Steep Ravine Trail from Pantoll
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Pantoll Campground parking area, Mount Tamalpais State Park
Starting Point: Pantoll parking area, 6456 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
For online map application searches, input “Pantoll Campground Parking”
Mount Tamalpais State Park info link (CA State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Muir Woods and Vicinity Trail Map (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map-muwo-trail-2019-small.pdf
Mount Tamalpais brochure with map (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Distance:
One of my favorite Mt. Tam hikes is the just under 4 mile loop from Pantoll Campground down to the Dipsea Trail, and then back up via the Steep Ravine Trail. For these Hike Notes, I reversed the loop and started from the Steep Ravine Trail, which turned out to be a great option. The section of the Steep Ravine Trail featured in the photo gallery for this post is 1.7 miles, from Pantoll to the connection with the Dipsea Trail. The Steep Ravine Trail does extend another 0.5 miles down to the road leading to the Steep Ravine Campground and the beach. Our full hike this time was 1.7 miles on Steep Ravine from Pantoll to the Dipsea Trail intersection, 1.5 miles on the Dipsea going east, and about 0.3 back up to Pantoll via the Old Mine Trail, with another option being to walk a short bit further on the Dipsea and return to Pantoll on 0.4 miles of the Stapleveldt Trail.
Check out the Dipsea Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes for the photo gallery and description of the companion portion of this loop hike.
Considerations:
• Check health and safety updates for facility and trail openings and closings (such as via the info link noted above).
• Mt. Tam trailheads and parking are very popular, especially on weekends. Arriving early or hiking on weekdays are good ways to avoid weekend jams.
• The Pantoll Campground parking area has toilet facilities (subject to change as noted above).
• There are narrow stairs and some steep sections along the Steep Ravine Trail.
• This section of the Steep Ravine Trail is highlighted by a trail ladder along the steep rise next to the waterfalls, so be ready to climb or descend a rustic ladder.
• The Steep Ravine Trail’s popularity means making space on the trail in narrow spots at busy times, especially weekends.
• Heed trail safety and wildlife signs.
• Watch out for poison oak on any hike. Having a scrub like Technu handy is a good idea.
The trail:
The Pantoll-Dipsea-Steep Ravine hike loop is a Mt. Tam classic. Years ago I saw an entrancing photo of a dark woodsy trail with a creek and a steep ladder, a hallmark feature of the Steep Ravine Trail, and knew I had to hike there. I’ve done the Dipsea-Steep Ravine Loop from Pantoll several times, and could never get good photos. It was always late in the afternoon by the time we were ascending back up Steep Ravine, and even in bright daylight the sun has a hard time reaching into the deeper forest sections. I was also always more tired by the time I was climbing back up Steep Ravine Trail, and I forgot how steep that ascent is every time I hiked it.
The other problem besides needing a bright day to get the deep forest photos is that Steep Ravine Trail parallels Webb Creek much of the way, and during dry season and droughts, hikers don’t get to enjoy the sound and sights of a fully running creek and waterfalls. I needed sufficient sunlight, recent rain, and an open weekday to avoid weekend crowds if I wanted to have a good photo shoot.
My older son was home for the holidays and we had only one sunny weekday left to hit the trail during his break after weeks of rain. He walks for miles on flat London streets, but finds uphill stretches challenging. I decided that we’d switch directions and start the hike by descending the Steep Ravine Trail, allowing me to use focus and energy on taking photos of Steep Ravine during the first half of our hike.
I finally hit the trifecta win for a Steep Ravine photo shoot: a sunny day, fully running creeks and waterfalls, and an open weekday without crowds.
We set off from the Pantoll parking area and found our way to the Steep Ravine Trail, which starts out with a soft pathway lined by wooden fences, which are always a charm factor for me. Wooden stair steps built into the trail appeared fairly quickly.
Here and there we had large trees that had fallen over the trail, but nothing that blocked passage. Moss, ferns and redwoods intermixed along the way, always an atmospheric pleasure of Mt. Tam.
I didn’t keep track of the number of wooden footbridges we crossed, but those are also major charm factors. Some stretches of trail run closer to the creek than others, and since it was winter and there had been plenty of recent rain, we saw many small waterfalls.
After some larger redwoods, we hit a section with twisting stone stairs. This was a signal that the ladder was not far ahead. On my previous hikes, we had done the Steep Ravine Trail as the ascending leg of the hike back up to Pantoll, so I have climbed up the ladder a number of times. Climbing down the ladder requires a different type of logistical maneuver, but we and other hikers we saw during this visit didn’t have trouble going up or down. I would urge extra caution when the wood is wet, though, as the logs that make up the ladder rungs can be slippery.
The ladder area is where many people stop for photos, and where a lively waterfall runs. Some people might just use this as their destination point and go back to Pantoll, but once this far, it is worth covering the distance to return to Pantoll via the loop connecting via Dipsea.
After the ladder, the Steep Ravine is less steep for a stretch as it leads down to the intersection with the Dipsea Trail. The creek and small unnamed waterfalls parallel the trail nicely in some sections, and there are more redwoods and ferns along the way.
At one point, there is another steep stretch with potentially slippery rocks to navigate. Stone stairs reappear further along, as do a number of footbridges.
A footbridge is the key marker to switching from the Steep Ravine Trail to start the return leg to Pantoll via the Dipsea Trail. You know you’re at the trail intersection when you get to the footbridge with trail signs near it. That’s where you switch to the Dipsea Trail.
This set of hike notes and photo gallery covers the Steep Ravine section of this hike. It is pretty much forest and creek trail scenery, all lovely. To see the more open ocean views along parts of the Dipsea Trail on the return leg, check out the Dipsea Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes. One note for those who try this hike loop, particularly for those who decide to descend via the Dipsea and ascend via Steep Ravine, there is one quite confusing spot on the Dipsea Trail that is not well marked. The open ocean view trail seems to continue going on toward open ocean views, yet a narrow bit of trail cuts in under some trees. It’s the narrow part under the trees that is the Dipsea Trail. Many a hiker gets confused there.
It is also possible to do a shorter hike from Whitegate Ranch Trailhead down to the footbridge that connects the Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trails. Some people start there, hike up the Steep Ravine Trail to the ladder by the waterfalls, and then go back the same way. That’s just another option for people who’d like to do a shorter hike and see the ladder.
Steep Ravine Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Hitting the Trifecta” 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, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Pantoll Campground parking area, Mount Tamalpais State Park
Starting Point: Pantoll parking area, 6456 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
For online map application searches, input “Pantoll Campground Parking”
Mount Tamalpais State Park info link (CA State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471
Muir Woods and Vicinity Trail Map (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map-muwo-trail-2019-small.pdf
Mount Tamalpais brochure with map (California State Parks):
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Distance:
One of my favorite Mt. Tam hikes is the just under 4 mile loop from Pantoll Campground down to the Dipsea Trail, and then back up via the Steep Ravine Trail. For these Hike Notes, I reversed the loop and started from the Steep Ravine Trail, which turned out to be a great option. The section of the Steep Ravine Trail featured in the photo gallery for this post is 1.7 miles, from Pantoll to the connection with the Dipsea Trail. The Steep Ravine Trail does extend another 0.5 miles down to the road leading to the Steep Ravine Campground and the beach. Our full hike this time was 1.7 miles on Steep Ravine from Pantoll to the Dipsea Trail intersection, 1.5 miles on the Dipsea going east, and about 0.3 back up to Pantoll via the Old Mine Trail, with another option being to walk a short bit further on the Dipsea and return to Pantoll on 0.4 miles of the Stapleveldt Trail.
Check out the Dipsea Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes for the photo gallery and description of the companion portion of this loop hike.
Considerations:
• Check health and safety updates for facility and trail openings and closings (such as via the info link noted above).
• Mt. Tam trailheads and parking are very popular, especially on weekends. Arriving early or hiking on weekdays are good ways to avoid weekend jams.
• The Pantoll Campground parking area has toilet facilities (subject to change as noted above).
• There are narrow stairs and some steep sections along the Steep Ravine Trail.
• This section of the Steep Ravine Trail is highlighted by a trail ladder along the steep rise next to the waterfalls, so be ready to climb or descend a rustic ladder.
• The Steep Ravine Trail’s popularity means making space on the trail in narrow spots at busy times, especially weekends.
• Heed trail safety and wildlife signs.
• Watch out for poison oak on any hike. Having a scrub like Technu handy is a good idea.
The trail:
The Pantoll-Dipsea-Steep Ravine hike loop is a Mt. Tam classic. Years ago I saw an entrancing photo of a dark woodsy trail with a creek and a steep ladder, a hallmark feature of the Steep Ravine Trail, and knew I had to hike there. I’ve done the Dipsea-Steep Ravine Loop from Pantoll several times, and could never get good photos. It was always late in the afternoon by the time we were ascending back up Steep Ravine, and even in bright daylight the sun has a hard time reaching into the deeper forest sections. I was also always more tired by the time I was climbing back up Steep Ravine Trail, and I forgot how steep that ascent is every time I hiked it.
The other problem besides needing a bright day to get the deep forest photos is that Steep Ravine Trail parallels Webb Creek much of the way, and during dry season and droughts, hikers don’t get to enjoy the sound and sights of a fully running creek and waterfalls. I needed sufficient sunlight, recent rain, and an open weekday to avoid weekend crowds if I wanted to have a good photo shoot.
My older son was home for the holidays and we had only one sunny weekday left to hit the trail during his break after weeks of rain. He walks for miles on flat London streets, but finds uphill stretches challenging. I decided that we’d switch directions and start the hike by descending the Steep Ravine Trail, allowing me to use focus and energy on taking photos of Steep Ravine during the first half of our hike.
I finally hit the trifecta win for a Steep Ravine photo shoot: a sunny day, fully running creeks and waterfalls, and an open weekday without crowds.
We set off from the Pantoll parking area and found our way to the Steep Ravine Trail, which starts out with a soft pathway lined by wooden fences, which are always a charm factor for me. Wooden stair steps built into the trail appeared fairly quickly.
Here and there we had large trees that had fallen over the trail, but nothing that blocked passage. Moss, ferns and redwoods intermixed along the way, always an atmospheric pleasure of Mt. Tam.
I didn’t keep track of the number of wooden footbridges we crossed, but those are also major charm factors. Some stretches of trail run closer to the creek than others, and since it was winter and there had been plenty of recent rain, we saw many small waterfalls.
After some larger redwoods, we hit a section with twisting stone stairs. This was a signal that the ladder was not far ahead. On my previous hikes, we had done the Steep Ravine Trail as the ascending leg of the hike back up to Pantoll, so I have climbed up the ladder a number of times. Climbing down the ladder requires a different type of logistical maneuver, but we and other hikers we saw during this visit didn’t have trouble going up or down. I would urge extra caution when the wood is wet, though, as the logs that make up the ladder rungs can be slippery.
The ladder area is where many people stop for photos, and where a lively waterfall runs. Some people might just use this as their destination point and go back to Pantoll, but once this far, it is worth covering the distance to return to Pantoll via the loop connecting via Dipsea.
After the ladder, the Steep Ravine is less steep for a stretch as it leads down to the intersection with the Dipsea Trail. The creek and small unnamed waterfalls parallel the trail nicely in some sections, and there are more redwoods and ferns along the way.
At one point, there is another steep stretch with potentially slippery rocks to navigate. Stone stairs reappear further along, as do a number of footbridges.
A footbridge is the key marker to switching from the Steep Ravine Trail to start the return leg to Pantoll via the Dipsea Trail. You know you’re at the trail intersection when you get to the footbridge with trail signs near it. That’s where you switch to the Dipsea Trail.
This set of hike notes and photo gallery covers the Steep Ravine section of this hike. It is pretty much forest and creek trail scenery, all lovely. To see the more open ocean views along parts of the Dipsea Trail on the return leg, check out the Dipsea Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes. One note for those who try this hike loop, particularly for those who decide to descend via the Dipsea and ascend via Steep Ravine, there is one quite confusing spot on the Dipsea Trail that is not well marked. The open ocean view trail seems to continue going on toward open ocean views, yet a narrow bit of trail cuts in under some trees. It’s the narrow part under the trees that is the Dipsea Trail. Many a hiker gets confused there.
It is also possible to do a shorter hike from Whitegate Ranch Trailhead down to the footbridge that connects the Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trails. Some people start there, hike up the Steep Ravine Trail to the ladder by the waterfalls, and then go back the same way. That’s just another option for people who’d like to do a shorter hike and see the ladder.
Steep Ravine Trail from Pantoll Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Hitting the Trifecta” 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, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
