Region
Highlights
- Mount Tamalpais (called "Mt. Tam" for short) is the highest peak in Marin County north of San Francisco.
- Debate exists over if the East Peak or the West Peak is higher. Recent measurements show that the West Peak may be higher.
- A road runs almost to the summit (booo), then a short trail leads to a closed fire warden tower at the very top.
- Clearly visible from the city of San Francisco and the East Bay region.
- Majority of the mountain lies in protected public lands, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. It adjoins the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as well as several Marin County Open Space Preserves.
- Extremely popular hiking destination for Bay Area hikers with many ways to the summit via an extensive network of over 100 miles of trails and fire roads.
- The annual Mt. Tam Hill Climb race starts in the center of Mill Valley and travels the most direct route to the summit. From the Depot, up Tamalpais Ave to Summit Ave to Temalpa Trail, then up a short scramble to touch the door of the lookout. More info: http://www.tamalparunners.org/hillclimbarticle.php
Routes
10 climbs • 0.3 mi • 192 ft gain • 26 min
6 climbs • 4.2 mi • 1,626 ft gain • 1 hr 59 min
4 climbs • 23.4 mi • 5,038 ft gain • 4 hr 46 min
2 climbs • 22.0 mi • 4,501 ft gain • 4 hr 5 min
2 climbs • 13.0 mi • 2,423 ft gain • 6 hr 12 min
2 climbs • 15.5 mi • 2,421 ft gain • 6 hr 29 min
2 climbs • 4.0 mi • 1,834 ft gain • 1 hr 57 min
2 climbs • 6.3 mi • 2,434 ft gain • 2 hr 0 min
2 climbs • 6.3 mi • 2,437 ft gain • 2 hr 22 min
Latest climbs
"Great climb with my dad straight from our house. Really enjoyed hitting the notorious Indian Ladder for the second time this year. We came down on the Mill Valley side and stopped at the Mountain Home Inn for a late lunch on the sunny deck. " — PhoenixMountainLion • Apr 6, 2025
"My first hike in the Western United States. Temperatures in the mid-60s and not a cloud in the sky, which did contribute to a mild sunburn later in the hike. I took an Uber from Marin City to the Muir Woods Visitor Center, although I later realized I could've taken a much cheaper shuttle from Larkspur. The entire hike was fantastic, but the first two miles walking through the redwoods was incredible. Coming from the Northeast United States, I had never seen trees that large. The sunlight filtering through the canopy gave the forest a majestic feel and I was simply in awe at the beauty of the Woods. The trail alternates between boardwalk and paved for the first mile and follows alongside the Redwood Creek (which is largely dried up in the summer). Although this was on a Friday, this section was still packed with people, but I didn't feel that detracted from the experience. After a mile, the trail reaches its last intersection with the Hillside Trail which follows along the other side of the Redwood Creek. Most people took this turn and the trail thinned out. Immediately after this intersection the trail becomes rougher with tree roots and looser dirt, but it was still extremely mild..." — JCalautti • Aug 16, 2024
"Day22 Vertober. Headed up the Fern Creek Trail to the summit and back. Tons of hikers out heading up to the Sound Summit concert. Heard some music wafting through the forest. Would head over but not enough vert. " — scott • Oct 22, 2022
"Day 2 of Vertober. Ventured back to the infamous Indian Ladder, a tortured, eroded pipe drainage that goes straight up the east shoulder of Tam. Hard going up, even harder going down with loose footing. Added on Blithedale Ridge for some xtra vert on the way back. " — scott • Oct 2, 2022
"After a series of bad decisions I made it to the summit at dusk via the East Peak Fire Break. It was so dark I had to eke my way down the never-ending Eldridge Grade with light from my phone. Idiot. " — scott • Oct 26, 2021
"Another Tam summit the day after a huge amount of rainfall as I jump back in to this laughably competitive virtual event Max Vert October. While the leader just crossed 300,000 vert (?), I just crossed 30,000 ft vert, by far the most I’ve ever done in a month, but that puts me in 70th place! May try to make it to 50,000 by Halloween, but that’d be a comical ramp up in these final days of the month. Do I have it in me? Or the bigger question is why am I doing this??" — scott • Oct 25, 2021
"Took the Tam Hill Climb scramble route from the Depot. Wind gusts got more intense as ascended, a few seemed almost dangerous, maybe 40mph gusts? The Temalpa Trail is definitely finicky going down, watch your step. " — scott • Oct 19, 2021
"To the top of Tam into the first rainstorm of the season. Almost turned around on Fern Creek when the wind picked up and chilled my completely soaked t-shirt and shell but was just steep enough to keep up the heat so kept it going. Cool to run these trails in such different conditions." — scott • Oct 17, 2021
"Park and walk.
I did this as a drive up, but I prefer a big trail to a mountain.
Paying that 8$ for parking just to walk that 0.3 miles…not sure if it is worth it.
Great views though." — nandorszotak • Jun 24, 2021
"Finally hit the infamous Indian Ladder on the east ridge of Mt Tam. Ran to the base via H-Line to Blithedale Ridge, on the way up tagged Knob Hill via a short spur that ends in dense bushes. Didn't bushwhack to what looks like the exact highest point but I'm calling good enough in this case.
The unsigned/unmaintained/unforgiving Indian Ladder starts as a cable line wash: straight up the fall-line, highly eroded, and loose footing. There are a couple of eroded places where you need to use your hands. It has 4 sections, crossing over Eldridge Grade Fire Road 2 times and meeting up with it a 3rd. Topping out at the lookout rock on the east ridge is a great feeling. From there, it's a short way on the Verna Dunshee Trail to the scramble route to the summit.
The prospect of going down via the Indian Ladder didn't seem appealing, so decided to take the gradual way down Eldridge. Legs started to tighten up on the incredibly long switchbacks, so ended up cutting things short by descending the last 2 sections of the ladder -- wasn't too bad.
Was a good adventure exploring new routes. Eyeing some of the north side routes next." — scott • Nov 4, 2020
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
Log climbs on peakery to earn awards:
Peak Badges: Earn a special badge for each unique peak you summit. See all of your badges on your Badges page.
First Ascent Award: Only 1 available per peak. Goes to the first peakery member to log a successful summit of a peak. Snag this award and the peak will forever bear your name.
King of the Mountain Award: Only 1 available per peak. Summit a peak more times than any other member. Beware: this award can be lost!
Summit Steward: Summit a peak at least 5 times to become one of its Summit Stewards. As Steward of a peak, you’re encouraged to keep that peak’s info up-to-date on peakery and spread goodwill on your future climbs up the peak.