Just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais State Park rises majestically from the heart of Marin County. Its deep canyons and sweeping hillsides are cloaked with cool redwood forests, oak woodlands, open grasslands, and sturdy chaparral.
The breathtaking panorama from Mount Tamalpais’s 2,571-foot peak includes the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco Bay, the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the snow-covered Sierra Nevada can be seen 150 miles away.
The park offers superlative hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching, and mountain and road bicycling.
RECREATION
Hiking—Hikers enjoy more than 60 miles of park trails, connecting to a 200-mile trail system over land managed by the Marin Municipal Water District and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Cycling—Road bikers are challenged by the infamous Seven Sisters climb and the twisting road to the top. Mountain bikers can enjoy the Coast View and Dias Ridge multiuse trails as well as park fire roads. Day Use —Bootjack, on Panoramic Highway east of Pantoll, has picnic tables for up to 50 people, stoves, water, and flush toilets. East Peak summit has picnic tables, an accessible restroom, and a visitor center staffed on weekends.
Mountain Theater —The 3,750-seat Mountain Theater, officially named the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, was built of natural stone in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps at Steep Ravine. Each spring since 1913, the Mountain Play Association theatrical company has presented outdoor productions of Broadway musicals.
Camping— Bootjack and Pantoll campgrounds, on Panoramic Highway, each have 15 first-come, first-served sites about 100 yards from the parking area. Both campsites offer drinking water, firewood, and restrooms with flush toilets. There are no showers. Rocky Point/Steep Ravine Environmental Campground, on a marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach, has seven primitive sites and nine rustic cabins. Each cabin has a small wood stove, picnic table, sleeping platforms, and an outdoor barbecue, but no running water. Restrooms and water faucets are nearby. Reservations are required.
The Alice Eastwood Group Camp, located on the Panoramic Highway near the Mountain Home Inn, has two sites for organized groups of 25 to 50 people. Both sites have tables, grills, and a large tent spot.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Environmental Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
Alternative Camping
TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Vista Point
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching