Near: Mill Valley
Trip Type: Trail Run
Distance: 8 miles (or 5 miles to West Point Inn and back)
Elevation: 900 - 2,300 ft (1,800 ft at West Point Inn)
Vegetation: Some pine forest, some scrubby manzanitas
Surface: Dirt with a lot of rock mixed in.
Last Visit: 5/28/18
I lived in the Bay Area for the better part of a decade before I realized that Mt. Tamalpais State Park only covers the bottom half of Mt. Tam and a tiny bit of the summit. Most of the upper slopes are Marin municipal lands and the trails and fire roads there are open to dogs, provided they're on a leash. The roads and trails around the summit make for a nice network with a mix of slow gradual climbs on wide fire roads and steeper single-track routes. This post describes a circuitous tour up to the peak on the old railroad grade for a steady, satisfying trail run with lots of nice views of the San Francisco Bay. You can also cut this down to a lighter run/hike with modest climb by popping out the the West Point Inn and back.
