Dipsea Trail Head — Attraction in Mill Valley

Challenging hike! Rewarding views!

We visited on May 16, 2023. The day started out foggy. However, the sun came out and we were in for some amazing views along the way!

We took amazing photos!

We hiked from the Dipsea Trail Head parking lot.

We ate lunch at the Pantoll Campground where we were able to use the bathrooms, fill our water bottles up, and use the shaded picnic tables.

Our total distance round trip was 9.5 miles! Wow! It was an amazing workout!

The hike is extremely challenging and steep. There’s lots of stairs. It’s very scenic and peaceful. The landscape is very diverse. It’s a nice mix of coastal and forest flora and fauna. There were lots of wildflowers on the way. Some parts are shaded but a large part of it is exposed to the sun, so I strongly recommend sunscreen!

We encountered butterflies, lizards, one snake, a coyote, several deer, and about 6 bunnies! We heard some owls during our hike as well. There were also plenty of nice birds!

It was a wonderful hike with great company!

We will be...

There are more options for hiking, and the closest parking lot with limited spots. However, you can park at the nearby beach lot, then walk a short trail to the entrance of the dipsea trail. There is a restroom that is clean and new at the beach lot, but with a poor maintenance in the afternoon. Cold shower is available for rinsing off the sand.

The route for our hiking is Dipsea trail- Steep Ravine trail-Old Mine trail- Dipsea trail, 3.5 h. Go exactly with the sign shows, no matter what.

Beautiful trail with nice views of the ocean, middle level. Various experiences from the mountains and the creeks. It definitely burns a lot of calories. But it’s not a good choice for a family with babies or kids (under 9). Bring enough water and take necessary protective measures like hat, sunscreen, or hiking cane. Exhausted...

A beautiful hike from Stinson Beach to Muir Woods. Chaparral and ocean views give way to forests of Redwood, Bay, Douglas Fir, and occasional Oak trees. The trail ascends steeply through ravines carved by a little stream. Moss and lichen grows on every solid surface. If you aren't in great shape give yourself all day to complete the hike. Bring food and water, and dress in layers because it will be cold in the Redwood forest even if it is hot in the chaparral. My advice: loop through Muir woods at the top, then hike back down through Bootjack trail to Alpine trail until you reach Pantoll campground. From there, take either Steep Ravine trail back down until it merges with Dipsea, or take Matt Davis trail all the way back to Stinson Beach. My pictures are from Dipsea, Muir Woods, and...