State Park · California
Marin County's iconic peak above the Golden Gate, with the East Peak summit, the Steep Ravine and Matt Davis loops, the Dipsea route, first-come campsites, and reservable Steep Ravine cabins.
Field briefing
Mount Tamalpais State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The planning hinges on parking and lodging: the lots at Pantoll and East Peak fill on clear weekends, the walk-in campsites are first-come, and the coveted Steep Ravine cabins are awarded through an advance reservation drawing rather than a normal booking.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Green hills, wildflowers, and seasonal waterfalls in Steep Ravine, with variable fog.
Pack Layers for wind on the ridge and grippy footwear for the ladder section.
Warm inland but cool and foggy near the coast, with packed weekend lots.
Pack Wind layer, sun protection, water, and an early-arrival parking plan.
Often the clearest summit weather of the year, with light winds and far Bay views.
Pack Layers for cool mornings and a warm shell for the exposed summit.
Cool and wet, with the strongest waterfalls in Steep Ravine and occasional storms.
Pack Waterproof shell, traction for slick rock and ladders, and warm layers.
East Peak and Verna Dunshee Trail
The drive-up summit at 2,571 feet with a paved loop to panoramic Bay Area views and the historic fire lookout, the low-effort payoff for any group.
Steep Ravine, Dipsea, and Matt Davis loop
The signature hike, descending a fern-draped redwood canyon with wooden ladders to Stinson Beach and climbing back through coastal grassland.
Cataract and the high ridges
Longer ridge and creek routes for hikers and trail runners who want mileage above the fog line.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Mount Tamalpais State Park, make Steep Ravine, Dipsea, and Matt Davis loop the non-negotiable, add East Peak and Verna Dunshee Trail only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Cataract and the high ridges as the flexible finish.
Turn Mount Tamalpais's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Mount Tamalpais State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Mount Tamalpais State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Mount Tamalpais asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
For the most atmospheric stay, enter the Steep Ravine cabin and environmental-campsite drawing months ahead, since those clifftop cabins above the ocean south of Stinson Beach are among the most sought-after in the system. Pantoll and Bootjack offer first-come walk-in tent sites for flexible trips. Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, and the wider Marin and San Francisco area cover hotels when camping is full.
Camping reservations
Mount Tam splits its overnight options: first-come walk-in campsites at Pantoll and Bootjack, and the reservation-drawing-only Steep Ravine cabins and environmental campsites on the coast.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Pantoll and Bootjack walk-in sites are first-come, first-served. Steep Ravine cabins and environmental campsites are awarded through a ReserveCalifornia drawing: apply up to eight months ahead, with drawings run about seven months before the dates.
Where to book or verify
Official system for the Steep Ravine cabin and environmental-campsite drawing, or call 1-800-444-7275.
Official park page with trails, campgrounds, fees, and conditions.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
Mount Tamalpais sits in Marin County just north of the Golden Gate, reached by the winding Panoramic Highway off Highway 1.
Car strategy
A car is the practical way to move between the East Peak summit road, the Pantoll trailheads, and the Stinson Beach coast.
Car strategy
Plan for narrow mountain roads and full lots on clear weekends.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
You can drive to the East Peak area at about 2,571 feet, then walk the short paved Verna Dunshee loop for panoramic Bay Area views and reach the summit fire lookout on a brief climb. Parking at East Peak carries an $8 fee.
The Steep Ravine cabins and environmental campsites are not booked like normal sites. You apply for a ReserveCalifornia reservation drawing up to eight months ahead, with drawings run about seven months before the dates. They are among the most competitive reservations in the California system.
The walk-in tent sites at Pantoll and Bootjack are first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved. Only the Steep Ravine cabins and environmental campsites use the advance drawing.