10.9 miles - This route is essentially the route of the Dipsea Race to the top of Cardiac hill however this route than has you coming back via some great trails in Mt. Tam such as TCC trail and Troop 80. WARNING - Even with these detailed route instructions it is very easy to get lost. It is in your best interest to run or hike this first with someone who knows the route.
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START:
- Go straight up what looks like a driveway. About 50 yards up the hill, you'll see the bottom of the infamous stairs (there are 3 sections totalling 676 stairs).
- 0.30 mi. - At the top of first set of stairs, TURN RIGHT onto the street.
- At the first corner, TURN LEFT.
- Look for stairs on your right and go up them
- TURN LEFT and TAKE stairs up on the right.
- 0.60 mi. - At the top of stairs, TURN RIGHT (uphill) onto the street (Sequoia Valley Rd.).
- BEAR RIGHT onto Walsh drive. There is an open metal gate at the entrance to the sub-division.
- Stay on the cul-de-sac until the end.
- 0.92 mi. - Go straight out the back and the trail briefly becomes dirt. This is Bay View Drive. Follow it to the end of the street.
- 1.00 mi. - 1 mile tree keep going until trail meets road
- 1.20 mi - Bear toward about one o'clock and you'll see the trail head across the street. WINDY GAP:
- 1.30 mi. - 150 yards down the trail there is a fork. Take the left hand fork (downhill)
- follow it to the street below.
- 1.40 mi. - At the street (Muir Woods Road), cross and look for the trailhead across the street.
- Follow this trail for a little more than half a mile. As you start to come out of the trees and into the open you'll come to a fire road.
- 1.60 mi. - Cross the fire road (look for a bunch of mail boxes to your right). You'll see the trailhead directly across the dirt road. Follow the trail down the hill. SUICIDE:
- 1.82 mi. - At the bottom it widens and you make a hairpin turn to your right. You'll see some a park maintenance building on your right and a road (Muir Woods Road again) straight ahead.
- 2.00 mi. - Cross the road into the parking lot on the other side. On your right hand side you'll see a railing and some steps leading down to a creek (Redwood Creek). There may or may not be a small wooden footbridge over it. DYNAMITE:
- 2.10 mi. - Cross the creek and follow the trail (obvious) on the other side up the hill through the redwoods. HOGSBACK:
- 2.35 mi. - After about a quarter mile of uphill you'll come out to a fire road (Deer Park fire road). The trail and the fire road criss-cross several times over the next couple of miles, but run essentially parallel to each other. The race route always follows the single-track trail. RAIN FOREST:
- 4.15 mi. - After being out in the open for a while, you will go back into the deep woods again (RAIN FOREST)and cross the Deer Park fire road one last time. TURN RIGHT to stay on Dipsea Trail CARDIAC:
- Now you are climbing a big hill (known as Cardiac) to the top, where it comes out into the open again.
- 4.35 mi. - The top of Cardiac Hill. You also get your first view of the ocean here (if its not foggy). RETURN TO START:
- Turn around and go back down the hill the way you came
- 4.27 mi. - TURN LEFT on TCC Trail
- 4.60 mi. - STAY RIGHT on TCC Trail
- 6.10 mi. - Enter Clearing and take trail directly across named Troop 80 trail
- 7.10 mi. - Stay left on Troop 80 trail
- 7.50 mi. - Stay left on Troop 80 trail
- 8.00 mi. - Turn left up Alice Eastwood Road
- 8.40 mi. - Reach Mountain Home Inn
- 8.42 mi. - Take the Edgewood Pipeline Trail
- 8.92 mi. - Stay Right onto Pipeline Trail
- 9.22 mi. - Trail becomes Edgwood Road
- 10.22 mi. - TURN LEFT down steps at intersection of Walsh and Sequoia Valley Road
- 10.90 mi. - Finish at Old Mill Park
Directions to Old Mill Park in Mill Valley:
- Follow 101 South towards San Francisco
- Take the CA-131 / E BLITHEDALE AVE exit toward TIBURON BLVD. 0.2 miles
- Turn RIGHT onto E BLITHEDALE AVE. 1.8 miles
- Turn LEFT onto THROCKMORTON AVE.
- Park on the street at Old Mill Park
