Dipsea Trail

Dipsea Trail

Dipsea Trail

Location: Mill Valley, Ca
Difficulty: Difficult
Features: Hiking trails, beach access, wild flowers, scenic views.

Considered as San Francisco’s most technical hiking trail, the Dipsea Trail stretches 7 miles from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. It starts from the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, traces the Redwood Creek watershed, crosses the Redwood Creek in Muir Woods National Monument, and ends at the Stinson Beach.

One interesting fact is that artifacts found near the Dipsea Trail suggest that indigenous Coast Miwok people also followed the route from inland to ocean. The creek flows all year round providing support to surrounding tree – redwoods, maple, willow, and alder.

On clear days, you can see the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, as well as the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Gear Up For Relentless Uphills

The hike has a relentless uphill of about one and a half miles. The trail at Muir Woods is fine but when you get to Cardiac Hill, a two and a half mile uphill, the road becomes steep and dangerous. After Cardiac Hill comes Insult Hill, another steep uphill. The last mile, meanwhile, is a smooth downhill overlooking Stinson Beach.

2) Bring A First Aid Kit

Cardiac Hill has a steep and dangerous staircase which caused injury to some hikers.

It is best to bring along a first aid kit just in case.

3) Stay Hydrated And Energized

The entire hike can range from 3 to 4 hours. There are steep uphills and a staircase of about 650 to 680 steps. It is best to stay hydrated and energized with a hydration pack and energy bar.