8 min
Overview
Mount Tamalpais, literally meaning “west” or “coastal” (tamal) “hill” or “mountain” (pais) in the Coast Miwok language, is the highest point in Marin County with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. At 2,571 feet, East Peak is the highest of three peaks on Mount Tam, with an active fire lookout at her summit. While you can drive to East Peak, hiking to it from Stinson Beach is a fantastic way to experience Mount Tam’s diverse ecosystems, railroad history, coastal views, and beautiful Stinson Beach when you are finished. Start your hike from the Central Lot at Stinson Beach, heading north towards the Parkside Snack Bar. Pass under a wooden archway, then turn right onto Arenal Avenue. Walk east for 0.2 miles on paved Arenal Avenue towards Highway 1. At the end of Arenal Avenue, spot a trail sign across Highway 1 to your right. Carefully cross the road onto the Dipsea Trail towards Muir Woods. On your left is the Stinson Beach Fire Station, where you’ll pop out at at the end of your hike. Ascend 0.1 mile though pine trees and blackberries, emerging on a wide parking shoulder off Panoramic Highway. This is a good parking alternative for this hike (see Notes below for details). Carefully cross the road to stay on the Dipsea Trail towards the Steep Ravine Trail. Wooden steps lead into a beautiful coastal forest. On your right, spot a stone mile-marker that says “Dipsea Race 7.” The Dipsea is a 7.4-mile annual race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. It is the oldest trail race in America, founded in 1905. In an unusual twist on conventional race rules, the slowest runners start first based on handicaps for age and gender. The fastest runners start last, in the back of a 1500-person pack, and must overcome the slower runners to win the race. In another twist, runners can take shortcuts through Mount Tamalpais to get to the finish—if they prefer to sprint up a steep hill versus taking a longer, flatter traverse, they can! Emerging from the forest, climb southeast on a hillside of coast scrub. A
Trail Stats
24.3 km
883 m
771 m
0 m
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