5-Day Itinerary · Mar 21–25
01
Saturday · March 21 · Arrival Day
Marin Headlands — Right from Base
~8.4Miles
~25 minDrive
⚑ Weekend — Arrive early. Both lots fill by 10am.
HIKE 1Rodeo Valley → Coastal Trail Loop
Opening epic — coastal ridgelines, military bunkers, 360° ocean panoramas, and the famous black-pebble Rodeo Beach at the finish. Spring grass vivid green in late March. One of the best introductory views in all of Marin.
5miles
Trail shape — Loop
🅿 Parking
Primary: Rodeo Beach / Fort Cronkhite Lot — end of Mitchell Road, Sausalito CA 94965. Free. Restrooms + showers. → Google Maps
Backup: Smith Road Lot (Gerbode Valley Trailhead) off Bunker Rd — or park along Bunker Rd shoulder. Also: Marin Headlands Visitor Center lot (30-min limit — use for bathroom only).
HIKE 2Tennessee Valley Trail to the Beach
Easy, flat-ish 3.4-mile out-and-back through a lush coastal valley to a spectacular hidden cove beach. Great afternoon add-on. Wildflowers peak mid-March. Note: no dogs allowed. No drinking water at trailhead.
3.4miles
Trail shape — Out & Back
🅿 Parking
Primary: Tennessee Valley Trailhead — 591 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Free. Pit toilets on site. → Google Maps
Backup: If lot full, park along Tennessee Valley Road — legal roadside parking extends quite far. Common on weekends. 25 mph speed limit strictly enforced.
Day 1 Plan: Rodeo Valley loop in the morning (~5 mi, ~3 hrs), drive 15 min north to Tennessee Valley for the afternoon (~3.4 mi, ~2 hrs). Total ~8.4 mi. Back in San Rafael for dinner. Perfect arrival-day warm-up.
02
Sunday · March 22
The Mt. Tam Epic — Crown Jewel Day
~9–11Miles
30–40 minDrive
⚑ Weekend — Pantoll lots fill by 9am. Target arrival 7:45am.
HIKE 1Dipsea → Steep Ravine (Detour) → Matt Davis Loop
The single best hike in Marin County. Old-growth redwood canyons, cascading waterfalls, a 10-ft wooden ladder climb, mossy stairs, and ocean views of Stinson Beach. ⚠ Steep Ravine was closed July 2025 for a washout, but CA State Parks now reports "no closures" and AllTrails hikers confirmed the ladder section open as of Feb 14, 2026. Detour via Lower Old Mine / Dipsea remains signed if needed. Call (415) 388-2070 to confirm status before going.
7miles
Trail shape — Lollipop loop (start/end Pantoll or Stinson Beach)
🅿 Parking
Primary: Pantoll Ranger Station — 3801 Panoramic Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941. $8/car (credit card daytime, cash otherwise). Restrooms. → Google Maps
Backup: Start from Stinson Beach instead — park at Stinson Beach State Park ($10/car) off Hwy 1 across from Arenal Ave. Starts with Dipsea Trail heading up. Lots fill by 11am weekends.
HIKE 2 (Add-On)Verna Dunshee Loop + East Peak Summit
Short paved loop at 2,571 ft summit. 360° views: Farallon Islands, SF Bay, the Sierra Nevada on rare clear days. Paved and accessible. Ideal afternoon add-on (30 min drive from Pantoll up East Peak Rd).
1.2miles
Trail shape — Small loop around summit
🅿 Parking
Primary: East Peak Parking Lot — end of East Ridgecrest Blvd (follow from Pantoll Rd junction). $8 CASH ONLY. Large paved lot, accessible restrooms, visitor center. → Google Maps
Backup: Rock Spring parking area (free) ~1.5 mi west — short walk or add it to your loop via the fire road.
⚠ Call before going: Pantoll Kiosk (415) 388-2070 — confirm Steep Ravine status. Trail appears to have reopened as of Feb 2026 (AllTrails reviews confirm ladder section open). CA State Parks website shows "no closures." Detour via Lower Old Mine/Dipsea still signed if needed.
Day 2 Recommendation: Pantoll 7:45am → Dipsea/Steep Ravine/Matt Davis loop (~4 hrs). Drive up to East Peak for lunch + Verna Dunshee loop (~1 hr). Total ~8–9 mi. Home by 4pm. You've earned dinner on Fourth Street.
03
Monday · March 23
Muir Woods + Cataract Falls
~9–10Miles
25–35 minDrive
HIKE 1Canopy View → Fern Creek Loop (Muir Woods)
Upper trails above the main canyon — serene old-growth coast redwoods without the boardwalk tourist crush. Monday means dramatically fewer people. One of the few places in the world with trees 1,000+ years old and 250 ft tall. Must book parking reservation before leaving.
3miles
Trail shape — Valley loop with upper ridge section
🅿 Parking — Reservation Required
Book at: gomuirwoods.com · $10 standard vehicle + $15/adult entry (kids 15 & under: FREE entry) · 30-min arrival window. Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941. → Google Maps
No cell service on site. Download/print voucher at home. Shuttle from Larkspur is WEEKENDS ONLY — you must drive Monday.
HIKE 2Cataract Falls Trail
Waterfall-lover's highlight — cascades, mossy stairways, redwood-lined gully, and Alpine Lake. Late March after winter rains = peak flow and maximum beauty. Steep stairs that are slippery when wet. Parking is roadside only — small hairpin turn pullout near Alpine Dam.
5.6miles
Trail shape — Out & Back, descends steeply to waterfalls and Alpine Lake
🅿 Parking
Primary (Rock Spring — more parking): Rock Spring Trailhead off West Ridgecrest Blvd near Pantoll Rd junction, Mill Valley CA. Free. Pit toilets. → Google Maps
Alternative (sees the best falls first): Roadside pullout on Bolinas-Fairfax Rd at hairpin turn, ~0.2 mi past Alpine Dam. Very limited — 10–15 cars only. → Google Maps
Watershed parking fee: Required at some access points — see marinwater.org/parking-passes. Weekdays much easier than weekends.
Day 3 Plan: Muir Woods 9am (download parking voucher TONIGHT). Canopy View loop ~2 hrs. Drive ~45 min to Rock Spring for Cataract Falls afternoon. Total ~9 miles. Waterproof boots essential — Cataract stairs are wet rock and wooden steps. No exposed sections, just slick.
04
Tuesday · March 24
Point Reyes — The Far Edge
~8–10Miles
55–75 minDrive
HIKE 1Abbotts Lagoon Trail
Coastal dunes, a vast brackish lagoon, and direct beach access on the Pacific. Wildflowers explode late March. Elk, osprey, herons, river otters. Easy and nearly flat — perfect morning opener. No dogs allowed. Small lot (~40 cars) — arrive by 9am even on weekdays.
3.2miles
Trail shape — Out & Back (flat) to lagoon bridge, beach optional
🅿 Parking
Primary: Abbotts Lagoon Trailhead — Pierce Point Rd, 3.4 miles from Sir Francis Drake Blvd junction, Inverness, CA 94937. Free. ~40 vehicles. Vault toilet on site. → Google Maps
Backup: Roadside parking along Pierce Point Rd if lot full. Bear Valley Visitor Center lot (4 miles SE) as last resort — adds hike.
HIKE 2Tomales Point Trail — Tule Elk Reserve
The best wildlife hike in Northern California. Peninsula tip with ocean views both sides, guaranteed Tule Elk sightings in herds of 100+. Flexible distance — hike to Windy Gap (5.5 mi round trip) for a great hike; full trail is 9.4 mi to the tip. Open grassland, dramatic coastal bluffs.
5.5+miles
Trail shape — Out & Back along peninsula spine (ocean on both sides)
🅿 Parking
Primary: Upper Pierce Point Ranch Trailhead — end of Pierce Point Rd, Pierce Point Rd, Inverness, CA. Free. Small lot. → Google Maps
Note: Same road as Abbotts Lagoon — easy back-to-back. Drive ~8 miles north on Pierce Point Rd from Abbotts Lagoon to reach this trailhead. Plan lunch here — zero services.
Day 4 Plan: Make it a full Point Reyes day. Abbotts Lagoon 9am (~1.5 hrs). Drive north on Pierce Point Rd for Tomales Point. Do 5–7 miles and turn around at Windy Gap or whenever you're satisfied — elk are usually visible within the first 2 miles. Pack full lunch, binoculars if you have them. Total ~8–10 mi. Best weekday of the trip for this location. ⚠ Note: This is the longest drive — ~55 min to Abbotts, ~1 hr 15 min to Tomales Point from hotel. Worth every minute.
05
Wednesday · March 25 · Final Day
Bay Views + SF Sendoff
~5–6Miles
15 minDrive
HIKE 1Ring Mountain / Turtle Rock (Corte Madera)
Local secret. Rolling serpentine grassland, giant boulders to scramble, 360° views of SF, the Bay, and Mt. Tam. March wildflowers here are exceptional — Tiburon mariposa lily + carpeted hillsides. Turtle Rock bouldering bonus: The massive serpentine boulders at Turtle Rock offer excellent natural scrambling — west-facing, easy-to-moderate problems with incredible grip. A fun mini-bouldering session to break up the hike. Scramble to the top for panoramic views of Richardson Bay and the Golden Gate. No fees, easy parking, 15 min from hotel.
2.8miles
Trail shape — Lollipop loop (stem up Phyllis Ellman Trail, loop at ridge)
🅿 Parking
Primary: Roadside parking on Paradise Drive at Phyllis Ellman Trailhead — past intersection of Westward Dr heading east, Corte Madera. Free. No restrooms. From 101: exit Paradise Dr/Tamalpais Dr, head east on Tamalpais, becomes San Clemente, becomes Paradise Dr. → Google Maps
Alternative: End of Westward Drive (residential dead-end) — shorter approach to summit loop. Or Taylor Rd end in Tiburon for south access.
HIKE 2Batteries to Bluffs Trail (Presidio, San Francisco)
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge for a 1.6-mile out-and-back finale with 470 stairs, historic gun batteries, Marshall Beach, and iconic bridge views from below. Perfect final hike — pairs perfectly with SF dinner. Note: no dogs allowed. Actual trail is 1.6 mi but can extend to 3.5 mi round trip via Baker Beach.
1.6miles
Trail shape — Pendulum (down to Marshall Beach, back up, repeat) along coastal bluff
🅿 Parking
Option A (Baker Beach — free): Baker Beach Parking Lot, off Bowley St via Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129. Start trail from south end. Restrooms on site. → Google Maps
Option B (Golden Gate Overlook — free): Langdon Court Lot off Lincoln Blvd at Golden Gate Overlook, SF. Start trail from north end. → Google Maps
Backup: Lincoln Blvd shoulder (limited, 2-hr max on Pershing Dr). Both main lots fill afternoons on clear days. Weekday Wednesday morning should be fine.
Day 5 Plan: Ring Mountain morning (~2 hrs) with a Turtle Rock bouldering session at the summit — scramble the west-facing problems and enjoy the views. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge → Batteries to Bluffs (~1.5 hrs) → dinner in SF. Total ~4.5 miles, very manageable final day. The stairs on B2B will wake your legs back up nicely.