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Plank Walk Trail to Mt Tamalpais

May 2, 2014 By Jeff H Leave a Comment

Hike The Plank Walk Trail to Mt Tam

This short, family-friendly trail was an impromptu birthday peak bagged by my mom, my wife and I as part of the second part of our spring break road trip. It’s barely over half a mile round trip, but gains at a steady pace, climbing over 250 feet in a quarter mile. And while it might not win you respect for the mileage, the Plank Walk Trail rewards you with stunning views of San Francisco and the bay out to the Pacific Ocean from atop Mt. Tamalpais.

img
Trail Details
Distance: 0.6 miles
Time: 30 min.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 261 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Year-round
Driving directions
There are many ways to hike up Mt Tam, but this is the shortest and easiest. Mt. Tam actually has two peaks; the lower west peak is fenced off and covered with antennae, while the taller east peak is capped with a fire lookout. You can drive to the saddle between the two, where you’ll find a parking lot, a visitor center and a bit of history — one of the old gravity cars that used to thrill riders a century ago.

While the trail is short and I’d describe it as easy, it actually is fairly steep and sections are rugged. Young kids can manage with supervision, but don’t let them wander off-trail!

The Plank Walk Trail

From the end of the parking lot you can’t miss the start of the Plank Walk Trail. It’s the trail literally made of planks (at least for the first section).

The Plank Walk Trail begins as... planks!

The first 0.1 miles of the trail is paved with wood planks — old railroad ties, actually — and bordered on the downhill side with a hand rail, making it look deceptively easy. You quickly gain elevation and the views expand.

My mom and my wife hiking up the final switchbacks to Mt. Tam

Soon you look up and see the fire lookout tower the sits atop the East Peak of Mt. Tamalpais. The views are breathtaking. On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the Sierra Nevada’s snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away. 

Mt Tam panorama

It was windy and chilly on this particular spring day, and we took photos, soaked in the views, and headed back down the trail, where the scrub protected us from the chilling winds.

Back at the visitor center, we checked out the old gravity cars and imagined what it was like when the old trail carried people to the lodge up here.

Mt. Tamalpais is worth a visit, even for a short little hike like this. The views are unique, and it’s easy to string together a series of micro-adventures into a full-day itinerary. For all the times I’ve visited the bay area, I had never before been to Mt. Tam. Now I can say to you — take a hike… up Mt Tam! It’s worth it.

Plank Walk Trail Map to Mt. Tamalpais East Peak

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: Plank Walk Trail to Mt Tamalpais.gpx

Photo Gallery

Click on any photo to view a larger version. You can also leave comments on any photo.

The Plank Walk Trail begins as... planks!
My mom and my wife hiking up the final switchbacks to Mt. Tam
IMG_3379
Prayer flags on Mt Tam
Prayer flags on Mt Tam
The USGS Benchmark atop Mt Tam
The USGS Benchmark atop Mt Tam
The fire lookout on Mt Tamalpais
The fire lookout on Mt Tamalpais
IMG_3384
View of the San Francisco Bay from the top of Mt Tamalpais
Mt Tam panorama
IMG_3396

Mt. Tamalpais Resources

  • Mt. Tamalpais State Park is open 7am to sundown daily
  • Visitor Center
  • Friends of Mt. Tam – great resource with a calendar of scheduled events including guided hikes in the park
  • History of the Gravity Cars

Mt. Tamalpais Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

And now, your moment of zen…

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: easy, family-friendly, Marin County, Mt Tamalpais, out of bounds, peak, peakbagging

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Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

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I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

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