Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mountain Theater
THEATER
The park's natural-stone, 4000-seat theater hosts the annual 'Mountain Play' series on a
half dozen weekend afternoons between mid-May and late June. Free shuttles are provided
Apr-Oct)
also take place here on Saturday nights around the new moon.
Activities
Hiking
The park map is a smart investment, as there are a dozen worthwhile hiking trails in the
area. From Pantoll Station, the
Steep Ravine Trail
follows a wooded creek on to the coast
(about 2.1 miles each way). For a longer hike, veer right (northwest) after 1.5 miles onto
the
Dipsea Trail
, which meanders through trees for 1 mile before ending at Stinson Beach.
Grab some lunch, then walk north through town and follow signs for the
Matt Davis
Trail
, which leads 2.7 miles back to Pantoll Station, making a good loop. The Matt Davis
Trail continues on beyond Pantoll Station, wrapping gently around the mountain with su-
perb views.
Another worthy option is
Cataract Trail
, which runs along Cataract Creek from the end
of Pantoll Rd; it's approximately 3 miles to Alpine Lake. The last mile is a spectacular
Mountain-Biking
Cyclists must stay on the fire roads (and off the single-track trails) and keep to speeds un-
der 15mph. Rangers are prickly about these rules, and a ticket can result in a steep fine.
The most popular ride is the
Old Railroad Grade
. For a sweaty, 6-mile, 2280ft climb,
start in Mill Valley at the end of W Blithedale Ave and cycle up to East Peak. It takes
about an hour to reach the West Point Inn from Mill Valley. For an easier start, begin part
way up at the Mountain Home Inn and follow the
Gravity Car Grade
to the Old Railroad
Grade and the West Point Inn. From the inn, it's an easy half-hour ride to the summit.
From just west of Pantoll Station, cyclists can either take the
Deer Park fire road
,
which runs close to the Dipsea Trail, through giant redwoods to the main entrance of Muir