This was my first hike in almost 2 years. I went through the steep ravine trail first and really…read moreliked it. It zig zags Downward right away when starting the trail then it's more space out between curves and etc. The dipsea trail was a bit more changing in my opinion because once you hit the bridge that connects steep ravine to dipsea it's immediately up hill but lots of shade. Once going towards the end of the trail there's a large area free of trees to view the ocean before arriving at cardiac hill and taking old mine trail back to the parking lot.

I just hiked most of this trail yesterday, and it was lit…read more I hiked the section from Pantoll Ranger Station to Dipsea, and to Stinson Beach from there. I looped back up on the Matt Davis Trail. Steep Ravine is famous, or at least locally famous, for its ladder up the side of a waterfall. On this occasion, it was slippery and wet, and was missing two of its rungs. Last time, I went up, but this time, I went down, which I think was way scarier. I would definitely not want to do this in the rain. As it was, I clung to the ladder with my whole body, and still felt like I was gonna slip. I became covered in mud, as a warning to all the other hikers passing in the other direction of what was to come. There are so many gorgeous little waterfalls on Webb Creek on this trail. Hiking through this forest almost feels like traveling back in time. It's so beautiful. I thought a heard a few fish splashing up the creek, but didn't see any. It looks like a salmon paradise, with hundreds of shallow pools connected by tiny cascades. Very hard but very rewarding trail. Make sure to bring food and water, since there isn't any water on the trail, and the only food is in Stinson Beach.

GORGEOUS. The views were simply amazing at sunset!…read more The Verna Dunshee loop is 0.7 miles and completely flat (under 20 minutes) while the East Peak trail is 0.3 miles and ~300 feet of elevation gain (around 30 minutes up-and-down). The East Peak trail was pretty challenging with uneven ground and steep elevation, but it's doable for most people as long as you take it slow. The east peak parking lot is $8 to park but super easy to access and plenty of spots available. You can scan a QR code at the entrance to the trails to pay, and wi-fi is provided.

The Verna Dunchee loop is actually what brought us here. It is paved and flat and less than a mile…read moremaking it an easy enjoyable peaceful walk, I did it in my fuzzy boots. When we finished my husband looked up at the fire look out and then back at me and said "you wanna?". So I returned to our vehicle put on tennis shoes and started up. The first part is wooden and easy but then all the easy stops. I am going to go ahead and call it a beginners rock scramble since you must use your hands some of the time. The views are stunning! Makes you stop and appreciate nature and all its miracles. Totally worth it but I will admit it was harder than I anticipated. The loss of the star is 8$ parking. Oh and the bathrooms were clean! Dog friendly.

I lived in the Bay Area when younger and have visited San Francisco over a dozen times as an adult…read more How is it that it took until this month for me to visit Lands End? What a delightful spot! You feel like you're in a completely different place when in reality, you're still in a vibrant amazing city. I ended up walking the Lands End Trail, starting at the visitor center and ending at Eagle's Point. It was a lovely, leisurely stroll and wasn't too crowded. Stunning ocean views and different perspectives of the Golden Gate Bridge along the way. Highly recommend! 2025: 61/100

I decided to go to Lands End and see what's up here. Honestly, I don't know why many people parked…read morehere especially during the weekends, but there nothing much going on here except going around this area and exploring here. Nothing really wrong coming here but you get to see a different angle at the western oceanic side of San Francisco. I think many people come here to take photos and enjoy the sceneries here. Again, this area is connected with other trails which I didn't go since I'm starting to get tired throughout the day. Also again, parking here is much difficult since too many cars are hunting for a parking space.

I finally made it to this trail! I used to live & work in Mill Valley (years ago) & never made it…read moreto this hike. We started at the beautiful Old Mill Park (where I used to take my niece & nephew when they were little). As mentioned in other reviews there are lots & lots of steps! Great cardio & leg strengthening. The views are so worth it and the trip back was super quick bring all downhill. Many other options of hiking trails to take from here which I like.

One word; STAIRS! Lots of stairs. And inclines galore. The hike along the Dipsea trail is…read moredefinitely not for the faint of heart. It's a strenuous trek that maneuvers through some of the most beautiful parts of Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods. The great thing is, you can combine this trail with other trails within the park to make it as easy or as strenuous as you'd like. One of the most popular variations of this hike is the Dipsea-Matt Davis-Steep Ravine loop trail. It's roughly 8 miles and 1,700 feet of elevation gain, and tackles parts of the Dipsea stairs and Matt Davis trail inclines. I hiked this loop and it was absolutely fabulous! The Dipsea portion of the hike is mainly exposed but offers some really scenic coastal views when you reach the top. Compared to the Matt Davis and Steep Ravine Trail, it was my least favorite, but I still enjoyed the workout that I got from hiking up the stairs. The Dipsea trail is definitely more of an incline workout versus a super scenic trek. But when combining this trail with other more scenic trails in the park, you'll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. The Dipsea Trail can actually be accessed from a few different locations within the park. The three most popular access points are from Stinson Beach, Pantoll Campground, and Muir Woods National Monument. I started on the trail from Stinson Beach and I really enjoyed the loop through Steep Ravine and Matt Davis. Would recommend if you're looking for a versatile hike in Marin with a mix of stairs, ocean views, and forested pathways.

Spent a blissful evening walking around this area. There were hardly any people and I got to hang…read moreout with a seal, who has having a blast, and some seagulls while enjoying spectacular views of the city and GG bridge. Check out the pictures and video. I will remember this evening for a very long time.

Super! I visited this view of the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time today. I took the fire…read moreengine tour...had never seen this lookout point...Bay Area Discovery museum...hidden and on a scenic drive...view of the Golden Gate bridge...the Golden Gate Bridge has scenic points that are must-see and hard to find...cool!

People who have never been to Oregon will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls (a…read morewaterfall that flows into the ocean) on the entire West Coast. People who believe AllTrails will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls in California. (If you use Alltrails, you aren't allowed to hike with me, by the way.) Neither of these statements are anywhere close to true. As a matter of fact, there are at least two tidefalls on this one beach, and there are many more in areas that are not easily accessible to the public. Tidefalls are common along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Canada. There are several tall tidefalls in Cape Perpetua alone. That being said, Alamere Falls might be the biggest, prettiest publicly accessible tidefall in Northern California. I recently hiked Alamere Falls for the first time in nearly ten years, and I couldn't believe how much had seemed to change. First of all, the road to the Palomarin trail was hell in a compact vehicle. Even going like two miles per hour, I got a little motion sickness from the thousands of deep potholes. The road is so bad that it almost seems beyond repair. At this point, it's probably only suitable for high clearance vehicles, although I did not notice any signs warning of such. Secondly, I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person on the trail. The vibes were so, so weird. Consider packing your (legal) weapon of choice. Thirdly, I was certainly the only person to take the 'legal' trail down, although I gained some new perspective on this. While the trail that I took is ostensibly the trail recommended by NPS, one does have to wonder why it is so overgrown. It feels like, "Obviously, no one ever really hikes this trail," because it's nowhere near clear or well-trodden. Certain areas of the trail were so overgrown that it was impossible to see my feet, and difficult to find my footing. These areas were chalk full of poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, and a wide variety of (harmless) snakes. By contrast, much of the "social" trail was four feet wide, flat, and clear. Which made me wonder-- which trail is really safer? The cliffs at the end of the social trail are constantly crumbling. The risk of falling, breaking a leg, or at least spraining an ankle, seems high. But by contrast, the risk of spraining an ankle on the recommended trail seems high, too. And the stinging nettle hurt a lot, but only for a few hours. My personal recommendation is to take the recommended trail, but wear solid boots, long pants, and tall, colorful socks. Tuck your pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Use permethrin or your tick repellant of choice. While the official Palomarin Trail may be very long and difficult, it's also worth the trouble. The ocean views and wildlife were unbelievable. I actually saw a mother deer nursing two spotted fawns in the middle of the trail. On the beach, I found agates, fossils, shells, giant bull kelp, snowy plovers, and lots of by-the-wind-sailors jellyfish in multiple stages of life and decomposition. The waterfall itself is pretty-- but make sure to check the tide!! I never do, and I almost always get stranded. The first time I ever hiked this trail, I actually had to climb up a cliff in terror and wait 3 hours for the tide to recede. But that doesn't need to happen to you if you remember to check the tide before you come out, while you still have service.

Wow--absolutely spectacular, magical, and truly epic!…read more Alamere Falls is one of the most breathtaking hidden gems along the California coast, tucked inside Point Reyes National Seashore. What makes it so special is that it's a rare "tidefall," where the waterfall flows directly into the ocean--something you can only see in a couple of places in California, including McWay Falls. Watching the water cascade over the rugged shale cliffs onto the beach below is simply unforgettable. The surrounding landscape feels wild and untouched, adding to the sense of adventure. Upstream, the smaller cascades create a beautiful lead-up to the main falls, making the entire hike feel like a journey through nature's artwork. This spot is not just a destination--it's an experience. From the scenic hike to the dramatic ocean views, every moment feels rewarding. If you're looking for something unique, peaceful, and awe-inspiring, Alamere Falls absolutely delivers.

Easy hike, away from the crowds at the Golden Gate bridge vista point. Parking was easy and there…read morewere no crowds despite it being a clear, sunny day with temps in the 60s. They have signs about raptor migration patterns and such but at the time we visited, we didn't spot any. There are steps to climb and a short hike, so I wouldn't recommend this for those with mobility challenges. For others, if you are looking for panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden gate bridge come here!

Worth it for the views! Windy road just PSA! Views all around. Parking is very minimal so park…read morewherever you can!

Sky trail is a peaceful escape from the crowds at Point Reyes. While you can access it via several…read moretrails that climb up from Bear Valley, the actual trailhead is along the road Limantour Road, about 3.5 mile mark. There's a small dirt lot on the left hand side. On Labor Day, the lot wasn't full and the trail itself was very peaceful. I followed Sky Trail towards Sky camp but turned off prior to the camp on to Horse Trail, then Z Ranch to the Mt Wittenberg spur. On the return trip turned right on the Mt Wittenberg trail which loops back to Sky and takes through the rest of the loop past Sky Camp and back down to the trailhead. Mt Wittenberg is the highest point in Pt Reyes but don't expect sweeping or epic views. It's a quiet woodland trail where you can get some peeks out at the bay. Taking Sky Trail here involved less elevation gain than if you climbed up from the trails near Bear Valley. NPS has a good description of the trail here: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-to-mount-wittenberg-from-sky-trailhead.htm The hike along Sky Trail is about the journey as it meanders through lush forest and occasionally offers some ocean or bay views. It was impacted by the 2020 Woodward fire and a few sections lack shade due to the canopy burning but overall, the forest seems to be recovering nicely. I enjoy this trail for the quiet and to be in the forest. Late summer, there were a few wildflowers and things have stayed amazingly green. Although my loop was shy of 5 miles, Sky trail connects with many others. The visitor center at Bear Valley offers decent maps and guidance from rangers if you're looking for any other ideas. Point Reyes has so many options for hikes and lesser known park trails-after 12 years of visiting, I'm still finding new adventures to enjoy. Sky Trail will now be a regular for me.

When it comes to local hiking trails, there are three elements that will steal my heart away just…read moreabout every single time; a heavily wooded forest, lush green foliage, and beautiful coastal views. The Sky Trail has all of this. So naturally, I fell in love with this trail right off the bat. The Sky Trail is a lightly trafficked hiking trail that runs through Point Reyes National Seashore. You can connect to this trail from a few different trails within the park. I started my hike from the parking lot near the Bear Valley trailhead and made a right onto the Mount Wittenberg trail. From here, it's about 2 miles until you reach the Sky Trail. The hike from Mount Wittenberg to the Sky Trail is pretty intense, and starts off immediately inclining through the forest. It's mostly uphill until you reach the Mount Wittenberg summit. Once you've made it to the summit, you'll see a few trailhead signs and a trail split. From here you'll continue on the Mount Wittenberg trail for about a half mile until you reach the Sky Trail. You'll start to decline as you get closer to the trail. And my oh my is this trail gorgeous! This section of the Sky Trail is surrounded by a plethora of tall trees. As you continue down the path, you'll start to notice a break in the trees and the stunning views of the coastline will hit you like a ton of bricks. There are also sections of the trail that are plant heavy and vibrantly green. Once you pass this, you'll end up descending down a steep and narrow pathway until you reach the Coast Trail. It's about a 3 mile trek until you reach the connecting trail, and about another mile or less if you want to get down to Kelham beach. So, roughly 6 miles from the parking lot to the beach via the Sky Trail (and that's one way). Going down the Sky Trail can be tough because it's super steep on the way down, but coming up is a real challenge. If you want to skip the treacherous hike all the way back up the hill, you can take the Coast Trail back to Bear Valley, and this will loop you back to the parking lot. It's also a more scenic trek along the coastline, and you'll get to walk amongst pretty Redwoods and a beautiful stream along the Bear Valley trail on the way back. Point Reyes has so many incredible hiking trails, but because the Sky Trail requires some additional trekking to get to, it's far less traveled. Would highly recommend the Sky Trail for people who are looking for a challenging hike without much foot traffic.