Mt Tamalpais - The Route of the Dipsea Race

6.8 miles - This course is mostly the route of the Dipsea Race held in Mill Valley. This route starts at the picnic tables at Old Mill Park off of Throckmorton Road. The actual Dipsea race starts on Throckmorton and Miller Ave. Therefore this route is shorter by about a quarter mile. 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 course.

    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).
  • 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. (Look hard as they blend into the landscaping very well.
  • TURN LEFT and TAKE stairs up on the right.
  • 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.
  • Bear toward about one o'clock and you'll see the trail head across the street marked by a wooden fence
  • 1.00 mi. - after a few hundred yards you will come across the 1 mile tree.
    • WINDY GAP:
  • 1.2 mi. - 150 yards down the trail there is a fork. Take the left hand fork (downhill)
  • 1.3 mi. - ollow it to the street below.
  • 1.35 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.
  • 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:
  • Cross the creek and follow the trail (obvious) on the other side up the long steep hill known as Dynamite 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 - CARDIAC:
  • 3.75 mi. - After being out in the open for a while, you will go back into the deep woods again and cross the Deer Park fire road one last time, climbing a big hill (known as Cardiac) to the top, where it comes out into the open again.
  • 4.07 mi. - At the top there is an intersection with a fire road (Old Mine Road). Go straight across. You also get your first view of the ocean here (if its not foggy).
  • The next mile or so parallels another fire road (Dipsea Fire Road). Follow the single-track trail. The trail heads are well marked with permanent markers.
    • THE SWOOP:
  • 5.7 mi. - The trail eventually cuts off to the right into some trees. After about 200 yards you'll see a fence straight ahead, where the trail bends to the right. During the single Dipsea, you hurdle this fence and go straight down the hill (and I mean straight down) called Swoop Hollow. Park rangers don't want you using this trail so you should take the somewhat slower but very scenic trail through more redwoods.
  • After about a half-mile, the trail turns left and you go down a treacherous stretch of uneven landings and steps, full of tree roots and often very damp from condensation of the fog. This is called Steep Ravine.
  • At the bottom, there is a wooden bridge. After crossing it, TURN LEFT.
    • INSULT HILL:
  • 6.0 mi. - After about 100 yards there is a fire road. Follows the single-track trail which goes straight across the fire road and up the hill (called Insult Hill).
  • This brings you out into an open section called The Moors. From here you can see Stinson Beach for the first time.
  • The trail crosses a couple of more fire roads, but just keep your same bearing and stay on the single-track trail. (NOTE: The Dipsea race now uses the highway with allowed shortcuts)
  • You drop back into the woods for the last time and come out to a road (Panoramic Highway).
  • Cross the road and run down the dirt trail and you quickly come to another road (Highway 1).
  • TURN RIGHT on Highway 1 and cross to the other side
  • Take the first left (Arenal Ave.) and follow it for about two blocks.
  • Go through the gate at the end of the street
    • FINISH:
  • FINISH about 100 yards into Stinson Beach 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