Mount Tam
Highlights & Remarkable Spots
Pipeline Trail / ~ mile 4.5
A short section of singletrack through a Redwood forest.
Railroad Climb / ~ mile 5.5
The climb up Mount Tam uses the old Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway (“The Crookedest Railroad in the World”) to ascend to the top of Mount Tam’s East Peak. The railroad was used from 1890 to 1930 to bring tourists to Mount Tam’s East Peak.
West Point Inn / ~ mile 8.5
A historic inn along the old Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway that has been operating since 1904. They serve pancake breakfasts on the second Sunday of the month from May to October, 9am to 1pm.
Mount Tamalpais East Peak Overview / ~ mile 10.5
On the top of Mount Tam’s East Peak just past the Visitor Center and bathrooms there is a phenomenal panoramic view. You can get a sneak peek here.
Ridgecrest Road / ~ mile 16
Dramatic views of the coast and rolling grassy hills as you cruise downhill along this quiet paved road.
Coyote Ridge Trail / ~ mile 26.5
After the grueling climb up the Middle Green Gultch trail, you are rewarded with the ride’s last stunning panoramic views before a ripping descent back to your car.
Credits & Acknowledgements
Ridden and Reviewed by Zack Rynew / Gravel Bike California.
Zack is the founder of Gravel Bike California, a project to explore the history and adventures that the great state of California has to offer. A longtime cycling advocate, Zack is known for his advocacy and literary achievements through CiclaValley, work with non-profits, ghost bikes and winner of the 2016 Streetsie award for Journalism.
A graduate of the University of California, Zack went on to study and work at UCLA for seventeen years before focusing on mobility. Zack lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, daughter and too many bikes.
When We Like to Ride This
The Dirty Freehub Team has not ridden this route but we think it would be enjoyable all year round, especially on clear days for the views. We would avoid windy days due to exposure at the peaks. It could potentially get busy so we would try and avoid the weekends and holidays. There is one shallow and rideable stream crossing that could become more of an obstacle with heavy rains.
Terrain & Riding
A climbey ride with varied surfaces and terrain, but one thing holds true, it’s steep!
The ride starts with a quiet paved section through downtown Mills Valley and then through a residential area. There’s a very short 1/4 mile section of singletrack. Watch out, it’s a little technical in the beginning. Then after a 1/2 mile more of pavement, you begin the 4.5-mile well-graded dirt climb with a 5% average gradient up to Mount Tam’s East Peak.
After you take in the view on Mount Tam you’ll descend down a windy paved road over to Lagunitas/Rock Springs Road, be sure to be on the lookout as the turn-off is easy to miss. Lagunitas/Rock Springs Road has some short punchy climbs (gradients in the teens) with loose eyeball-sized rocks over hard-packed dirt.
Then you turn onto Laurel Dell road, a local favorite, which rollercoasters around mostly downhill on smooth hardpacked dirt until the road becomes filled with chunky rock and you cross a shallow and rideable stream. Right after the stream crossing, there is a steep climb up to Ridgecrest Road. Then you’ll descend back down almost to sea level on a paved and then dirt road. The second half of the dirt road gets steeper and rockier.
You then have a quaint paved pedal with a brief (0.1 mile) stint on Highway 1 before riding through the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center on dirt (please close the gates). Then you begin the Middle Green Gultch trail. The smooth but steep singletrack trail is 1.75 miles long with a 9% average gradient. It has pockets of 15-20% grades and is only for climbing. Ride along the ridge and then descend down the rutted and steep Miwok Trail. Then after 1.5 miles on pavement and you are back at your car.
The Start
The parking lot of the Tam Valley Community Center on the south side of Marin Ave.
Food & Water
- ~ Historic town at the beginning and end of the ride / Mill Valley
- ~ Mile 10.5 / East Peak Visitors Center. Bathrooms and potable water. Make sure you check that it is open before you count on it. Currently closed due to COVID-19 (as of December 2021)
- ~ Mile 19 / Pantoll Campground. Toliets and potable water.
- ~ Mile 24 / Pelician Inn. A local favorite mid-ride hangout spot. Opens at noon and serves food and drinks till 8pm.
Route Notes
Mount Tam State Park only allows e-bikes on roads open to public, street-legal vehicle use. Mount Tam Watershed currently does not allow e-bikes but is actively debating their regulation. Golden Gate National Recreation Area allows only Class 1 e-bikes.
Bring layers because the peaks have no tree cover and wind can be an issue, temperatures are colder on the peaks, and there are a couple of long descents.
Bring a red blinky rear light for paved sections.
Get Involved!
One Tam unites and leverages the skills and resources of all the agencies and organizations that manage Mount Tam’s land to best conserve the mountain through scientific monitoring, restoration, construction, and outreach.
Please consider supporting them by donating your time, money, or becoming a member.
Or, alternatively consider supporting one of your hometown organizations that does something similar. Either way, get involved and protect what is precious to you!
Videos
The Ride! Mount Tam
A quick 2-minute video of what to expect on your ride!
Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!