84. Mount Tamalpais: The Summit to Pantoll Ranger Station

Length:	8.2 miles round trip
Hiking time:	5 hours
High point:	2,571 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,400 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	year-round
Water:	bring your own
Maps:	USGS 7.5' San Rafael
Information:	Mount Tamalpais State Park

This hike features commanding vistas of the entire San Francisco Bay area from the summit of Mount Tamalpais and then alternates shaded forest with open views of city, hills, and ocean. Note that you can eliminate the climbing by arranging to be picked up at Pantoll Ranger Station.

Five miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101, take the Muir Woods/Mount Tamalpais exit. Continue west on Highway 1 for 3 miles, then turn right onto Panoramic Highway. Follow all obvious signs labeled "Mount Tamalpais" from here for 10.2 miles to the parking lot at East Peak. From Highway 1 in Stinson Beach, turn east onto Panoramic Highway, then drive 3.8 miles to Pantoll Ranger Station. Turn left onto Ridgecrest Road, and climb 5.7 miles to the summit of Mount Tamalpais.

From the parking lot, first take the 0.4-mile path to Mount Tamalpais's east summit. From this well-known landmark, you'll have far-reaching views of Marin County, San Francisco, Mount Diablo, and the entire Bay Area.

Return to the parking lot and follow the paved loop road 0.1 mile west to a rusty gate, where you head left on Old Railroad Grade Fire Road. Douglas firs, numerous oaks, and yerba santa combine with sweeping scenes of the Pacific Ocean at the onset, then the path travels past chaparral, highlighted by orange sticky monkey flower. At 0.5 mile you'll come to a sign noting Westpoint Inn near where a graceful Douglas fir highlights a view of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco skyscrapers, and Alcatraz Island. Then, next to a wooden water storage tank at 1.2 miles, you'll get views of San Pablo Bay and Mount Diablo.

At 1.8 miles turn right onto the signed Rock Springs Trail next to the deserted Westpoint Inn. At 2 miles the path ascends gently, with views of Westpoint Inn framed by the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island. Cross the first of three wooden bridges at 2.8 miles on Rock Springs Trail, where you'll find fern and California laurel along a tiny brook. At 3.3 miles reach Mountain Theatre, featuring seat rows built from rocks.

Climb the stone stairs and find the large sign that directs you to Old Mine Trail. This path travels along a vast hillside of pure oat grass and coast live oak with sweeping views of the sea and bay for another 0.8 mile to Pantoll Ranger Station. From here, you can continue all the way to Stinson Beach (see Hike 83, Mount Tamalpais: Pantoll Ranger Station to Stinson Beach).