaks and it took us 5 hours.
The trip back is much quicker. We split up and ran back to get our car to pick up our friends at the peak center.
Running downhill, it took us about 2 hours to run all 5 miles back. Just watch the gravel and you’ll be fine getting back.
Step 9: Reflection
Overall, we finished in 7.5 hours. Our whole group took 5 hours to get to the top, we ate for 30 minutes, and two of us ran for 2 hours back. The total is 11 miles.
This trail isnt hard if you are an avid hiker, but if you’re not in shape please save yourself the trouble. You will finish but it’ll be gruesome and long. Most of us were in shape but we took a lot of breaks and only two of us were able to return.
For view, I give it a ¹⁰⁄₁₀. I felt like I was in heaven!
For difficulty, I say ⁷⁄₁₀. It was long and tiring but not once did I feel like we’d be in danger. It’s hard for a novice though!
Try it. This is your path to nirvana.
Have fun and prosper!

Tons of trails to pick from. J and I did a very highly rated, roughly 7 mile loop hike that was moderate and takes about 4 hours — see the guide here:
(pretty good detail, we didn’t get lost)
started from Stinson Beach just next to the fire station, took the Matt Davis Trail (moderately steep ascent, plenty of shade for most of it with a few areas of open grassland where the sun will beat down on you) to the Pantoll Ranger Station where we switched to the Steep Ravine Trail (redwoods, a babbling creek with a couple of small waterfalls in the summer — spring would have a lot more impressive waterfalls, of course, mostly shaded again) and finally the Dipsea Trail (gorgeous views of Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean — with more sun, so you definitely need sunblock for the Dipsea portion at least.
Be aware that there are a lot of areas in this state park that have no cell reception, so be sure to have a trail map and/​or directions already pre-​loaded on your phone or printed out so that you won’t get lost when your cell service is zilch.
Also, check out the reviews for East Peak — if you stop by Mt. Tam State Park, you pretty much definitely have to stop by East Peak, which provides gorgeous views of the Bay Area provided that the smog and fog are minimal on the day that you go.

Ever since The Outbound talked about Mt. Tam, we had to check this place out!
The Unilocal pin-​point is on the bottom part of Mount Tamalpais.
If you want to hike the highest park of this SP, from Panoramic Highway (higher level), make a right on Pan Toll road. If coming from the bottom of Panaromic Hwy, then make a left. Drive all the way up and find parking. It is crowded and finding a space can be pain in ass.
Seriously worth it, it’s more packed than Muir Woods so come early!
We reached the highest peak of it and the view was amazing!
Most are uphill but anyone can do it. Not much shade, too.

What an awesome hike! Most of the trail is shady.
The route we took:
(Up. Approx. 9 miles) Muir Woods visitor center — bootjack trail — bootjack campground — Matt Davis Trail — Hoo koo e koo trail — Vic Haun trail — Tamelpa trail — East Peak
(Down. Approx. 4 miles) East Peak — Fern Creek Trail — Old Railroad grade — Hogback fire road — Panoramic trail — Canopy View Trail — Muir Woods visitor center
Map link:
I used Garmin to record the hiking, link:

If you love hiking Point Reyes, then Mt. Tam will not disappoint. To experience many of the lush and gorgeous landscapes of the area, park at Pantoll Ranger Station. Grab a map, and head out on this 7.5 mile loop: Matt Davis Trail — Stinson Beach — Dipsea trail — Steep Ravine (and ending back at Pantoll). The loop took me four hours to complete, and that included one 30min break on the beach.
Spectacular Pacific views on clear days. And the hike is a good mix of flat terrain, downhill, and uphill. You definitely won’t be bored. Also, Stinson Beach is full of fun stores and restaurants. It could be really fun to start your hike at 10 or 11, grab some beers /​lunch at Stinson, chill out on the beach, and head up Steep Ravine in late afternoon.
The Ranger Station not only has a great map but also trail guides /​loop descriptions you can take with you to guide your journey. Enjoy!

I am so jealous of the people of San Francisco. Not only do they live in one of the world’s greatest cities, but they have this park as their back yard. Mt. Tam has some of the greatest hiking one can experience. In the same trip you can move through dark forests of coastal redwoods, across open sunny hillsides covered in tall grass and poppies, across sandy beaches, and high into the sky to the summit of the mountain itself. Not only is the park itself a gem, but it is surrounded on all sides by other incredible protected spaces. Easy access on well-​maintained roads means that even those with limited physical ability can enjoy all areas of the park. Parking can be an issue throughout the area, though, so be prepared to arrive early, to find a questionable roadside spot, or to spend a long time circling the few lots.

Very beautiful park with a million different hikes! I came here and hiked the Matt Davis trail from Stinson Beach all the way up. It was a long, but beautiful hike. If you’re lucky and here on a clear day like I was, you get a really great view of the bay! Make sure to bring some snacks and maybe even a walking stick to help you get around!

On the East Peak at the top of Mount Tamalpais, there’s a visitor center with multiple things to view or purchase.
Maps, books, t-​shirts, souvenirs…
There’s even a small museum which showcases the old railroad that is no longer in use.
There’s a diorama of animals and birds that are local to Mount Tam. I even saw a vulture. *gulp*
Nice place to peruse after an arduous hike up the mountain!

There’s so many trails to hike on here, and we just took like a .3 mile hike up to east peak. It was a simple and easy hike, of course. The views were beautiful. My favorite part was us rock climbing some off-​trail areas. Until we almost got clobbered by a crow. Lmao I swear. They were circling us for prey. It was pretty scary haha. And fun.
But yeah, the views are awesome. If you have a professional camera, it would be great to take pics here. However, everything is so far away, an iphone picture quality is not good enough to really catch the essence of the scenery.
We barely did much here. I would still like to come back to check out other areas we missed.

How much can I «can’t even» with Mt. Tam? That is the question.
My partner and I embarked on a 10 – 11 mile hike from Muir Woods to Mt. Tam, summiting at East Peak. As everyone here has mentioned, I followed Bradley N.‘s directions to a T and was treated to sweeping views of the bay.
Note: you can drive up to East Peak but where’s the fun and reward in that?
I would start early, before 9am – especially on the weekends. If you can, 8am would be ideal as there are plenty of parking spots available. This specific hike is strenuous with steep inclines and varied terrain from narrow dirt paths to winding paved roads. I would bring hiking poles and definitely lots of water and sunblock because the ascent to the summit is very exposed (although other trails are shaded). Also, purchase a park map or print one out before you go:
Here is a breakdown of the Muir Woods to East Peak hike.
Leg 1:
— Park at the Muir Woods Visitor Center
— Take the Bootjack Trail (along Redwood Creek)
— Past Van Wyck Meadow to Bootjack Picnic Area
Leg 2:
— Matt Davis Trail
— Turn left at the Hoo-​Koo-​e-​Koo junction
Leg 3:
— Turn left onto Vic Haun Trail
— Turn left onto Temelpa Trail
Leg 4 (East Peak Summit):
— Take the Verna Dunshee Trail to summit
Leg 5 (descent):
— Fern Creek Trail
— Turn left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road
— Turn right onto Hogback Fire Road
Leg 6:
— Turn onto Panoramic Highway
— Take the Panoramic Trail
— Turn right onto Ocean View Trail
Leg 7:
— Continue back to car
There you go, folks! This hike covers everything Mother Nature has to offer: redwood forests, golden hills, wildflower displays, grand coastal views, and spectacular vistas. It’s like entering different realms of nature: the towering redwoods shelter you from the heat while open grass areas are flooded with sunlight and provide wonderful ocean views.
The climb up to East Peak is laborious and hiking poles are highly recommended. The incline is sharp but the breathtaking scenes of giant green hills and clear blue seas will squash any urge to complain. Once you reach the summit, and on a clear day, the landscape is filled with Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, and hills and cities of the East Bay.
This is one of my favorite hikes due to the diverse trails and sights, the challenging nature of the trek, and the natural charms of Mt. Tam. I would go back in a heartbeat. Mt. Tam is just so SO perfect, I can’t even handle it!

One of my new favorite hikes accomplished this summer!
The last time I hiked Mt. Tam was its loop hike during spring break of last year. This time I wanted to climb to the east peak to its highest elevation point. We parked across an Inn to start our hour long hike. Luckily there was an open spot for parking! Once you start hiking up past the fire station, it becomes really steep! I felt as if I needed breaks every so often, but I powered through it. There are a couple of forks along the path we took, but I wanted to get to the peak as soon as possible for my siblings sake.
After half an hour or so, we arrived at the base of the top where there are bathrooms and water accessible to the public. Apparently you can park your car up there for a fee and hike to the top from there, but it wouldn’t be much of a challenge anymore. Once you get to the top, you have an amazing view of the north bay and San Ramon bridge! The first time I went it was cloudy all over the SF area, but the second time it was clear to see everything. We had lunch and then headed down with ease.
Overall, the hike was steep and I liked it! It took us about an hour to get to the top with at least 7 breaks. Brings lots of water! Oh I brought a Vietnamese sandwich for lunch and there were Jack wasps (?) at the top that were attracted to the sweet meat, so be careful what you bring! Use your Google maps on your phone as a map just in case you don’t know which way to go. There was signal throughout the whole hike and at the top so you’re fine if you need your phone!

On a clear day… SPECTACULAR VIEW OF THE BAY AREA. 5 STARS.
The drive to Mt Tam is a bit of a drag. Winding roads are not fun when you’re super anxious and just want to speed your way there. This is where I wish I was a professional drifter. Kidding lol.
You will be looking for EAST PEAK. This is the side where you will be able to view the whole Bay Area.
You will see about two parking lots 6 miles prior. Do not give up! Keep driving!
You will then see a parking lot with bathrooms and a visiting center. There will be envelopes for the parking fee which costs $ 7. Make sure you have cash on you. I didn’t, took the risk and got lucky lol
To your left there is an obvious walkway that will lead you up to the top. I wish I timed myself but I was too busy taking pics of the gorgeous view of the redwoods. And selfies.
It gets pretty rocky on your way up. High rocky steps so be careful. Super dusty but the view makes up for it. When you get to the top, you will see fearless people sitting on top of huge rocks. Turn around and you will see the whole entire Bay Area. Breathtaking. Makes you want to cry. I cried inside like a winner.