The Dipsea Trail is a popular trail in Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais State Park, just one hour north of San Francisco. This 7-mile trail goes from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, meandering through lush forest and up to sweeping views. There are many ways to cut through other nearby trails to create a nice day hike away from the city.
Trail Distance: 7 miles, although you can go shorter
Elevation Gain: ~2000 ft
Dog Friendly: No, unfortunately
Trail Notes: Nice coastal trail with lush greenery and ocean views
Trailhead: Dipsea Trail near Stinson Beach, CA
Hike the Dipsea Trail
Why You Should Hike the Dipsea Trail
The Dipsea Trail is a very classic Northern California trail. Because it is by the coast and Stinson Beach, it is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike.
One of the best parts of the Dipsea Trail is that after you go hiking, you can either head north to Stinson Beach or south to Muir Beach. Whichever direction you decide to go, don’t forget to get out of your car and take photos!
Trail Notes from Hiking the Dipsea Trail
On this day, we decided to start at Dipsea Trail near Stinson Beach. There is a nice parking area at the intersection of Panoramic Highway and Highway 1. From there, we ascended up the Dipsea trail with nice views of the ocean. Soon we turned into a more dense forest that was covered in classic San Francisco fog.
We decided to head to Pattoll Campground and make a loop from there. 2 hours after we had left the Dipsea trailhead we arrived. We stopped for a quick water and bathroom break before heading to the Old Mine Trail. There we found a nice lunch spot and were lucky enough to have a few minutes of sun before the fog set in again. We took the Steep Ravine trail down which cuts back to Highway 1 and then took the road back to our car. On our way down, we came across a fun ladder section of the trail!
Overall the Dipsea Trail is a nice day hike to escape from the city. It’s a close enough drive and has some elevation to make it feel like a more intense hike. The views can be great if it’s a clear day. I personally enjoy fog and enjoy that misty forest feel of SF.