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Plan to leave Pantoll Ranger Station Trail Head at 9:00am sharp.
The Ranger Station opens at 7:00am. You should all start meeting at the
Ranger Station parking lot around 8:30am to get acquainted and pick up
trail maps then start your hike at 9:00am. Parking at the Ranger Station
parking lot is $5.00 per car. This should be a leisurely hike so that you
can enjoy the beautiful redwood forest of Mount Tamalpais. There is no
food sold at the Pantoll Ranger Station so you will need to bring a day
pack to carry your lunch in and don't forget to bring some thing to drink
as well. There is no eating on any of the trails on Mount Tamalpais, however,
at the Pantoll Ranger Station there are some picnic tables to eat your
lunch near the parking lot. If you can bring a canteen of water for yourselves
do so because you will get thirsty during the hike. If you have a camera
and or binoculars you may want to bring them along.
Before you start your hike you may want to check out the
camping sites at the Pantoll Ranger Station to see if you want to plan
a camping trip there.
You may also want to consider visiting the "Bootjack
Camp Picnic Area" to see if you may also want to plan for
a picnic in the future. Bootjack Camp has 20 picnic tables with Bar-B-Que
pits. The Rangers at Pantoll Ranger Station will be able to provide you
information on how to locate the camp sites at Pantoll and the Bootjack
Camp Pinic Area.
Dog Owners:
Dog owners, unfortunately dogs are not allowed on any of the trails in the California State and Federal Parks. Guide dogs for the blind are welcome at all parks.
At Mount Tamalpais State Park the only hiking trail that dogs are allowed on is the Matt Davis Trail and they must be fully controlled by keeping them on a lease at all times.
The Matt Davis Trial Head is located at the Bootjack Camp Picnic Area. There is a $5.00 parking fee at the Bootjack Picnic Area parking lot which is only for day use. A Matt Davis Trail map may be obtained at the Pantoll Ranger Station which is approximately 1/4 mile west of the Bootjack Pinic Area parking lot on the Panoramic Highway.
Dogs are allowed for over night stays at the Pantoll Ranger Station Camp Sites (these are developed camp sites) while you are camping, and there is a $1.00 (one dollar) fee per night for each dog staying at the camp sites. At these camp sites dogs must be fully controlled by keeping them on a lease at all times.
Dogs are not allowed at the environmental camp sites. Environmental camp sites are undeveloped camp sites with out drinking water and these camp sites only have chemical toilets.These camp sites can only be reached by back packing to the camping area.
Suggested Hiking Trails That You Can Take:
(The two following hiking trails are very beautiful and you may
want to take a camera with you.)
Dipsea Trail and Steep Ravine Trail:
Distance: 3.6 miles ~ Shaded: 70%.
Elevation: 1,100 feet ~ Steep in places.
When To Go:
Good in winter and spring, best on a clear April day. This is a breathtaking hike through forest, along coastal hills, then up spectacular Steep Ravine. Good wild flowers and good views.
0.0: Start at the Pantoll parking lot. take the paved road next to the Ranger Station south 200 feet to the signed Old MineTrail. Go left into Douglas fir forest with some oak and bay. In March, look for white zigadene, yellow buttercup, blue hound's tongue and purple iris.
0.2: Mining Claim. In 1863, prospectors dug for gold and silver.
0.3: Junction. Continue south on the Old Mine Road.
0.5: Junction with Dipsea Fire Road. Stay left on the road.
0.6: Junction #1. Follow the Dipsea Trail right. This trail is thought to be one of the oldest on the mountain. In 1905, it became part of the famous Dipsea race that covers 7.1 miles from downtown Mill Valley to Stinson Beach.
1.3: Junction #2. Take the Dipsea Trail right towards Stinson Beach.
1.4: Fence. Bear right. The trail drops down through luxuriant growth kept moist by winter rain and summer fog. Ahead, the trail drops so steeply that it's hard to believe that 1,500 Dipsea runners plunge through here at full speed each June.
2.0: Junction #3 and bridge. Cross the bridge, go right on the Steep Ravine Trail and enjoy the finest scenery on Mount Tamalpais. Steep Ravine offers spectacular redwoods, ferns, mosses, berries, tumbled trees, wooden bridges, quiet pools and cascading waterfalls.
2.4: Notched Redwood. A large redwood lying across the trail is notched to allow passage. As you duck, look for white fairy bells.
2.8: Ladder. Webb Creek is squeezed by large boulders. The only way up is to climb a 10 foot ladder.
3.6: Back at Pantoll with camping sites, restrooms, picnic tables and water.
Directions To Pantoll Ranger Station:
From San Francisco take Hwy 101 north past the Golden Gate Bridge, then take Hwy 1 going north to Panoramic Road, then make a right turn onto Panoramic Road, going north on Panoramic Road go for six more miles then you will see a sign called "Pantoll Ranger Station" which will be on the left side of the road.
Information on Pantoll Ranger Station:
Pantoll Ranger Station ~ is one of the camping sites at Mount Tamalpais State Park:
Pantoll Ranger Station serves as the headquarters of Mount Tamalpais State Park. The Ranger Station dispenses maps, books, Mount Tamalpais shirts and advice. Near the Station are fountains, a telephone and bathrooms. Down the asphalt road are ranger residences and a maintenance facility. Pantoll is also the principal camp ground on the Mountain. The 16 walk-in camp sites are assigned at the Ranger Station on a first come first served basis. Approximately 1/4 mile east of Pantoll on Panoramic Highway is the Bootjack Picnic Area. Bookjack has a large parking lot, bathrooms, water fountains, picnic tables and outdoor grills.
Call the Pantoll Ranger Station for group reservations at the Bootjack Picnic Area. Matt Davis Trail connects Pantoll and Bootjack. For day use of Pantoll and Bootjack there is a $5.00 parking fee.
Pantoll Ranger Station: (415)
388-2070
(Redwood Area) (opens at 7:00am ~ closes 6:00pm)
Camping
Sites:
There are 16 camping sites with running water. The camp sites are from 10 to 150 yards from the Pantoll Ranger Station parking lot. All year round $12.00 per night. The $12.00 includes one car. These sites are on a first come first served basis all year round and no reservations are required. There is a fee of $6.00 for each additional car per camp site. No more than two 4 man tents maximum per camp site and no more than 8 people per camp site.
Camp Fires (stone structure with grill).
Water at camp sites.
Fire Wood: $4.00 bundle.
Flush Toilets.
Steep
Revine Cabins:
Call the Pantoll Ranger Station for more information on obtaining a cabin on cancellations orders or call California State Parks Reservation Center for reservations, Rustic Cabins: 1-800-444-7275. Steep Ravine Cabins are located on Hwy 1. From San Francisco take Hwy 101 north for 11 miles, then take Hwy 1 toward Stinson Beach, the Steep Ravine Cabins will be on the ocean side of Hwy 1. One mile north of the Steep Ravine Cabins is located the small quiet town of Stinson Beach Community where you can buy groceries and they have several nice restaurant as well.
Cabins:
5 people maximum per cabin
Pit toilets out doors
Running water out doors
No refrigerators and no stoves in the cabins
No electricity and no running water inside cabins
Per Night: $ 30.00 includes one vehicle
Cabins contains one table, two benches, wood burning stove, and several sleeping platforms. For sleeping platforms bring your sleeping bags or pillows and blankets.
Link to the Park Net Reservations
Web Site for camping reservations information on all available camp sites in the Golden State of California. You will be able to make On-Line camping reservations.
Detailed information on Steep Ravine Cabins and Camp Sites at the Pan Toll Ranger Station area.
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