If you are looking for totally worthwhile day trip that offers you everything that California’s uniqueness has to offer, THIS IS THE HIKE!
These trails are nestled between Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument known for its towering old-growth redwood trees and Stinson Beach which is a 35-minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge on California’s Highway 1.
From hiking the rolling hill coast line over looking the Pacific Ocean, to hiking deep in the ravines where the infamous giant redwoods grow!
I have hiked here 4 times now. Completing 3 different trails thus far, as there are many to choose from, ranging from 3 miles to 17 miles to even 66 miles.
- 1st Hike (1/26/19): Dipsea Steep Ravine Matt Davis Loop Trail from Pantoll (Click here for the alltrails link) (I did this hike in reverse, parking at Dipsea Trail Parking Lot and starting at Matt Davis Trailhead)
- 2nd Hike(8/15/20): Dipsea Trail to Steep Ravine Trail Loop from Pantoll (Click here for Alltrails)
- 3rd Hike (11/22/20): Dipsea Trail to Steep Ravine Trail Loop From Stinson (Click here for Alltrails)
- 4th Hike (12/27/20): Same as 3rd hike but shorter!
My First time hiking this area:
Dipsea Steep Ravine Matt Davis Loop Trail from Pantoll
My boyfriend and I, hiked from the Matt Davis Trailhead up to Pantoll Parking lot, then down Steep Ravine Trailhead, to Dipsea Trailhead, ending at Dipsea Trail Parking Lot.
This is a 7.4 mile loop trail that is rated moderate. It took us about 6 hours to complete. This hike will get your blood pumping as half of it is uphill.
This is what the Dipsea Parking Lot looks like, right off the side of the road!
To get to the Matt Davis Trailhead: (as I was a little confused myself.)
We hiked at the end of January when the snow from the winter was still melting, make this a stunning waterfall to see.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My Second time hiking here:
Dipsea Trail to Steep Ravine Trail Loop from Pantoll
We would start at Pantoll Trailhead and hike down Steep Ravine Trailhead, looping back up Dipsea Trailhead to Old Mine Trail back to Pantoll Parking Lot.
You have to take the Panoramic Hwy to get to the Pantoll Trailhead parking lot. It is a windy but absolutely lovely drive through the Muir Woods National Park. Roll your windows down and breath in that fresh sea air.
DISCLAIMER: We hiked her in August, and it was SLAMMED! I am not sure if it was just the summer traffic, or during COVID, being outside was the only thing you could do, but we got caught in some epic traffic.
This is a 3.6 mile loop, rated moderate hike. This look us a little over 2 hours to hike.
No matter what way you go, you will have some crucial up hill that will get your heart pumpin! but that’s what hiking is all about! The hardest places to get to, are always the most stunning and worthwhile! (Check out my backpacking trip to the Lost Coast! now that is a hidden treasure)
My mom visiting me from North Carolina! These are the closest redwoods to me from Sacramento! So of course I had to take her to hug them! If you have not hugged a redwood yet, this is the spot to do it!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Third Time coming out to hike these gorgeous trailheads:
Dipsea Trail to Steep Ravine Trail Loop From Stinson
My best friend MK, was visiting me from North Carolina!
We parked at the Dipsea Trailhead Parking Lot and did a loop! Taking Dipsea Trailhead up to Pantoll then down Steep Ravine Trailhead back to the parking lot.
This is a 6 mile, rated moderate hike.
RECOMMENDATION: I recommend this route out of the other (2) trails I have done. Getting this very uphill hike over with on the Dipsea Trailhead, then taking your time down Steep Ravine, where most of the giant redwoods are. This allows you to really look up and appreciate all that is around you! So much diversity!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fourth Time I came out here:
Same as 3rd hike.
My brother and sister in law came out to visit me! We pretty much did the same hike as the third one but just hiked up into the Steep Ravine Trailhead, as this trail has the giant redwoods.
This is a quick and relatively easy hike (there is still some uphill)
3 mile hike there and back, that took us about 2 hours. We stopped and had lunch a long the Webb creek.
As you can see, this is my favorite area to take friends and family who are visiting me from back home! These trails offer everything that people all over the world rave about California!
After a day of hiking, I like to take HWY 1 and head into San Francisco for a relaxing picnic at Crissy Field Park. The park over looks the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and has all the dogs to dog watch!
Or you could even head over to Alamo Square Park that over looks the famous Painted ladies and SF! (que Full House intro!)
All around an amazing day trip to see it all!
10/10 RECOMMEND!
As always,
Stay Kind,
Kindly, Kaitlin 
I have been to the Redwoods before but it has been a long time. Seeing your post makes me want to put that on the list for the next time I am headed North. What about backpacking or at least dispersed camping?