Muir Woods: Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach, San Francisco: Marin Headlands - Mt Tamalpais - Point Reyes, California
Muir Woods: Dipsea Trail to Stinson Beach
San Francisco: Marin Headlands - Mt Tamalpais - Point Reyes
The entire Dipsea Trail stretches 7 miles from Mill Valley, CA to Stinson Beach, tracing the Redwood Creek watershed from the slopes of Mt Tamalpais to the sea. The Dipsea Trail crosses Redwood Creek in Muir Woods National Monument at the approximate midpoint of both the watershed and trail. Artifacts found near the Dipsea Trail suggest that indigenous Coast Miwok people followed a similar course from inland areas to reach the ocean. Redwood Creek flows year round, providing critical support to the Redwood stands and riparian corridors it touches en route to the sea. Water needy trees such as maple, willow and alder share space along the creek, while live oak, buckeye and bay occupy adjacent, drier soil beds. High winter waters provide Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout safe passage upstream to their birthplace, where they in turn spawn the next generation.
| Related Trails: | Dipsea Trail: Muir Woods to Stinson Beach Dipsea Trail: Mill Valley to Stinson Beach |
Coastal fog provides perrenial moisture to redwood tree stands on the Dipsea Trail
Passing through a redwood stand on the Dipsea
The Dipsea leads up and over beautiful coastal meadows on its way to Stinson Beach
Ecological diversity is a hallmark of the Dipsea Trail
Spring wildflowers line the Dispea Trail
Ocean view from the Dipsea Trail - On a clear day, the Golden Gate Bridge is visible
At it's crest, views of the pacific ocean are excellent
Ferns line a lush section of the Dipsea Trail
Morning fog dissipates to reveal wide coastal meadows
Redwood Creek, an essential route for spawning salmon
The Dipsea Trail famously begins by climbing 676 stairs from the trailhead in Mill Valley
Lilies are a common sight near residential areas along the Dipsea
Monkey Flowers are named so for their petal and markings resemblance to a monkey face
Non native flowers are common along the Dipsea, especially in the populated hills over Muir Woods
Offshoots from the Dipsea, such as the Sun Trail, offer runners innumerable routing options
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