Rhubarb Trail to Haypress Camp
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Rhubarb Trailhead on Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley, across from Golden Gate National Recreation Area sign indicating the start of the Tennessee Valley area (also marking the Oakwood Meadow Trail start, near Oakwood Valley Trail)
Directions: From CA-1 in Mill Valley, get onto Tennessee Valley Road, and drive about a mile until you see the Tennessee Valley sign on the left. There is trailhead parking on either side of the road. Rhubarb Trail starts on the right side, where a small footbridge is visible under tree cover.
Starting Point: Parking for the Rhubarb Trail start is along the road. There is a small sign marking the Rhubarb Trail on the right side as your drive toward Tennessee Valley. On the opposite side of Tennessee Valley Road is a larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area sign indicating the start of the Tennessee Valley area. On the right side of the road, across from Tennessee Valley sign, cars are usually parked where there are trees covering an entrance over a small footbridge. That is the start of the Rhubarb Trail. Walk in and veer to the left, continuing in parallel with the Tennessee Valley Road in the direction toward Tennessee Valley.
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Map links:
National Park Service Marin Headlands map:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
Rhubarb Trail is about 1.5 miles, paralleling Tennessee Valley Road
Connects with Tennessee Valley Trail/Road just after juncture with the Miwok Trail (trail sign is sometimes missing)
After about 0.3 miles on the Tennessee Valley trail, watch for the Haypress Camp sign on the right side
0.6 miles to Haypress Camp
Total: One way approximately 2.4 miles, no major hills
Considerations:
• Toilet facilities are available at the Tennessee Valley parking lot, midway along this hike, and also at the Haypress Camp area.
• Dogs are allowed on leash.
• Parking for the Rhubarb Trail start is along the road. The sign indicating the Rhubarb Trail is small. See notes above.
• As on any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak.
The trail:
Cars are usually parked on the right side of the road, across from the Tennessee Valley sign. The Rhubarb Trail starts with trees covering a small footbridge. Walk in and veer to the left, continuing in parallel with the Tennessee Valley Road in the direction toward Tennessee Valley.
The Rhubarb Trail has an Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow feel to it. On overcast days, the gnarled oak trees with pale drooping moss give an atmospheric boost.
There are gentle dips and rises and some narrow stretches along the Rhubarb Trail, but no particularly steep climbing areas.
For this hike, do not turn right at the sign for the Miwok Trail on the right side of the trail (if the sign is attached to the post—it has been missing on some of our outings). Around this spot, there is a dip to the left which connects to the Tennessee Valley Road, right near the parking lot and toilet facilities.
A few steps through the parking lot will put you onto Tennessee Valley Trail, which is the trail people take to go to Tennessee Beach (veering down to the left).
For this hike, rather than heading left toward the beach, keep an eye out for a sign for Haypress Camp on the right, and take that Haypress Camp Trail to reach the camp area. This is a dirt road with open skies in contrast to the narrow, tree covered Rhubarb Trail.
There are picnic tables and camp sites (reservations only), and toilet facilities at this spot.
The picnic tables make for a good snack and rest spot before making the return hike back.
(Rhubarb Trail to Haypress Camp Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Forest for the Trees” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Rhubarb Trailhead on Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley, across from Golden Gate National Recreation Area sign indicating the start of the Tennessee Valley area (also marking the Oakwood Meadow Trail start, near Oakwood Valley Trail)
Directions: From CA-1 in Mill Valley, get onto Tennessee Valley Road, and drive about a mile until you see the Tennessee Valley sign on the left. There is trailhead parking on either side of the road. Rhubarb Trail starts on the right side, where a small footbridge is visible under tree cover.
Starting Point: Parking for the Rhubarb Trail start is along the road. There is a small sign marking the Rhubarb Trail on the right side as your drive toward Tennessee Valley. On the opposite side of Tennessee Valley Road is a larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area sign indicating the start of the Tennessee Valley area. On the right side of the road, across from Tennessee Valley sign, cars are usually parked where there are trees covering an entrance over a small footbridge. That is the start of the Rhubarb Trail. Walk in and veer to the left, continuing in parallel with the Tennessee Valley Road in the direction toward Tennessee Valley.
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Map links:
National Park Service Marin Headlands map:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
Rhubarb Trail is about 1.5 miles, paralleling Tennessee Valley Road
Connects with Tennessee Valley Trail/Road just after juncture with the Miwok Trail (trail sign is sometimes missing)
After about 0.3 miles on the Tennessee Valley trail, watch for the Haypress Camp sign on the right side
0.6 miles to Haypress Camp
Total: One way approximately 2.4 miles, no major hills
Considerations:
• Toilet facilities are available at the Tennessee Valley parking lot, midway along this hike, and also at the Haypress Camp area.
• Dogs are allowed on leash.
• Parking for the Rhubarb Trail start is along the road. The sign indicating the Rhubarb Trail is small. See notes above.
• As on any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak.
The trail:
Cars are usually parked on the right side of the road, across from the Tennessee Valley sign. The Rhubarb Trail starts with trees covering a small footbridge. Walk in and veer to the left, continuing in parallel with the Tennessee Valley Road in the direction toward Tennessee Valley.
The Rhubarb Trail has an Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow feel to it. On overcast days, the gnarled oak trees with pale drooping moss give an atmospheric boost.
There are gentle dips and rises and some narrow stretches along the Rhubarb Trail, but no particularly steep climbing areas.
For this hike, do not turn right at the sign for the Miwok Trail on the right side of the trail (if the sign is attached to the post—it has been missing on some of our outings). Around this spot, there is a dip to the left which connects to the Tennessee Valley Road, right near the parking lot and toilet facilities.
A few steps through the parking lot will put you onto Tennessee Valley Trail, which is the trail people take to go to Tennessee Beach (veering down to the left).
For this hike, rather than heading left toward the beach, keep an eye out for a sign for Haypress Camp on the right, and take that Haypress Camp Trail to reach the camp area. This is a dirt road with open skies in contrast to the narrow, tree covered Rhubarb Trail.
There are picnic tables and camp sites (reservations only), and toilet facilities at this spot.
The picnic tables make for a good snack and rest spot before making the return hike back.
(Rhubarb Trail to Haypress Camp Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Forest for the Trees” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
