Pancake Breakfast Review: The food is just a nice way to say thank you for supporting the cause. And while the cause is a good reason, it's only part of the reason to make this journey. Here, it's all about the journey and not the destination. If making breakfast were the actual reason this place existed, it would have gone out of business long ago. They are dog-friendly, but no dogs (service dogs excluded) are allowed on the deck or inside the building. Speaking of the deck: a gentle reminder to those who have finished breakfast, have empty plates in front of them, and are still leisurely sipping their beverages while people stand around waiting for a table -- you are not renewing a lease! Please give others a chance to sit down and enjoy their breakfast. The deck is communal seating, not a waiting room. Once you've finished eating, consider letting someone else have a turn. Be kind. Be aware. And, most importantly, don't be those people. read more

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West Point Inn is one of my favorite destinations whenever I go hiking in Marin. Just getting a cup of tea or hot chocolate when I arrive makes my day. We are incredibly lucky to have such a historic place perched high in the mountains. The setting is beautiful, the atmosphere is welcoming, and there is something special about taking a break there after a hike and enjoying the views. Thank you to everyone who helps preserve and maintain this wonderful piece of Marin's history. I truly appreciate that it has been kept so authentic and true to its character. A visit to West Point Inn is always a highlight of my hike. read more

Finally got up here for the viral Pancake Hike! While I love the concept, this was probably a one-time experience for me. We arrived at West Point Inn around 8:50 AM, 10 minutes before they even started serving pancakes, and the line was incredibly long. We were optimistic about how quickly it would move, and figured we'd probably wait an hour and half. Wrong! We didn't get our pancakes until 12:30 PM, so the wait ended up being 3.5 hours. Luckily, it was a beautiful day, but we were absolutely starving. I think their ordering system could've been a bit more efficient, since the menu options are so limited. They only have plain and blueberry pancakes (I chose blueberry) with a few sides, so having servers running the orders down seemed unnecessary. Cash and Venmo are accepted, but I recommend bringing cash because service up there is unreliable. The pancakes were pretty good, but my favorite part of the experience was easily the hummingbirds! They have several feeders up on the porch, and I'd never seen so many hummingbirds swarming at once. It was beautiful to watch, especially with the San Francisco skyline in the background. Overall, it's a wonderful event in theory, but not worth doing more than once. read more

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We hiked up here for the views and famous pancake breakfast and it did not disappoint. I've been wanting to come here for years! They only have this event 6 times a year or so - definitely highly recommend! We woke up super early because parking fills up fast, we arrived around 8:30 am or so and the top parking lot was full. We snagged a spot in the lower lot and it filled up within 10 minutes. It was definitely a hike, the first few miles weren't too steep, but the last mile I was fighting for my life. But once we were there, we hopped in line - which looked long, but it all moved quickly. All the volunteers working there were so friendly and warm. We ordered the pancake breakfast with sausage, and some coffee and hard boiled eggs. Definitely an experience! Glad I could check this off my bucket list! Eating pancakes in the mountains above the clouds will be a fond memory. 10/10 highly recommend! read more

West Point Inn - Blueberry pancake with extra sausage - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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The view is really good and the hike itself is super relaxing -- about half shaded with a steady incline and plenty of route options. Parking, though, is pretty wild -- you really have to get there before 7:00 AM if you want a decent spot, otherwise you'll end up parking somewhere sketchy. The wait for pancakes was extremely long (about three hours), which honestly made it hard to say it was fully worth it. That said, the food and view were both great, and the staff and volunteers were very friendly. Lots of dogs and hummingbirds. read more

West Point Inn - View - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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Hiked up here for pancakes and I was not disappointed. We hiked about 45min up to be greeted by the smell of fresh pancakes. They start at 9am and we got there early as the line gets soooooo long. They provided us with a menu and a sheet of paper to write our order down on. They accept cash and Venmo. The line moved pretty quickly as we were probably 30th in line however as we age our food and left the line was wrapped around the whole building. The staff were super friendly and nice and answered any questions we had. They were also ok with us recording them. They only do this once a month and i definitely plan on coming back for some pancakes again. read more

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Hiked here for the viral pancake breakfast. You have to get here EARLY if you don't want to wait for an hour for pancakes. I arrived around 8:30am and the line was already pretty long. The pancakes run from 9am-1pm and I think they started early because right around 8:50 the line started moving pretty quickly. They have a menu and you fill out an order form, one per party. It's cash or Venmo only. They have things other than pancakes but that's the star of the show, a plate of 3 regular pancakes with 2 sausages is $13, if you want blueberry pancakes it's $15. There is no where near enough seating for the amount of people that show up to this so either have someone in your party go look for a table or prepare to stand or sit on a rock which eating your food. The pancakes were delicious and I splurged and got the organic maple syrup so they were even more tasty! This whole thing is very well organized it's just the downside of things going viral on TikTok is there's SO MANY PEOPLE so bring your patience! read more

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West Point Inn is a fun spot to visit in the Mt. Tam area during their pancake breakfast fundraiser days! I went to their pancake breakfast on Mother's Day this year and thoroughly enjoyed the reward of delicious pancakes after a tiring hike uphill. FOOD + DRINK // The freshly-made pancakes are definitely the highlight of their breakfast fundraisers. They had 3 huge griddles going non-stop. Prices were reasonable at $13 for 3 large pancakes and 2 breakfast sausages. I also got my pancakes with blueberries (for $2 add-on) and would recommend it for extra flavor and deliciousness. You can pay extra for "organic maple syrup", but my friend commented that it tasted about the same as the free syrup that they provided. You can be sure that we drizzled the syrup quite generously all over our pancakes. Unfortunately, they ran out of orange juice by the time we got to the front of the line at around 11:30am (they're open from 9am-1pm on pancake breakfast days). I got the lemonade replacement instead, which turned out to be extremely watered down. At least it was only $1... SERVICE + AMBIANCE // The lines can get long as the pancake breakfasts have gotten more popular, but they're decently efficient at taking orders and moving the line along. Come with a friend or chat with your neighbors in line. After ordering, find a spot to sit around the area, and then let the volunteers near the ordering window know the general area where you'll be sitting. There will be more people than tables/seats available, so prepare for the possibility of sitting on rocks/logs/the ground and/or in the burning sun. Enjoy the awesome views of the ocean and cities across the bay while waiting. They'll bring the food out to you once it's ready. Make sure to thank the wonderful volunteers who help make the pancake breakfast happen! And please make sure to clean up after yourself so that we can keep the area nice for all who visit! HOW TO GET THERE // West Point Inn can only be reached by hiking or biking in, with multiple trail options depending on your desired level of difficulty. I took a rideshare from San Francisco to Mill Valley, and then hiked up from the Dipsea Stairs, along the lovely Cypress Trail, the less-pleasant Zig Zag Trail, and then up Matt Davis Trail - which ended up taking me about 2 hrs. That said, there are much easier, flatter routes to get up to the Inn from closer parking lots, so you can choose your own adventure. Check their website for a few suggested routes. WHEN TO VISIT // Note that they only have the pancake breakfasts on Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the second Sunday of each following month through October. Check their website for the latest info. You can sign up to volunteer at the pancake breakfasts or clean-up afterwards, and you'll get to stay the night for free in return. One of my friends volunteered for a pancake breakfast shift and had a lot of fun! For the other non-pancake-breakfast days, you can still drop by to check out the views, stay the night in one of their cabins, or volunteer to help maintain the inn. read more

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We were excited to explore the hikes at Mt. Tam and indulge in the renowned pancakes at West Point Inn -- and we made it just in time for their final breakfast of 2024. We arrived at Pantoll Campgrounds around 8:15 a.m. to begin our hike up to the inn, reaching the top shortly after they opened at 9:05 a.m., only to find a line of about 200 people ahead of us! Although the line moved slowly, the stunning views along the way more than made up for it. It took roughly an hour to place our order and another 30 minutes to receive our food. The pancakes and sausages weren't anything extraordinary, but they delivered that comforting, nostalgic taste of a classic American breakfast, paired with breathtaking views to go with it. A word of advice: parking is limited, so the later you arrive, the farther you'll have to walk. And don't expect the line to shrink -- if anything, it grows longer as the morning progresses. Personally, I wouldn't wait in line for the breakfast again, but the overall experience was well worth it. If there were no line, I'd happily stop by for a quick refuel. As for the hikes and the views? Those alone will have me coming back for many more visits. read more

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Came for the last pancake breakfast of the year and the place was packed! We started the hike around 8am from the mountain home inn. It took us a bit to find parking bc the lot was already full by 7:40 or so. We got to the West Point Inn by 8:45 where there was already a decent line but everything moves quickly. It's quite an operation! I got the adult breakfast which includes 3 pancakes and 2 sausages for 13 dollars. I also added blueberries for an additional 2 dollar charge. It was overall a great experience and good motivation to get up early on a Sunday! read more

West Point Inn - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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This review is for the pancake breakfast hosted by West Point Inn. I found out about this on social media and book marked it immediately for the next first Sunday of the month. We started out from the Pan Toll ranger station trail, which is about 1.9 miles to West Point Inn. Parking is a bit tricky, as the parking lot was full already at 8:45 on Sunday morning. I had to park up one of the side roads on a slight turn off in the dirt. The hike in and out is partially shaded and paved in the beginning and then it turns into a dirt fire road that is sunny. I read lots of reviews beforehand that said to get there right when breakfast is served at 9am. We got there around 9:30 and the line was a bit on the longer side but it moved fast. My friends waited in line for while I scoped out a table with my dog. Dogs are not allowed on the porch where you place your order. As I was waiting, the line got incredibly long! I was shocked with how packed it was. West Point Inn volunteers had the whole process down. You order up at one of the windows on the porch and then they'll bring your order out to you (calling your name as they search around for your party). The pancakes and sausage were awesome! We happened to get one of the coveted wooden picnic tables overlooking the whole bay. The views were stunning and it was fun to people & dog watch while we ate. This was such a fun & unique experience! read more

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Pancake breakfast review only!!! Pancake breakfasts are every second Sunday of the month between August and October or something like that. (Check the website.) My husband, our dog, and I happened to be looking for a nice hike on the second Sunday of September, and I remembered making this hike as a teen with my family. We parked near the Mountain Home Inn at about 11:30am and made our way up past the firehouse. At the dirt road, there's a fork that leads straight or up a set of stairs to the left. Take the stairs! We followed these instructions (the mountain inn one): https://www.westpointinn.com/hike-bike-park It was about 2 miles up to the inn. I love hills so it wasn't a problem for me at all but my husband is from a very flat part of the United States and his legs were burning. He's pretty fit too .. just not accustomed to the hills. The hike was beautiful, shady and not too crowded. The path was a little narrow - enough for one person comfortably and for people passing each other but not to walk side by side. The path was a bit rocky too so be careful. We made it to the top and I got in line while my fiancé waited with the dog. The line was about 30 min to get through which according to one of the volunteers was the shortest it's been all day. This was at about 12:10pm ish. By the time I ordered and got the food, it was 12:45ish. We sat in the shade on a hill as there were no shaded picnic tables left. And it was quite crowded. I brought my pup's water bowl and water. There are bathrooms on the inn's porch or porta-potties. I got the child vegetarian plate ($8) and my husband got the adult plate with blueberries ($13). The size of the pancakes between our plates was the same. I got 3 pancakes and ate 2 of them. He ate my 3rd. He got 3 pancakes and 2 sausages. I was definitely full but I don't eat a lot. He was hungry by the time we got back down to the car. I thought this was a fun experience. We weren't expecting a Michelin star meal so as long as you're not expecting that either, you will have a nice time. The view of the bay is beautiful. It was crowded and hot but still fun to support a local establishment and get a little hike in, too! read more

West Point Inn - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

just wanted to share my images :) 10/10 experience i would recommend anyone to do the trip to the inn for pancakes! read more

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We hiked here for Mother's Day pancakes and it did not disappoint. The ambiance and volunteers were all so welcoming and kind. The hummingbirds make for the perfect breakfast setting. Definitely get there early as the seats fill up quick. We will definitely be back. read more

WE DID NOT STAY HERE but we came for the pancake breakfast in September! We hiked from the Pantoll Campground, it was very doable with our pug pup trotting along with us. We got to the inn on the later side and waited over an hour for pancakes, but we had hiked there for this, so we had to get them! The pancakes were delicious! I would do this hike again, but definitely start way earlier! read more

Such fun location being on top of the world with view and solitude yet less than one hour to SF. Great staff and fully stocked to allow prep of food you bring. Very rustic and you have to palk it in to the Inn. Worth Every step!! read more

Went to their pancake breakfast, which is only available a few days of the year. Check their calendar online for dates! Would recommend getting here early! Ideally, get to the parking lot by 8:30am, so you can arrive at the Inn at 9:00am, right when they open. We parked at Mountain Theater, which was free and also a short, easy, mostly flat / downhill 1.5 mile hike to West Point Inn. There are a number of other routes (check the website for instructions) but this one seemed to be the easiest route, though it does add a few minutes to the drive. When we arrived at the Inn around 10:30am, the line to place our order was 30 minutes long. At that point, the line was already wrapped around the building. By the time we left, around noon, the line was backed up down the trail quite a ways. I would estimate a minimum 60 min wait to get to the ordering window. We didn't wait long for the pancakes, only 10 min! There is a woman who writes down the name of where you are sitting, and servers call out your name and bring your plates. read more

Came on a Sunday when they were doing the pancake breakfast and loved it!! We arrived at the Pantoll Parking lot around 8:45 AM, and all parking was gone. We drove to the Bootjack parking lot and hiked up from there. The hike was ~2 miles from the parking lot up to the lodge and relatively moderate. When we got to the inn, the line was wrapped around the building, but it moved surprisingly fast. MAKE SURE TO BRING CASH. They do accept Venmo, but my cell service was spotty. The adult breakfast (2 pancakes, 2 sausages, an orange slice, and coffee/tea) is $12. To be honest, my expectations were pretty low for the food, but it was actually so delicious. The pancakes were great!! This was such a fun Sunday morning, and I would recommend this to anyone! read more

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Took my nieces and nephew for a hike and pancakes to West Point inn. Parking was packed at 8:30 am at the pantoll campgrounds so we had to find another parking lot close by which was also starting to fill up quickly. If you need to use restrooms, they have portable ones at the parking lots but if you can wait 45 mins, there are cleaner restrooms when you get to the top at the inn. There was a long line already when we got to the top and the wait was about 30 mins to order (cash or Venmo only) and another 40 mins to get your food. $10 gets you 3 pancakes, 2 sausages & a coffee. Pancakes were delicious! A great way to spend a Sunday morning. They only offer pancakes on the 2nd Sunday of every month so be sure to check their website for updates and cancellations. read more

West Point Inn - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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If you get the opportunity to stay overnight, do it! You won't be disappointed. Cabin 9 had gorgeous views, especially at night with the city lights across the bay. Beds were comfy, and with sleeping bags, we were very cozy. It was an easy hike from the Pan-toll campground. read more

We love the West Point inn! The pancake breakfast in the summers is such a fun event. Beautiful views of the Bay Area

West Point Inn is spectacular! The views are gorgeous, it is surrounded by nature, and the building is so lovely. I would fully recommend staying here! read more

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Always a good ride and meal! Just a long line. 2023 heads up: Pancake breakfast prices are now $13 for adults, $8 for kids (+$2 for blueberries). read more

This is a well-known stopping point on the way to Mount Tam. What's interesting about this in is that you actually have to hike or bike in. As far as I know there is no way to drive a car in, except for the staff. There is a really nice general meeting area as well as a nice snack area for bikers on the way to Mount Tam read more

West Point Inn - This is a nice snack area on the honor System - Hotels Near Me - Mill Valley, California

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I was a little miffed that their site said the hike up from Stinson Beach was 2 hours. Usually you read "estimates" like that and you know it'll only take like an hour and a half if you're taking your time. But it took us a good 2 and a half hours to get up there, and only after we rushed the last half of our hike! That hike itself: not too steep, mostly in the woods, some weaving in and out of golden grass fields higher up in the hills (Matt Davis trail). The last 2 miles is all sun though, and HOT (Old Stage Rd). So any way.. this was all pretty much worth it for their monthly pancake breakfast. They aren't the most gourmet pancakes, but when you're famished from a hike and it's all cooked by volunteers, everyday people like you and me, it's a good deal. Pancakes ($10 for 4 + coffee, $5 for 2 + sausages) - soft & fluffy Sausages - good crisp They also offer: cantaloupe, coffee, juice. After 1pm, they go around with their big trays of extra foods. They'll start offering 6 sausages for $1. I bartered and got double that. But then to my dismay.. they started giving out the rest of the sausages for free!! Oh well, we got some free pancakes out of this. The view is nice. You can see lots of North Bay and northern East Bay. Direct view of Tiburon, Sausalito, and Alcatraz when you look towards the city. We were debating whether the Golden Gate bridge was covered by the fog or by the mountains themselves. The volunteers are also friendly (though it was hard watching them get their volunteer meal of more "real" food of corn, cuts of beef, and potato salad). When we asked, they helped us figure out a different route down. MAKE SURE to end up on the Steep Ravine trail down to Stinson beach. You follow this stream w/ lots of little waterfalls. Then you end up in this open field w/ flowers & various plants, a cool ocean breeze on your face, and a gorgeous view of the entirety of Stinson Beach. This was a fabulous way to end the hike! read more

Doing the "pancake hike" to the West Point Inn has been on my Marin to-do list for quite some time. I waited much too long before making it happen! I'm signing up to be a member at this place! What could be cooler than hiking out above the fog to a rustic lodge hanging on the side of Mt. Tam on a Sunday morning??? Arriving to a staff of members & volunteers serving up pancakes ($7 for adults, $5 for children) and sausages (no-sausage, extra pancake "vegetarian" option), free coffee, orange juice ($1), melon ($1), and all the Log Cabin syrup you can stand! **Special mention to our new buddies Neil & Yvonne, who shared their organic MAPLE syrup with us. Next time I'll pack my own to share and leave whatever's left for the other patrons.** Pancakes were fresh & hot and served quickly. Coffee was tasty. No complaints. This is a great event! Highly recommended. Not sure I'd want to push a stroller all the way up those trails, but there was plenty of mountain bike and stroller "parking". It's kid-friendly if your kids don't mind a 30+minute hike. It's dog friendly, except no dogs allowed on the deck -- there are tables below. read more

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Beautiful spot on mount Tamalpais zmill Valley. You mudt hike , bike or walk to it and the honeymoon cabin is lovely. They all look to be. Haven't stayed in the lodge but their pancake breakfast hits the spot. Be sure to check the schedule though! read more

We went for the Fathers Day pancake breakfast and it was fabulous. I highly recommend.

What an incredible place! This is going to be one of my new happy places, where I can return again and again, year after year, to relax and recenter my life. And, it's so close to SF/the bay area! My bestie Kristel found this gem while we were searching for places to stay on Mt. Tamalpais. Turns out, everything else is $$$ (which we just don't have). When she saw that this place is only reachable via hike/bike in, we were intrigued. We signed up, not really sure what we were getting ourselves into. When we actually got to hiking there, we parked at the lot across from Mountain Home Inn (as directed on the West Point Inn website). From there we walked up the path past the fire station, and up the hill. At the fork, we took Old Railroad Grade Road up since we were running later than we wanted and hoped to make the sunset at the top. It was a 1.5 hour hike up, and pretty vigorous for about 15 minutes (like strip off all your layers cuz you're sweating a lot vigorous). After that, the trail mellowed out and we walked along the dirt path up the mountain. On the way home, we opted for the easier Nora Trail to Matt Davis Trail, which took 1 hour and 10 minutes down, and had less of an incline and stairs cut into the trail. This trail went down the face and in the forest more, and was easier on the knees. Both trails were definitely doable and gave us just enough adventure and exercise for it to feel special. When we got to the Inn, check-in was a breeze. Within 5 minutes we were enjoying the wine and cheese we had brought while watching the most stunning sunset over the entire bay area. The view from the outdoor picnic tables is literally amazing. The Inn itself is cozy, intimate, and comfortable. There are 2 fire places, a large dining room, a full kitchen, and a beautiful outdoor deck for communal use. There's some rooms connected to the main cabin, as well as separate cabins for a more intimate, separate experience. We stayed in room 2 and it was small but comfortable. It's located right next to the restroom for convenience. We spent most of our evening by the fireplace, drinking wine, and catching up. It's the PERFECT situation for anyone looking to connect with someone in their life in a very comfortable, homey way. The Inn is run by the Innkeeper and maintained by members. Interestingly, membership is done through work weekends instead of pay, a really cool concept. Everyone then takes more ownership in belonging to this special community, and gets to reserve rooms at half rate ($25/person/night instead of $50 or $600 for the entire Inn instead of $1200). All the members who were there while we stayed were SO friendly, offering us food, wine, beers -- you name it. You can really see the love they have for each other and for the Inn. It's a special getaway for their families, and just happens to have the best location on top of the mountain! To check out, you complete the "chore" you signed up for at check-in. Ours was to clear the dish rack in the kitchen and throw out old food from the fridge. This is easy and certainly worth any tiny hassle for such a bargain stay. NOTE: The kitchen is fully available for your use, but you must hike/bike in your own food/ingredients and drinks. We brought pre-cooked meals that we reheated and that worked out perfectly. Members, on the other hand, went all out, making rack of lamb, chili, mashed potatoes, etc....you name it. We woke up for sunrise to get a different view of the bay area and to ascend the close by East Peak of Mt. Tam. We found ourselves planning the next few times we would be back and trying to plan what weekends we would work to become members. This place is just that special. Pro Tip: wear tennis shoes or hiking boots up Pro Tip: They have pancake breakfasts every so often for $10 adults, and $5 kids, which always seems like a great family event with good food. Nice excuse to get the family out and active, and to get that killer view of the bay area! read more

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The "pancake hike" at Mt. Tamalpais is a fun novelty if you can hit it on a sunny day without any crowds. After a leisure hike, you can sit on a shaded porch surveying the vista while throwing down pancakes and debate if that's Mt. Diablo in the far distance. Ain't life great? It was about a 30 minute hike up from The Mountain Home Retreat on Panoramic Hwy. I wouldn't suggest you do this hike in flip flops. You can also bike up. I ordered and had the pancakes brought to my table all within 10 minutes. Expect longer waits during peak days like Mother's or Father's Day. The down side is...the pancakes aren't all that. For $10 you get 3 plain pancakes and 2 sausages. I think veggie and kids is $5. $1 for a slice of cantaloupe and $1 for juice in a small cup. I guess the money goes towards running the place, since the West Point Inn is staffed by volunteers. Some variety with strawberries and blueberries or nuts with the pancakes would be good and ice cold water after the hike would be appreciated. Built in 1904, the inn used to be a former railroad restaurant stopover. The railroad was terminated in 1930. However, you can still spend the night there. Accommodations are "rustic". Heat and light are generated by propane. Here's the 2009 breakfast schedule: 9am - 1pm April 12 May 10 June 21 July 12 August 9 September 6 Call ahead because high winds may close it down. read more

I used to love West Point Inn, but they have recently ruined an important gathering for a group of 5 families and 20 friends via terrible communication and a flawed web booking system. Here goes. 1. We booked rooms online, staying up to midnight on the first day we could snag them. 2. Three weeks later, we all got confirmations. 3. After another four weeks, we got terse notes saying our rooms were cancelled because a "member had previously booked the entire Inn." There was no apology or explanation, really. They claim this was shown on the website, yet we were allowed to spend money, book rooms, and receive confirmations. LOL. 4. Le sigh. So, this group included 8 web-savvy adults using their website. And now it's too late to find a back-up space for our gathering. My advice: It's beautiful, almost magical. JUST GO FOR THE DAY. If you want to try an overnight, don't try to book this place for more than one room at a time. Don't expect the online reservations to mean anything, even when your credit card is charged and you receive a confirmation. It's a great option for couples or small families as long as you have back-up options ready. Cancellation can arrive quite late, apparently. read more

If you're the type of gal or fella that enjoys those off the beaten path sorta places, and I really mean only those places accessed by the beaten path, then West Point Inn is a choice destination for your next leisurely hike. To get there, you don't necessarily have to be packing gear, in fact one of the peeps in my posse rocked Timberlands, jeans and a dress shirt. Nothing quite like hiking en stilo. Nevertheless, the terrain varies slightly, but you'll mostly be on a narrowish dirt trail with trees shading overhead. You'll cross creeks, probably see a few lizards, maybe even a snake or two, and plenty of new parents with babies on their backs. Leashed dogs and horses are allowed along some trails and camping is available in specified locations. Thankfully, the trail isn't really congested, so you can rest assured knowing no one's going to be stepping on your heels, but no one will be too far away should there be an emergency. Once you hit West Point Inn, you're at a historic stopover (built in 1904) once used by passengers who rode the "Crookedest Railroad in the World" up from Mill Valley to the top of the mountain. If you're a hiking or biking history buff, you'll be super pleased. It's all wooden and creaky and if you happen upon a Sunday, you can enjoy their famous pancake breakfast. Warning: be prepared to wait 2 hours for your 2-3 hotcakes. Worth it? Not so much. I'm pretty sure hikes that you can achieve in the area surrounding Mount Tam are the reasons people in the Bay Area rave about the outdoor culture. There's virtually endless possibilities here and whether it's a day hike or an overnight camping trip, this mountain is tops. read more

This is truly a hidden gem! I grew up in the Bay Area and am a pretty avid recreational hiker (both on the Peninsula and Marin) but had no idea you could spend the evening ON Mt. Tam! The company I work for recently hosted a retreat here and while I was initially a little skeptical (no electricity?!) this place exceeded all expectations. The inn-keeper was exceptionally nice and relaxed (he explained the rules but was otherwise very low-key) and the location and views of West Point Inn simply can't be beat. Everywhere you turn (on the porch, from the cabins) you have near 360 degree views of the Bay...you can see the ocean to the West, a full view of San Francisco lights and the East / North Bay. It didn't know these views existed! The Inn itself is rustic but comfortable. The main building is lit with gas lights and has a full kitchen that's fully stocked with basics and pots / pans (though you have to bring your own food). We were able to prepare a delicious 3 course meal for our group of 30 or so without any issue. There are two main lounges, both comfortably furnished and with warm roaring fires at night. Upstairs in the main lodge, there are probably 8-10 rooms (ranging from single rooms with 1 twin bed to doubles) and there are additional cabins (with room for 3-4 each) a short walk away. There are also full bathrooms (with running water) both in the cabins and in the lodge...so it's hardly really roughing it. If you're coming during the Fall / Winter (when it's colder) keep in mind that the main lodge is warmer (because of the fireplaces downstairs) while the cabins are heat-less. Some other logistics to keep in mind: - You can reserve far in advance (3 months for non-members) and should probably do so if you're planning to come on a summer weekend. I can imagine this place being pretty popular - The lodge isn't accessible by car (there's a fire road but I don't think most folks are allowed to drive in), so pack lightly! The hike is about 1 hour and moderately uphill (on the way in) - You need to bring your own food (for dinner) and basic bedding. The rooms have quilts and pillows but no sheets...most folks seem to bring a sleeping bag and pillowcase (plus towels). - Bring a flashlight! There's no electricity and while there are gas lights in the main lodge, there aren't any in the cabins read more

a client of mine suggested this place as a quick, local getaway when i mentioned that i was craving the outdoors but couldn't take more than a day off from work. it was perfect. i did a little research and decided to book their "honeymoon cabin" since it was one of two cabins that had a bathroom (the other cabins share an outside bathroom). but it turned out we were the only ones there that night since they decided to close for renovations after we made the reservation - so we were given the choice of any cabin we wanted. it turns out that the cabins (2, 3 and 4) that share a bathroom have the best view from their porches. so we switched and stayed in cabin #4. definitely remember to bring a flashlight because there are no lights in the cabins (the inn does have lights that run on propane but the cabins do not). the kitchen there is well-stocked with essentials for cooking so pack some good, hearty food! we decided to bring lots of fresh veggies and fruits but wished we had brought a nice steak and bottle of wine to enjoy once we were up there. there are a few options for places to park - we started at mountain home and the hike there and back was short but lovely. in the morning we hiked the trails around the inn too before heading back. a one night's stay at the west point inn was indeed the perfect little getaway and exactly what i needed (thanks, deidre!!). read more

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I'm reviewing the pancake hike. The hike itself was beautiful, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have just hiked up, then hiked back down to town for a real breakfast. The novelty of eating in the woods wore off when I saw the line... The line to order pancakes was 45 minutes at about 11:45am. I paid $11 for 3 mediocre pancakes, Log Cabin syrup, 2 sausage links, and 1 piece of melon. I could have gotten twice the quantity and quality for the price almost anywhere else. But I have to remember it's a fundraiser, right? Raising funds for the Inn... pish. Then it was a madhouse trying to find a seat. We waited another 1.5 hours to get the breakfast. And the restroom line turned into a 20-minute wait at about 12:30pm. We ended up sharing a picnic table with good company, so the experience wasn't a total bust. Recommendations: bring your own fruit, appetizers, mimosas, etc., and lots of sunblock, and maybe get there at 9am to avoid the crowds and midday sun. In conclusion, the pancake hike isn't worth it. I recommend hiking all morning in that area, then hitting Dipsea Cafe for brunch. read more

Holy bejeeezus. This is the second time I've been lucky enough to spend time at the West Point Inn. Thank you Mt. TAM!! There are several ways to get to the inn: 1) You can take the flat and partly paved wide path from the Pantoll (which I always want to call "PANATONE!") station which is about a 45 min walk. 2) You can park in the lot across the street from the Mountain home B&B and walk north toward the Firestation. Follow the the Matt Davis Trail to the Nora Trail, then up .5 miles to West Point Inn. About an hour or so hike, and though more strenuous a bit more scenic. 3) If you are a guest of the inn for the night, you can drive up the hill and bypass the hike altogether, but it is a gorgeous hike! These folks have a pancake breakfast, which I have not been to so I cannot attest to the pancake yumminess. The next one is scheduled on Father's day (June 21st). If you can get dad to hike, I think this would be a fun way to spend the day. Bear in mind, this joint is RUSTIC. NOT fancypants foodie etc. Also, it is run by the members, (ie volunteers) who are not trained chefs nor service people. So, you may want to also pack a sammy. The views are simply gorgeous. The fog, which usually sits low in the valley is amazing to watch change throughout the day. I am sure next time I'll see a unicorn. Other things to note: -- This is a super rustic inn, there is no electricity, though they do have propane lights that stay on in the main house until about 10pm. So, lights out early people! -- There is no electricity nor propane in the cabins. -- The fire risk is super high, so no candles or smoking near the inn. -- Also, the innkeepers are friendly and will wind up the old victrola for you and bust out some Count Basie or Glenn Miller which is a real treat!! -- Don't forget to bring your book to curl up by the fireplace and read. -- Rates are $50 bones for non-members and I think $30 for members. -- If you want to become a member, please see their website for the deets. read more

One of my favorite (easy) hikes is up to the West Point Inn. Park in the lot across the street from the Mountain Home Inn and walk north toward the Fire Station. Follow the the Matt Davis Trail to the Nora Trail up to West Point Inn. Its about 2 miles each way. While you cover a bit of elevation the grade is fairly gradual. The trails are fairly wide, so great for running with a few friends. Go for the views. They are breathtaking! read more

Park at Pan Toll and come early. The lots fill up by 10am on weekends. Cross the street and take Old Stage Road, which starts out paved and becomes a dirt road with lots of rocks. The Pancake Breakfast events - I would rate the food very basic. However, the scene is very special. It feels like a big lodge. The crowd is warm & friendly . . . one big community. Of note, I saw one group pack their own champagne and added orange juice. Yum . . . mimosas! read more

I will always find this my happy place. The mountain embraces my soul. Let's go hiking . Love to stay here, cook my own food relax and disconnect read more

It's totally fun to bring too much food and drinks to the Inn and cook with friends and hang out in the very rustic accommodations. (cold running water, no electricity) There are about 8 rooms in the inn with varying numbers of beds in them, and a bunch of cabins outside that also have varying number of beds for about 30 sleepover guests total. You can bring one vehicle, so everyone else has to hike in about 1 hour on a lovely wooded trail. The caretaker was totally annoying, so one star off, but he said he was leaving soon anyhow. read more

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