Dipsea Trail

Dipsea Trail is a rugged, long-distance hiking route in the Mount Tamalpais area, connecting Mill Valley to Stinson Beach and passing through Muir Woods as it works its way up Mt. Tamalpais and back down to the coast.

Expect a point-to-point that’s physically demanding: steep grades, heavy stair sections, and sustained climbing plus a final steep descent into Stinson Beach.

Terrain character is a mix of redwood forest travel and coastal scrub sections, with the route crossing from inland woodland settings toward exposed ridgelines before it drops again to the beach end.

The route runs through protected lands managed by California State Parks and the National Park Service, so you should plan around those boundaries when you’re lining up your hike logistics.

For pacing, a one-way effort is commonly described around 4–6.5 hours depending on speed and how you manage the stair-heavy segments.

If you’re starting from park parking areas, be ready for day-use fee or parking requirements and read current alerts/closures before you go, since management updates can affect access points and route conditions.

A common reason to tackle Dipsea Trail is its reputation as a challenge trail: it’s repeatedly listed as “hard/very strenuous,” with elevation gain that’s described as roughly 2,200 to 2,700 ft depending on how you do the route.

More information: Dipsea Trail - Marinside Out - WordPress.com, Hikes - Steep Ravine Loop in Mt Tamalpais State Park, Dipsea Trail