Steep Ravine Cabins and Camp Area
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Steep Ravine camp area is reached from the Rocky Point Road junction with Shoreline Highway/CA Route 1, about 1 mile southeast of the Panoramic Highway/Shoreline Highway junction at Stinson Beach
Starting Point: For day visitors, start with roadside parking, Shoreline Highway/CA Route 1, across the road from the gate entrance for Steep Ravine Cabins, Rocky Point Road. Those with cabin or campground reservations will be given instructions on getting past the gate to drive down to the camp area.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Rocky Point info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/rocky-point
Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure with map link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Mount Tamalpais State Park info link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Reserve California camping reservations link (California State Parks):
https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/
“Things to Do” link for Mount Tam, scroll down for “Rocky Point/Steep Ravine Environmental Campground” info (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28465
Distance:
For those making a day trip visit, from the Shoreline Highway/CA 1 parking area for Rocky Point Road/gate to Steep Ravine Cabins, the walk on the road is approximately 0.8 miles one way, for a 1.6 mile round trip. This does not include any walking along the camp area trails or along Steep Ravine Beach. Those staying at the cabin and camp area will be able to piece together shorter or longer walks as desired, including bluff trails to the south and a small beach to the north.
Considerations:
• There is parking space for several cars on Shoreline Highway/CA 1 across the road from the gate to Steep Ravine Cabins/Rocky Point Road.
• The gate code is only given to visitors with reservations for the Steep Ravine Environmental Campground camp sites or cabins, which is why day visitors have to walk this road or trails down to the camp area. See Rocky Point Road to Steep Ravine Cabins for a day hike down to Steep Ravine cabins and camp area without staying overnight.
• There are sometimes parking restrictions and road closures due to construction and/or storm damage. Check for traffic conditions and alerts, especially during rainy season.
• There are toilet facilities at the campground, but not near the parking area at the top of the hill.
• Rocky Point Road is a paved road with good visibility, except when on tight curves and around hills. Ranger trucks as well as campers driving in and out of the campground may not expect walkers around the curve. Use caution on blind curves.
The trail:
See Rocky Point Road to Steep Ravine Cabins for a description of the hike down to Steep Ravine Cabins and Beach for day hikers without reservations to stay overnight.
The Steep Ravine cabins and camp sites are often spoken of as the holy grail of camping areas on the Marin coast. There is a very limited number of spots available, which makes it difficult to get a reservation, generating even more of a sense that this is the hot spot to camp. There are other places to camp on Mt. Tam, some of them on a first-come, first-served system, but for those who wish to experience the Steep Ravine camp area, persistence will eventually get you a spot. We’ve managed to reserve and stay in a Steep Ravine cabin twice.
There are toilet facilities in the cabin area, as well as outhouses along the trails that pass through the camp sites. The trails through the camping areas are not long in terms of distance, but offer amazing coastal views.
Views to the immediate north include Stinson Beach and Bolinas. The Point Reyes coast is visible on clear days farther to the north, and Muir Beach and other points in Marin are visible to the south.
Once at the cabin and camp area, whether on a day hike down from Rte. 1 or as overnight guests, there are many treats at hand. Facing the ocean, a walk along the trails to the left (facing south) will take visitors to hilly outcroppings, trails down to rocky areas near the water, and a picnic table on a bluff that offers a great spot for whale watching (bring binoculars if you have them). We didn’t see whales during our stays, but we did see dolphins playing together right offshore.
We also enjoyed seeing a large heron stalking prey, a hawk hovering with the moon behind him, a deer along the cabin path, a Canada goose hanging out on a bluff trail, a Western Bluebird, brown pelicans and other seabirds.
Ambling down the steps near the cabins and then taking the trails that lead north facing Stinson Beach, hikers can visit Steep Ravine Beach (covered with its own gallery in an upcoming post). This beach offers a very cool selection of tidepool creatures to look at, and a natural hot spring that is accessible at low tide.
The cabins themselves have no electricity or running water, and visitors need to bring window covers and bedding to put on the wooden bed platforms. Lantern-style flashlights, headlamps for bathroom visits in the dark, and a camp stove are all helpful for having a good stay. The wood stoves heat the cabins well (the cabins can be cold and drafty). It is possible to heat water or do some basic cooking on the top of the wood stoves, but a camp stove is more useful.
The glorious ocean views from the cabin windows are truly amazing, and make the very basic accommodations worth the effort. Eating dinner at a rustic wooden table with only a breathtaking sunset for light is an experience I’ll always remember.
For those who want a taste of beach town liveliness after the natural quiet of the Steep Ravine camping area, nearby Stinson Beach offers a classic California beach experience and access to cafes and shops.
(Steep Ravine Cabins and Camp Area Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Celebrating a Milestone!” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop 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. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. 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: Steep Ravine camp area is reached from the Rocky Point Road junction with Shoreline Highway/CA Route 1, about 1 mile southeast of the Panoramic Highway/Shoreline Highway junction at Stinson Beach
Starting Point: For day visitors, start with roadside parking, Shoreline Highway/CA Route 1, across the road from the gate entrance for Steep Ravine Cabins, Rocky Point Road. Those with cabin or campground reservations will be given instructions on getting past the gate to drive down to the camp area.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Rocky Point info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/rocky-point
Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure with map link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Mount Tamalpais State Park info link (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Reserve California camping reservations link (California State Parks):
https://reservecalifornia.com/Web/
“Things to Do” link for Mount Tam, scroll down for “Rocky Point/Steep Ravine Environmental Campground” info (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28465
Distance:
For those making a day trip visit, from the Shoreline Highway/CA 1 parking area for Rocky Point Road/gate to Steep Ravine Cabins, the walk on the road is approximately 0.8 miles one way, for a 1.6 mile round trip. This does not include any walking along the camp area trails or along Steep Ravine Beach. Those staying at the cabin and camp area will be able to piece together shorter or longer walks as desired, including bluff trails to the south and a small beach to the north.
Considerations:
• There is parking space for several cars on Shoreline Highway/CA 1 across the road from the gate to Steep Ravine Cabins/Rocky Point Road.
• The gate code is only given to visitors with reservations for the Steep Ravine Environmental Campground camp sites or cabins, which is why day visitors have to walk this road or trails down to the camp area. See Rocky Point Road to Steep Ravine Cabins for a day hike down to Steep Ravine cabins and camp area without staying overnight.
• There are sometimes parking restrictions and road closures due to construction and/or storm damage. Check for traffic conditions and alerts, especially during rainy season.
• There are toilet facilities at the campground, but not near the parking area at the top of the hill.
• Rocky Point Road is a paved road with good visibility, except when on tight curves and around hills. Ranger trucks as well as campers driving in and out of the campground may not expect walkers around the curve. Use caution on blind curves.
The trail:
See Rocky Point Road to Steep Ravine Cabins for a description of the hike down to Steep Ravine Cabins and Beach for day hikers without reservations to stay overnight.
The Steep Ravine cabins and camp sites are often spoken of as the holy grail of camping areas on the Marin coast. There is a very limited number of spots available, which makes it difficult to get a reservation, generating even more of a sense that this is the hot spot to camp. There are other places to camp on Mt. Tam, some of them on a first-come, first-served system, but for those who wish to experience the Steep Ravine camp area, persistence will eventually get you a spot. We’ve managed to reserve and stay in a Steep Ravine cabin twice.
There are toilet facilities in the cabin area, as well as outhouses along the trails that pass through the camp sites. The trails through the camping areas are not long in terms of distance, but offer amazing coastal views.
Views to the immediate north include Stinson Beach and Bolinas. The Point Reyes coast is visible on clear days farther to the north, and Muir Beach and other points in Marin are visible to the south.
Once at the cabin and camp area, whether on a day hike down from Rte. 1 or as overnight guests, there are many treats at hand. Facing the ocean, a walk along the trails to the left (facing south) will take visitors to hilly outcroppings, trails down to rocky areas near the water, and a picnic table on a bluff that offers a great spot for whale watching (bring binoculars if you have them). We didn’t see whales during our stays, but we did see dolphins playing together right offshore.
We also enjoyed seeing a large heron stalking prey, a hawk hovering with the moon behind him, a deer along the cabin path, a Canada goose hanging out on a bluff trail, a Western Bluebird, brown pelicans and other seabirds.
Ambling down the steps near the cabins and then taking the trails that lead north facing Stinson Beach, hikers can visit Steep Ravine Beach (covered with its own gallery in an upcoming post). This beach offers a very cool selection of tidepool creatures to look at, and a natural hot spring that is accessible at low tide.
The cabins themselves have no electricity or running water, and visitors need to bring window covers and bedding to put on the wooden bed platforms. Lantern-style flashlights, headlamps for bathroom visits in the dark, and a camp stove are all helpful for having a good stay. The wood stoves heat the cabins well (the cabins can be cold and drafty). It is possible to heat water or do some basic cooking on the top of the wood stoves, but a camp stove is more useful.
The glorious ocean views from the cabin windows are truly amazing, and make the very basic accommodations worth the effort. Eating dinner at a rustic wooden table with only a breathtaking sunset for light is an experience I’ll always remember.
For those who want a taste of beach town liveliness after the natural quiet of the Steep Ravine camping area, nearby Stinson Beach offers a classic California beach experience and access to cafes and shops.
(Steep Ravine Cabins and Camp Area Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Celebrating a Milestone!” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop 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. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
