Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From San Francisco or Sausalito, take Hwy 101 north to the Mill Valley-Stinson
Beach-Hwy 1 exit. Follow Hwy 1 (also called the Shoreline Hwy) to Almonte Blvd
(which becomes Miller Ave), then follow Miller Ave into downtown Mill Valley.
From the north, take the E Blithedale Ave exit from Hwy 101, then head west into
downtown Mill Valley.
from San Francisco to Mill Valley ($4.75) on weekdays; route 17 ($2) runs between there
from the Sausalito ferry terminal daily.
Mt Tamalpais State Park
Standing guard over Marin County, majestic Mt Tamalpais (Mt Tam) has breathtaking
360-degree views of ocean, bay and hills rolling into the distance. The rich, natural beauty
of the 2571ft mountain and its surrounding area is inspiring - especially considering it lies
within an hour's drive from one of the state's largest metropolitan areas.
tamalpais
; parking $8)
was formed in 1930, partly from land donated by congressman and
naturalist William Kent (who also donated the land that became Muir Woods National
Monument in 1907). Its 6300 acres are home to deer, foxes, bobcats and many miles of
hiking and cycling trails.
Mt Tam was a sacred place to the coastal Miwok people for thousands of years before
the arrival of European and American settlers. By the late 19th century, San Franciscans
were escaping the bustle of the city with all-day outings on the mountain, and in 1896 the
'world's crookedest railroad' (281 turns) was completed from Mill Valley to the summit.
Though the railroad was closed in 1930, Old Railroad Grade is today one of Mt Tam's
most popular and scenic hiking and cycling paths.
Sights
Panoramic Hwy climbs from Mill Valley through the park to Stinson Beach. From Pantoll
and then panoramic Ridgecrest Blvd to the top. A 10-minute hike leads to a fire lookout at
the very top and awesome sea-to-bay views.
