Mount Tamalpais

Mount Tamalpais rises 2,571 feet above the bay just north of the Golden Gate. It is not tall by mountain standards, but it climbs almost straight from the ocean, so on a clear day its summit looks out over the whole Bay Area. California State Parks says you can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, San Francisco, the East Bay and Mount Diablo. On rare winter days the snowy Sierra Nevada shows up about 150 miles to the east.

Most of the mountain is protected. Mount Tamalpais State Park covers the summit area and the western slopes, Muir Woods National Monument sits in a canyon on its southern flank and Marin Water manages the watershed lands and lakes to the north. For a day trip from Palo Alto, the highlights are East Peak, the West Point Inn on the old railroad grade and the stone Mountain Theater. This guide covers each one, plus the parking rules and a road project starting the first week of November 2026.

Getting there and drive time

From Palo Alto, take Interstate 280 into San Francisco, cross the city on 19th Avenue and Park Presidio and cross the Golden Gate Bridge on US 101. Exit at Highway 1 toward Stinson Beach, then follow Panoramic Highway up the mountain. At Pantoll, turn right on Pantoll Road, then right again on Ridgecrest Boulevard and follow East Ridgecrest to the East Peak lot. That is about 60 miles and 1.5 to 2 hours each way in normal traffic.

• The roads are narrow, steep and shared with a lot of cyclists. Pass only where you can see well ahead.
• State Parks advises arriving early to beat weekend and holiday traffic. Lots at East Peak and Pantoll fill on sunny weekends.
• Cars parked after sunset may be fined, so plan to be back at the car before dark.
• The Golden Gate Bridge toll is collected southbound, electronically, on your way home.

Without a car, Marin Transit Route 61 serves Pantoll and Mountain Home on Panoramic Highway, but you first need to reach Marin from San Francisco. A guided trip is far simpler. Some Marin and Muir Woods tours include a stop on the mountain. If you would rather drive yourself, you can compare rental cars for the day.

Pantoll Road work in November 2026

The park's current restrictions notice, checked October 30, 2026, says crews will grind and repave parts of Pantoll Road between Panoramic Highway and Ridgecrest Boulevard starting Monday, November 2. Work runs on weekdays only and may last up to three weeks. Expect one-way traffic control on weekdays and allow extra time. There should be no traffic control on weekends, but construction equipment may be parked at Trojan Point and Rock Spring, which means fewer spaces there. Pantoll Road is the main way up to Ridgecrest and East Peak, so a weekend visit is the easier choice until the work is done.

The same notice says Pantoll and Bootjack campgrounds have no running water because of a seasonal shortage. Hikers can fill up at Pantoll during kiosk hours, usually about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or at the Mountain Theater, East Peak and Mountain Home.

Fees, hours and park rules

Here is what the Mount Tamalpais State Park page lists:

• Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset, year round.
• Fees: no main entrance fee, but East Peak, Pantoll and Bootjack charge for parking. Pay by card at Pantoll during business hours or by cash or check in a self-registration envelope at East Peak and Bootjack. The West Point Inn's directions put the fee at $8. Its page also notes free parking at the lot across from Mountain Home and near the Mountain Theater.
• Dogs: leashed dogs only on paved roads, Old Stage Fire Road, the Verna Dunshee Trail, campgrounds, picnic areas and developed areas. No dogs on other trails or fire roads.
• Bikes: fire roads and the Coast View Trail only.
• Drones: prohibited. Mushroom collecting is also banned.
• Fire: no smoking, camping or fires ever on the upper mountain.

Watch for poison oak, rattlesnakes and ticks. On Red Flag days, when fire officials declare extreme fire danger, parts of the mountain close and the West Point Inn shuts its doors.

East Peak

East Peak is the high point you can drive to. The road ends at a parking lot with restrooms, drinking water and picnic tables a few hundred feet below the summit. From here you have three good options.

1. Verna Dunshee Trail. A 0.75-mile loop around the peak that State Parks lists as wheelchair accessible, with views over the bay, the city and the Marin hills. It is the best short walk on the mountain and leashed dogs are allowed.
2. Plank Trail to the summit. A short, steep climb on rocky steps to the fire lookout on top. Keep a hand free and wear real shoes.
3. Visitor center and Gravity Car Barn. On most weekends volunteers staff the small East Peak Visitor Center, which sells snacks and maps. Nearby, volunteers at the Gravity Car Barn tell the story of the old Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway and show a replica of the open cars that coasted riders downhill.

Visibility is best after a winter storm clears the air or on fall days before the fog returns. In summer the summit often sits above a sea of fog, which is a fine sight in itself. Spring and summer afternoons can reach the 80s or 90s on the upper mountain, while fall and winter days are often in the 50s. For a quick primer on the fog belt, see our weather guide. Our list of sunset spots covers closer viewpoints for evenings at home.

The West Point Inn and the railroad grade

In 1896 workers built a railroad by hand from downtown Mill Valley to East Peak in six months. With 281 turns it billed itself as the Crookedest Railroad in the World. In 1904 the line added the West Point Inn at its westernmost bend, where passengers met a stagecoach bound for what is now Stinson Beach. The railroad shut down in 1930. Since September 1943 volunteers have run the inn and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The old track bed survives as Old Railroad Grade, a wide, gentle fire road. The inn is hike-in or bike-in only and the inn's FAQ says the shortest trail is about 2 miles. The most common approach starts near Bootjack or Pantoll on Panoramic Highway. Day visitors are welcome on the decks and grounds, which have one of the best porches in the Bay Area for a sandwich and a view. The interior is reserved for overnight guests and the inn is closed on Mondays.

Staying the night

Rooms and cabins are simple and off the grid. There is plumbing and hot water but no electricity and the rooms are unheated. Guests bring and cook their own food in a shared kitchen and must bring sheets and towels. Since January 1, 2026, sleeping bags are not allowed. Book through the inn's site well ahead. Its monthly pancake breakfasts were sold out for every 2026 date and now need advance tickets.

The Mountain Theater

A couple of miles below East Peak, off Ridgecrest Boulevard near Rock Spring, sits the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, known to everyone as the Mountain Theater. Its tiers of stone seats were set into the hillside by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and it holds about 3,750 people looking out toward the bay.

The Mountain Play has staged a show here every spring since 1913. The 2026 production ran from June 7 to June 21, with shuttle buses from two Mill Valley lots because the mountain lots fill before 10 a.m. on show days. Dates for 2027 were not posted as of late October 2026. The theater also hosts astronomy programs in the warmer months. On other days it is open during park hours. With drinking water and a huge view, it makes a quiet picnic stop. Bring cushions; the seats are stone.

Pairing with Muir Woods and Stinson Beach

Mount Tam and Muir Woods share a trail network and a road. Muir Woods Road meets Panoramic Highway just below Mountain Home, so you can spend the morning among the redwoods and drive up to East Peak in about 25 minutes. Remember that Muir Woods needs a parking reservation. Our Muir Woods guide explains how to book it.

The other classic pairing is the coast. Panoramic Highway continues past Pantoll and drops steeply to Stinson Beach, a long sand beach with a small town. Hikers can make the same trip on the Matt Davis or Dipsea trails. Note that State Parks has permanently closed the Matt Davis Spur and its bridge off Laurel Avenue, so start at the main Matt Davis trailhead near the Stinson Beach fire station. For more ideas north of the bridge, see our Sausalito and Marin guide or continue to Point Reyes.

Frequently asked questions