The Dipsea Trail

California’s oldest trail race and one of the hardest day hikes you can do in the Bay Area. Seven miles, 2,200 feet of climbing, redwoods, chaparral, and a Pacific beach finish. Here is everything you need to know.

Route Overview

The Dipsea Trail begins at the famous Dipsea Steps in Old Mill Park, Mill Valley, and ends at Stinson Beach. The trail climbs out of the Mill Valley basin, crosses a ridge of Mount Tamalpais through coast redwoods and Douglas-fir, descends into Muir Woods (but does not enter the monument directly), climbs another ridge, and drops through chaparral and coastal grassland to the Pacific.

This is a point-to-point hike — the classic mistake is trying to do it out-and-back without shuttle planning.

The Dipsea Steps

The trail opens with three consecutive flights of wooden and stone steps — 671 steps in total — climbing out of downtown Mill Valley. This is the single most famous feature of the trail and the section that usually defines runners’ finish times. The steps are public and well-maintained. Start slow.

Where the Trail Goes Through Muir Woods

The Dipsea Trail does not enter Muir Woods National Monument directly, but it shares a boundary and can be accessed from inside the park. Most day hikers who want to “do the Dipsea from Muir Woods” use the Dipsea & Ben Johnson Trail loop — a 4-mile loop that gives you a taste of the Dipsea without committing to the full point-to-point.

From the Muir Woods main parking lot, cross the bridge, turn right, and the Dipsea Trail connects along the ridge above the monument. You can pick it up, climb to the Cardiac viewpoint, and decide from there whether to continue to Stinson or return via Ben Johnson.

The Dipsea Race

First run in 1905, the Dipsea is the oldest trail race in America. It runs the second Sunday in June each year. The staggered handicap format — older runners start first, younger runners chase — is unique in American racing and makes the winner impossible to predict.

On race day the trail is closed to hikers. The race uses several steep shortcuts (Suicide, Swoop, Insult, Steep Ravine) that are not the official trail. Non-runners generally watch from the steps, from Cardiac viewpoint, or from the Stinson Beach finish line.

Shuttle Logistics

Because the Dipsea is point-to-point, you need transport from Stinson Beach back to Mill Valley. Three options:

• West Marin Stagecoach Route 61 — the most reliable option. Runs multiple times daily between Stinson Beach and Marin City, where you can connect to Mill Valley. Budget 90 minutes total return.
• Two-car shuttle — leave one car at Stinson, drive to Mill Valley together, hike, shuttle the first car at the end.
• Rideshare — Uber and Lyft work from Stinson Beach but are expensive ($75+ back to Mill Valley) and surge heavily on summer weekends.

Water and Services

There are two water fountains on the route — one at Muir Woods Road and one at Pantoll Ranger Station. In summer, bring at least three liters per person. In winter, two liters is enough.

Pantoll Ranger Station (mile 4, roughly halfway) has restrooms and is the only reliable bail-out point. From Pantoll you can catch the Stagecoach back to Mill Valley if you cannot continue.

When to Hike

The best conditions are October through March, when temperatures are cool and fog is less likely to sit all day. Summer hikes are either foggy (cool but gloomy) or hot on the exposed final descent into Stinson.

Winter storms can make the Steep Ravine and Suicide sections slippery or washed out. Check conditions at the Pantoll Ranger Station before big rain events.

What to Bring

• Trail shoes with real tread — the descent into Stinson is steep and loose
• Three liters of water (summer) or two (winter)
• Layers — you will experience redwood shade, ridge sun, and coastal fog on the same hike
• Trekking poles if your knees complain on long descents
• Phone charged, but do not count on coverage through the redwood sections