Mount Tamalpais
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Marin County's highest mountain, popularly known as "Mt. Tam," has been treasured turf for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians since the 1880s. Some of the region's most well-trodden trails traverse the mountain, dip into redwood valleys, wind across open grasslands and beside waterfalls, and follow ridge lines from summit to coast. On exceptionally clear days, those who climb (or drive) to Mt. Tam's highest overlooks may be rewarded with the sight of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada range 200 miles away. Landscapes and landmarks nearer to hand—and more visible—include Marin's pretty towns and headlands, the Pacific Ocean and Farallon Islands, and, the distinctive high-rise buildings of San Francisco's Financial District.

Hiker on a trail on Mt. Tam Though most of Mt. Tam lies within the legislated boundaries of the Golden Gate National Parks, the mountain's acreage is principally managed by Mt. Tam State Park, the Marin Municipal Water District, and the Marin County Open Space District.

Mt. Tam's highlights include:

  • The Mt. Tam Visitor Center, situated at the east peak's summit, displays exhibits on local plants, animals, geology, and historic maps of the area. The center, open only on weekends, is located off East Ridgecrest Boulevard.
  • The Pantoll Ranger Station, located off the Panoramic Highway, is a good place to pick up hiking and camping maps and information; the station serves as a crossroads for several hiking trails.
  • Abundant waters flow down Mt. Tam and through the surrounding park lands in the springtime, forming many small but exquisite waterfalls. Trails offering the best waterfall views are the Steep Ravine, Troop 80, and Cataract trails.
  • The historic Mountain Theater, accessible via a hike from Pantoll or the Rock Springs parking lot, is a spectacular place for a picnic. During the early 1900s, people gathered in a grassy meadow 2,000 feet up the side of Mt. Tam to see outdoor plays. Later, the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps improved this natural amphitheater by installing stone seats, leveling the stage, and landscaping the site. Today, this mountainside spot still serves as a stage for plays, concerts, and special events.

Tips for Visitors
  • Three of the five parking lots are fee lots; two are free.
  • On weekends and holidays, a Golden Gate Transit bus runs from Stinson Beach up to Pantoll Ranger Station and along the Panoramic Highway to Marin City, stopping at several mountain trailheads on its route.
  • There are two drive-in picnic areas on Mt. Tam. Bootjack Picnic Area is located at a pleasant, wooded, and shady site off the Panoramic Highway just east of Pantoll. The East Peak Picnic Area is at the end of East Ridgecrest Boulevard. Both sites have picnic tables, rest rooms, and running water.

Foggy Mt. Tam hills and trees Nature
A Forest of Dwarf Cypress
On the slopes of Mt. Tam grows a forest of small cypress trees (Cupressus pigmaea). Lack of nutrients in the mountain's serpentine soil stunts the growth of these trees, causing them to mature when only a few feet tall. To visit this pygmy cypress forest, take either the Ben Stein Trail north from Rock Springs or the Old Stage Road half a mile northeast of the Bootjack Picnic Area.

History

The Crookedest Railroad
Mt. Tamalpais enjoys the unique distinction of having once had the world's crookedest railroad ascend its southern slope. Built in 1896, the Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railroad negotiated 281 hairpin curves on its eight-mile way to the summit. In its heyday, the railroad's logging-type Shay steam locomotives brought 50,000 passengers a year up the mountain in canopied cars. In 1907, the railroad added another thrill, a gravity glide to Muir Woods.

Riders came from near and far to try out this new branch line, which later became known as the "longest rollercoaster ride in the world." With the advent of the automobile, however, the railroad's popularity gradually diminished, and the tracks of the Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railroad were removed in the 1930s. You can hike the Old Railroad Grade Trail from the north side of the Mountain Home Inn to Blithedale Ridge in Mill Valley.

Maps and Information

For a map, driving directions and satellite views of this park from Google™ Maps, click here.

The following links to the Golden Gate National Recreational Area’s website provide more information about:

If you enjoy Mount Tamalpais