Daily: 7:00am to Sunset year round.
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Update (June 10, 2021): Whether an experienced outdoor enthusiast or a new one, park visitors must continue to recreate responsibly in the outdoors as the pandemic is far from over.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Recreate Responsibly
Protect yourself, family, friends and your community from COVID-19 by following these prevention measures while recreating in California’s State Park System:
Although law enforcement entities have the authority to issue citations, the expectation is that the public is responsible for adhering to the advice of public health officials, visitor guidelines and closures.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Recreate Responsibly
Protect yourself, family, friends and your community from COVID-19 by following these prevention measures while recreating in California’s State Park System:
- Know Before You Go – Prior to leaving home, check the status of the park unit you want to visit to find out what restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a back-up plan in case your destination is crowded. Stay home if you are sick.
- Plan Ahead – Some restrooms will be temporarily closed to keep up with cleaning schedules. Bring soap/hand sanitizer.
- Play It Safe – Find out what precautions you should take when exploring the outdoors, especially if this is your first time visiting the State Park System. Learn more at parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.
- Keep Your Distance – Avoid crowds. If there are too many people at a park or beach, please visit on a different day.
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Wear a Mask – State Parks continues to follow guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health:
- Everyone: In indoor settings, such as museums and visitor centers, face coverings are required regardless of vaccination status.
- Fully Vaccinated Persons: Face coverings are not required outdoors except when attending crowded outdoor events.
- Unvaccinated Persons: Face coverings are required outdoors any time physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Leave No Trace – Leave areas better than how you found them by staying on designated trails and packing out all trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.
Although law enforcement entities have the authority to issue citations, the expectation is that the public is responsible for adhering to the advice of public health officials, visitor guidelines and closures.
This park unit is partially open. Please take the time to read the information contained on this webpage to find out what is open and closed, and what COVID-19 guidelines are in place.
What is open now?
- Parking Lots
- Trails
- Kiosk
- Bootjack and Pantoll campgrounds
- Steep Ravine Cabins
- Group camping
What is currently closed?
- East Peak Visitors Center
- Gravity Car Barn
Phone Number
(415) 388-2070
Park Hours
Dogs Allowed?
Yes
Dogs allowed only in developed areas. Dogs not allowed in the following areas: trails, dirt roads, and backcountry areas.
Driving Directions to Mount Tamalpais State Park
The park is located North of San Francisco's Golden Gate. From Highway 101 take Highway 1 to the Stinson Beach exit and follow signs up the mountain. See Park Brochure Map for other entrances.Camping and Lodging
Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.
Upcoming Park Events
No events scheduled at this moment.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Environmental Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
Alternative Camping
Environmental Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
Alternative Camping
TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Vista Point
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Vista Point
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
STEEP RAVINE 2021 FALL CLOSURE
Mount Tamalpais State Park Schedules Fall Closure for Steep Ravine Cabins and Environmental Campground
A project to improve the popular Mount Tamalpais State Park Steep Ravine Cabins and Environmental Campground will begin this fall and temporarily limit access to the site. Steep Ravine cabins and campground facilities will be closed and not available for use or to reserve from September 1st through November 30th, 2021. For public safety, day use access will be limited to designated areas outside of the work zone.
The project will upgrade paths of travel at the site, improve access to the cabin and camping experience, upgrade water lines and the parking lot and address annual site facility maintenance. The project is part of a continuing statewide effort by California State Parks to improve accessibility through the removal of architectural and programmatic access barriers and the construction of accessible trails.
For more information contact California State Parks, Bay Area District, (415) 769-5652. Learn more about California State Parks “Accessible Parks for All” here.
Welcome to Mount Tamalpais State Park
Just makin up poems in my head as I climb toward Mount Tamalpais.
See up there, as beautiful a mountain as you’ll see anywhere in the world,
a beautiful shape to it, I really love Tamalpais.
– The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac
Just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais State Park rises majestically from the heart of Marin County. Its deep canyons and sweeping hillsides are cloaked with cool redwood forests, oak woodlands, open grasslands, and sturdy chaparral.
The breath-taking vistas from Mount Tamalpais’s upper mountain includes the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco Bay and City, the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the snow-covered Sierra Nevada can be seen 150 miles away.
The park offers superlative hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching. Up top, on most weekends volunteers at the East Peak Visitor Center provide information, sell merchandise and snacks. Volunteers at the nearby Gravity Car Barn relate the stories of the old Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway. A couple of miles below,a beautiful outdoor theatre, the Mountain Theater, hosts outdoor plays and astronomy programs.
First-come/first-serve camping is available at Pantoll or Bootjack Campgrouds. Visitors can also reserve a group campsite at Alice Eastwood Group Camp or a rustic cabin or seaside campsite at the Steep Ravine Cabins and Environmental Campground thorugh our agency Reserve California.
Arrive early to avoid heavy weekend and holiday traffic. Better yet, take the West Marin Stage Coach.
Weather
Spring and summer temperatures are warm, with average highs in the 80s and 90s. Fall and winter can be cool, with temperatures in the 50s. Fog is common.
Important Rules
DRONES are prohibited at Mount Tamalpais State Park per Superintendent's Order.
Mushrooms collecting is not allowed at Mount Tamalpais State Park. All natural and cultural park resources (rocks, flowers, wood, animals) are protected by law and must not be disturbed or removed.
Dogs (except for service animals) are only allowed on paved roads, Old Stage Fire Rd, Verna Dunshee Trail, in developed areas, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Pets must remain on leash at all times.
Bicycles are allowed only on fire roads and Coast View Trail.
Be alert for poison oak, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, and ticks.
Smoking, camping and fires are never permitted in the upper mountain. If not under red flag alert, fires are permitted only in provided firepits.
Horses only on fire roads and where specifically posted.
Camping in vehicles is prohibited in all parking lots.
Accessibility
Some of the park’s wheelchair-accessible features include:
- The accessible 0.75-mile-long Verna Dunshee Trail at East Peak has fantastic views. Accessible tables, restrooms and drinking fountains are nearby. :
- Spectacular vistas may also be seen from an accessible 0.4-mile portion of the Old Mine Trail from Pantoll Station.
- Pantoll and Bootjack campgrounds each have accessible camping, restrooms and parking.
- Cabin #1 and environmental campsite #7 at Steep Ravine are accessible.
- The Mountain Theater has a wheelchair platform on the right side of the theater. The Mountain Play Association offers signed performances and descriptive services during the first three play performances each season. For more information, call the Mountain Play Association at 415-383-1100.
Visitors with disabilities who need assistance can contact the Pantoll Visitor Services Kiosk at 415-388-2070 before their trip.
Trail Updates
Deer Park Fire Road and Dipsea Trail
Deer Park Fire Road and Dipsea Trail are now open. Some small equipment and few workers might be still on site, proceed with caution.
REDWOOD CREEK TRAIL
The 80 foot bridge that connected the Miwok junction to Frank Valley Road (towards Muir Woods) HAS BEEN REPLACED and the Redwood Creek Trail is now open entirely to hikers! The trail is still closed to equestrians between Santos Meadows and Miwok Trail Junction. BIKERS can NOT use any section of the trail.
