7/29/2019 Bay Area Hiker_ Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

1/3

1/12 Bay Area Hiker: Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

hiker.com/northbayhikes/stinson.html

Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop (Stinson Beach Trailhead),

Mount Tamalpais State Park,

California State Parks,

Marin CountyIn brief:7.3 mile Mount Tam loop from Stinson Beach to

Pantoll and back, through gorgeous woods,

high grassy slopes, and a lush steep ravine.

Matt Davis Trail is a Bay Area Ridge Trail

segment.

Distance, category, and di fficulty:

This 7.3 mileloop hike is moderate, with about

1600 feet in elevation change. Trailhead

elevation is around 75 feet. The featured hike

climbs to about 1600 feet, then descends back

to the trailhead. Some sections of Steep Ravine

are well, steep, but the other trails are moderate,

with long easy stretches.

Exposure:

More shade than sun.

Trail traffic:

Moderate-hea vy (near Pantoll ).

Trail surfaces:

Dirt trails.

Hiking time:

4 hours.

Season:

Nice any ti me, but best in early spring.

Getting there:

From US 101 in Marin Cou nty, exit CA 1/Mill

Valley/Stinson Beach and drive on Shoreline

Highway to the junction with Almonte, abou t 1

mile. Turn left, remaining on S horeline, anddrive about 2.5 miles to the junction with

Panoramic Highwa y. Turn right on Panoramic

and drive about 1 mile to the junction with

Muir Woods Road; stay straight on Panoramic

(right lane). Continue about 7 .5 miles (past

Pantol l) to the junction with CA 1, just before

the town o f Stinson Beach. Turn right, drive

about 0.2 mile, then turn right (at the fire

station) on to Belvedere Avenue. Look for

park ing on the left side of the road b efore the

"do not enter/wrong way" signs.

Get driving or public transit d irections from

Transit and Trails:

http://www.transitandtrails.org/trailheads/437

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:Latitude 3753'58.61" N

Longitu de 12238'14.42"W

(* based on Google Earth data, shown as

degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lo dging:

Restauran ts, motels, and stores in St inson

Beach, along CA 1 just past Belvedere. More

store and restaurant option s, as well as gas,

are available in Mill Valley at the junction of

Panoramic and Almonte. There is a small,

walk-in campground a few feet from the

Pantol l trailh ead, with very nice shaded sites,

unfortunately situated close to Panoramic

Highway and the Pan toll parking lot .

Trailhead details:

This popular hike departing from the town of Stinson Beach,strung together from Matt Davis, Steep Ravine, and Dipsea trails,

is probably my favorite Mount Tam hike, and is right up there on

my bay area top ten list. The 7 mile loop features a bit of

everything, with waterfalls, redwood, Douglas fir, and oak forests,

grassland, canyons, and views galore. These three trails are some

of Tam's best, and combining them into one hike intensifies their

pleasures. Matt Davis is a masterpiece of trail construction -- the

perfect trail through a spectacular landscape. The entire

experience, from Stinson Beach to Pantoll (and back), is a joy.

Steep Ravine starts out in a pretty redwood canyon and gets

better with each step, as you descend past waterfalls and down a

famous ladder. The hike only spends a short time on historic Dipsea, but this segment showcases fabulous, gasp-worth

views of Stinson Beach, the Pacific coastline, and Point Reyes.I would recommend this loop for any season but summer.

Since Steep Ravine and Matt Davis are accessed by the popular

Pantoll trailhead, these trails are crammed during tourist season,

although you will find more peace early on a weekday. The first

few weeks of spring are just about the perfect time, for that's wh

the waterfalls are still dramatic and wildflowers sprawl through

both grassland and forest.

Begin your hike on Stinson Beach's Belvedere Avenue

just up the street from the fire station (although you could start a

end at Stinson Beach). A few steps past a "wrong way" s ign

Matt Davis Trail begins on the right, clearly signed. This hik

only trail immediately steps onto a bridge and crosses a creek,

where alder, thimbleberry, and buckeye thrive in damp conditions. Multi-trunked California bays shade the narrow pat

and an invasive ivy greedily hugs the ground. You might also notice cottoneaster, a non-native shrub with red berries, asome poison oak. At about 0.14 mile, you'll reach an unsigned junction. The path to the right heads to Panoramic

Highway. Bear left to remain on Matt Davis Trail. The trail crosses the creek again, then reaches another junction

0.16 mile, this one signed. Turn right and continue on Matt Davis Trail.

The trail begins a moderate ascent, guided occasionally by wooden fences. Buckeye and California bay offer shade

and a creek provides soothing aquatic murmurs. You might see iris, forget-me-not, milkmaids, buttercup, and vetch

blooming in early spring. Matt Davis Trail draws near the creek, then turns left and winds back uphill to cross the strea

on a bridge. After a few more tight switchbacks you'll emerge in

chaparral,

where you

can enjoy

an initial

view west

to theocean.

Shrubs of

silver lupine,

toyon,

sagebrush,

broom,

poison oak, and coyote brush crowd the trail. Enjoy the sunlight

while you can, for the trail quickly heads back into the woods. Big-leaf maple and buckeye trees grace another bridge

where cascades of water rush downhill in winter and early spring. A series of steep steps curve uphill, reaching a pretty

spot with giant rocks and lichen draped trees. Stone steps continue the climb, finally ending as the trail levels off to a m

moderate ascent. At the Bischof Steps the trail curves right, under the shadow of a massive boulder, Table Rock. The

creek is just a few feet off the trail to the left here, and shows off a pretty cascade. Matt Davis Trail keeps ascending,

zigzagging up the side of the mountain through a wide canyon. At the top of the boulder, look for a small sign pointing le

to Table Rock. Duck under some bucke e to emer e at the to of

1.4kLike

7/29/2019 Bay Area Hiker_ Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

2/3

1/12 Bay Area Hiker: Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

hiker.com/northbayhikes/stinson.html

Side of street parking. No entrance or parking

fees at this trailh ead -- if you start at Pantoll

the day use parking fee is $8. No designated

handicapped parki ng, and trails are not

suitab le to whee lchai rs or strollers. Maps

available (for a fee) at the Pantoll Ranger

Station. Restrooms and water at the beach, a

few blocks west. Pay phone a t the fire station,

and the Pantoll trailhead. West Marin

Stagecoach offers public transportation to this

trailhead.

Rules:

Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset (hours

fluctuate slightly during the year). Bikes and

horses are permitted on some trails; Matt Davis

and Steep Ravine are hiking only t rails. Dogs

are not allowed in the state park.

The Official Story:

CSP's Mount Tam page.

Pantoll Ranger Station 415-388-2070

Map/bo ok ch oices and more in formation:

Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to

get there.

Download th epark map pdffrom CSP's

website.

This hike is described and mapped in 60

Hikes with in 60 Miles: San Francisco , by Jane

Huber (yup, that's me, the creator of this

website). Order this bo ok from Amazon.com.

Redwood Hikes has a great map and

descriptions of this hike, with gorgeous ph otos.

Barry Spitz's Tamalpais Trails (order this bo ok

from Amazon.com), a book with a pu llout map of

Tam is a great guide.

Olmsted Brothers' map,A Rambler's Guide to

the Trails of Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin

Headlands (order th is map from Amazon.com) is

useful.

Mount Tam Trail Map , published b y Tom

Harrison Maps (order from Tom Harrison

Maps). Comparable to the Olmsted map

Hiking Marin by Don and Kay Martin (order

this b ook from Amazon.com) has a good map

and descriptions of this hike.

101 Great Hikes of the Sa n Francisco BayArea,by Ann Marie Brown (order this boo k

from Amazon.com) has a simple map and

descriptions of a featured hike.

The official State Park map is available (for a

fee) at the ranger station.

Matt Davis/Steep Ravine/Dipsea Loop in a

nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the

featured hike.

View photos from this hike.

Table Rock, a perfect rest or lunch stop with excellent views to

Stinson Beach. Back on Matt Davis Trail, Douglas fir are

prominent on the hillsides, standing ramrod straight while California

bays often arch themselves across the trail. You might also notice

tanoak, huckleberry, poison oak, a variety of ferns, and in spring,

trillium. Although those grueling sets of steps are now just a

memory, there is one harsh 2-foot high step formed in the root of a

Douglas fir. Eventually the trail crosses over to the western slope

of the mountain, continuing to ascend in broad switchbacks. I saw

lots of coralroot under the trees in March. Finally, Matt Davis Trail

steps out into grassland. The hillside rolls steeply toward

Ridgecrest Boulevard, but the trail curves right and keeps a

thankfully easy pace as it angles east. The ocean is visible back to the west. Twice you'll step into the shade when Matt

Davis Trail passes through creases in the hillside, then pops back out into the sunshine. This grassland fosters blue eyed

grass, California buttercups, filaree, and bluedicks in early spring. At 2.53 miles, Matt Davis Trail meets Coastal Trail a

signed junction. Bear right to continue on Matt Davis Trail (the following stretch is a Bay Area Ridge Trail segmen

The trail lingers for a few steps in the upper reaches of a wooded narrow ravine. A small seasonal waterfall descend

from the left in winter and early spring. Back in grassland, the trail climbs very gently to a somewhat signed junction at

2.73 miles. Hawks are commonly spotted hunting near here. The path to the left climbs steeply to the ridgeline, while th

path to the right ascends a few feet to a viewpoint. Even from the junction a view south emerges, encompassing the Ma

Headlands, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the coastline well into San Mateo County. Continue straigh

With one last sweep through grassland, the trail heads into a woodland of Douglas fir, California bay, redwood, and

canyon and coast live oaks. In late winter and early spring a few seasonal waterfalls trickle down small gulches where

maples benefit from damp soil. You may see beautiful pink calypso orchids nestled close to the ground in late March.

Hound's

tongue and

milkmaids

are more

common.

The trail

makes

steady

progress at

a nearly

level grade,

toward

Pantoll.

Although the forest blocks all views, cars are audible as they drive along nearby Panoramic Highway. Matt Davis Trailleaves the woods for a rocky stretch of grassland, dotted with ceanothus and coyote brush. I perched on a trailside roc

for a snack along here, not realizing there was a bench nestled in a cluster of chamise just around the corner. At 4.20

miles, you'll reach a signed junction near a small parking pullout on Pantoll Road, which runs here to the left of the trail.

Bear right, descend and then carefully cross Panoramic Highway . A few steps drop down to the Pantoll Parking

lot (this is a large lot next to the ranger station). Veer right across the upper lot, and look for the signed start of

Steep Ravine, off a paved service road, at 4.25 miles.

Hiking-only Steep Ravine begins a descent along a canyon wall. Fences herd hikers down a string of switchbacks t

the canyon floor, where the trail joins a modest stream as it trave

toward the sea. While the stream is still small the trail skips over

the channel a few times, winding through redwoods like a slalom

course. But before long, Webb Creek feeds into the canyon,

transforming the stream to a more formidable waterway. Bridge

ford the creek, which is lined with huckleberry, California bay,

tanoak, and Douglas fir. Some good-sized redwoods loomoverhead, and litter the canyon, necessitating a few ducks here a

there. Look for trilliums, milkmaids, hound's tongue, and stream

violets in spring. Suddenly you'll arrive at the top of the ladder,

right beside the drop of a waterfall. I suppose some people

descend it face first, but the wood is usually pretty slippery, so

take it slow. At the base be sure to pause and look back at the

falls. The trail, influenced by all this moisture, takes on a slippery texture, so use caution descending rock steps. A giant

redwood which had fallen, blocking the trail, is notched with a square cut large enough to squeeze through. Steep Ravin

Trail keeps descending, along the way passing another memorable waterfall, with a pretty pool at the base. At 5.95 mil

Dipsea Trail heads left over a bridge, departing from a signed junction. Continue straight, past an old dam, to anothe

junction (this one unsigned) with the other leg of Dipsea, at 6.00 miles. Turn right. The trail ascends, following a small

pipeline, and reaches another junction, this one signed. Continue straight on Dipsea Trail.

Dipsea rises through a jumble of plants, with Douglas fir and coyote brush prominent. At 6.06 miles, you'll reach yet

HikingAdventuresHike Amazing

Rocky Mountain

Trails. Plan Your

Rockies Hiking

Vacationtravelalberta.com/us/hiking

7/29/2019 Bay Area Hiker_ Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

3/3

1/12 Bay Area Hiker: Matt Davis-Steep Ravine Loop

hiker.com/northbayhikes/stinson.html

. . ,

little, crests, then descends easily. The initial view after the crest is breathtaking -- the ocean, Stinson Beach, Bolinas

Lagoon, and the mountains of Point Reyes sprawl at your feet. At 6.18 miles, Dipsea crosses Hill 640 Fire Road.

Continue straight.

Springtime flowers include checkerbloom, wild radish, blue and white lupine, and California poppy. The trail dips in

a damp area where you might see or hear quail. Traffic on nearby Panoramic squelches the mood a bit. Dipsea begins

descending at a more moderate grade, through shrubs of coyote brush and purple bush lupine. Suddenly the trail turns

into the woods, with a creek on the right. Some gnarled buckeyes stand along the trail, along with California bay,

hazelnut, and currant. A boardwalk ushers you through a sunny spot where willow and twinberry bushes grow. At 7.07

miles, Dipsea approaches Panoramic Highway. Carefully cross, then pick up the signed trail again on the oppos

side.

Cottoneaster overwhelms the sides of the trail. At 7.19 miles, Dipsea plops you out on the side of CA 1. With

caution, walk along the side of the road to Belvedere Avenue. Turn right and return to the trailhead .

Total distance: 7.30 miles

Last hiked: Tuesday, July 6, 2004

Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page

Search