Introduction:
What? : Hike from the
Pacific Ocean coastline all the way up to the Pantoll Ranger Station in Mount Tamalpais
State Park. This loop hike offers deep lush forest, rushing streams and waterfalls
and from the top open trail sections a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
My highway 1 north section trip planner link:
Nearby places to visit:
Where? : Located on the west side of Mount Tamalpais State Park, from Highway 1 near the ocean to Pantoll Ranger Station at the mountains.
Google Map Link
When? : Year
round, prefer in the winter when the creek has a lot of running water.
Due note 1: Due to its popularity,
this hike tends to be crowded during weekends. It is recommended that you will start
your hike early in the morning.
Due note 2: At Pantoll
Ranger Station, even though there’s a parking fee, the little parking lot can
fill up by early morning on weekends.
Due note 3: The water flow
at the Webb Creek is much stronger during winter, right after a rain.
My thoughts: One of the best
hikes in this region, it combines the deep redwood forest, Webb Creek
waterfalls, Open ocean vista and more.
Highly recommended hike.
The visit:
There are 3 starting
points options for this hike:
·
Lower entry: Steep Ravine Trailhead
at Highway 1 at Rocky Point, park at the trailhead or few hundred feet down the
road (https://goo.gl/maps/kYHs59CMsFdRtoSQ9),
this will be 4.6-mile loop hike.
·
Lower entry: Dipsea Trail Trailhead
at Panoramic Highway junction with Highway 1, you can park at the roadside (https://goo.gl/maps/i5D3F7xV2KXWr7eR9)
or at the nearby Stinson Beach town center (https://goo.gl/maps/V9u2DurDQtNFprey7),
this will be 6-mile loop hike.
·
Upper entry: Pantoll Ranger Station
(https://goo.gl/maps/4LcU44pV5xU2j61ZA),
this will be 3.5-mile loop hike.
Starting at Highway
1 at Rocky Point:
Find a parking spot
on the shoulders of highway 1 in place that this is allowed, if no parking available
right at the trailhead you can probably find a parking spots few hundred feet
to the north.
Form your first
step into the trail you will get into the lush ravine, surrounded by the deep
forest. The trail climbs moderately and after 0.5 mile you will reach the Dipsea
Trail.
Keep hiking up on
Steep Ravine Trail, the creek is getting dipper with high trees on both sides
of the canyon. At this section there are two waterfalls along Webb Creek in
Steep Ravine.
The upper falls
requires climbing up the waterfall via a 10 ft. high wooden ladder, this is probably
the “famous” picture from this trail.
Once reaching
Pantoll parking lot and Park HQ (2 miles from your starting point), find the
Lower Old Mine Trail or take the Deer Park Fire Road to the south, a short hike
will bring you to Veterans' Bench viewing point. The open mountain landscape rolling
down to the west and the panorama ocean view from this point worth a short-stop.
From here, take
Dipsea Trail down west, enjoy the open landscape and after 1.5-mile you will
reconnect to Steep Ravine Trail at the creek below.
From this point
go back to your car on the same trail you came up.
If you start your
hike at Dipsea Trailhead near Stinson Beach than you will start by climbing the
open hills south of Stinson Beach. At some point you will descend to Webb Creek
and join Steep Ravine Trail, from start to this junction you will hike 1.2-mile
long. Go up the Webb creek and follow my Steep Ravine Trail above section
hiking instructions.
If you are
starting Pantoll Ranger Station than I recommend first going south on the ridge
to Veterans' Bench viewing point, from there take Dipsea trail down to Webb Creek
and climb back to the starting point using Steep Ravine Trail, this is the shortest
way to hike this creek, 3.5 miles total.
www:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Map:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Muir/SteepRavine.html
Pictures:
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