Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
3,528.00 ft (1,075.33 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
13.10 mi (21.08 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

This section of the Coastal Trail begins not to far from Marin Mammals Center at Rodeo Beach, a unique beach with red and green pebbly chert grains. You'll quickly note the dilapidated military structures that are visible in the distance; in contrast to Rodeo Beach's Fort Barry and Fort Cronkhite, both of which serve as National Park Service facilities, all of the batteries and small gun emplacements on the ridge are empty and abandoned, their walls covered by graffiti.

The trail rises and falls consistently over coastal topography, and if you complete this section as a there-and-back hike, your total elevation gain will be something close to 3,500 feet. As you spend the day working through the trail's undulations, however, views of the ocean and the lush valley floor provide constant motivation. There are also quite a lot of junctions in this route, so be sure to follow the trail signs.

The trail spends quite some time on the ridge as it leads to the Wolf Ridge Trail at the Hill 88, where you'll have a spectacular view of the entire Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From this intersection, the trail drops down to Tennessee Valley and merges with Tennessee Valley Trail. It then winds around and narrows to singletrack before intersecting with the Pacific Coast Trail. The sign marks an unlabeled spur to Pirates Cove; if you take the side trip to this small beach by the cove, use extreme caution. There isn't any clear trail, and the scramble gets exposed at times. From the junction with Pirate's Cove, the trail ascends back to the ridge and continues toward Muir Beach, a favorite spot with locals. The ridge above Muir Beach is a great spot for whale watching during migrations, and you should also watch for monarch butterfly rabbles in the fall.

When the weather is clear, the views from the trail are magnificent, as the coastline drops precipitously into the seemingly endless Pacific. Rolling fog is very common, however, and on these days the trail becomes a more intimate and mystical experience. Regardless, the trail is a quintessential way to experience an outstanding section of California's coast.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Pretty coastal views. Beaches.

Cons

Can get foggy. Crowds.

Trailhead Elevation

115.00 ft (35.05 m)

Features

Bird watching
Wildlife
Big vistas
Wildflowers
Cave

Suitable for

Biking
Horseback

Location

Nearby Adventures

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

11/04/2018
Hello and thank you for these well structured and informative overviews!
Question: Is there an actual map with highlighted trails for the Coastal Trail Hike Filed Guide in addition to the one-sheet adventure description?
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