Hike from Stinson Beach to the Dipsea Trail Loop

Most hikers who know Mount Tam's Dipsea trail think it's a great one way hike, but recognize it's a pain to organize a shuttle... We agree! So we've combined the Dipsea with another hike to form a 7-mile loop in Marin that will have you feeling like you did 10 miles! Looping the two trails creates a great half butt-kicker/half easy downhill hike!

We'll start in Stinson Beach in the morning and hike 1500 feet UP towards Mount Tam. It is best to get the 3.2-mile uphill part out of the way in the first half of the hike! Leaving Stinson Beach, we hike through steep grasslands, and then enter a lush grove of firs. The trail will flatten out before we reach our high point at Pantoll. There, we can take a break, and soak in the remarkable views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco. If you don't think 7 miles is enough, we can add a few more optional miles near Pantoll, then, be relieved that the butt-kicker part is over, and the rest of the loop is almost all downhill! We don't like to pin down a finish time for the hike, as some times the group will want to linger at lunch or take a side trip along the way. Generally hikes are finished by 3:00 p.m., though. After the hike we usually regroup for a beer, snack or ice cream to exted the day with OAC friends.

We'll turn and let gravity help us now, as we hike back down to Stinson Beach on the Dipsea Trail. When we get back to town we'll have an OAC picnic lunch on the beach at Stinson.

 

Level of experience: Intermediate to advanced hikers. This hike is strenuous, very steep in places, almost no parts level. But since this is not the famed Dipsea Race, we can take it at a pace that is comfortable for the group.

 

Along the way your Outdoor Adventure Club guide will show you the way, keep the conversation going, and serve up a great OAC lunch, too!