I prepared for this hike and was even selective of the people I invited due to its length and difficulty. I have done portions of the hike in the past but never the whole route in its entirety. I did my research and found Socalhiker.net to be the most detailed as far as specs and directions for the hike to the summit. This is the longest and, in my opinion, the hardest hikes of the Six Peak Challenge for Northern California. With that said, be prepared, bring ample water (there are water stations and restrooms throughout the trail), food, clothing layers, sun protection, and insect repellent (there are ticks this time of year).

Based on the specs, my team started the trek at the Dipsea Trail (heading away from the beach) on Panoramic HWY at 8am. We figured it would take us about 7hours so, we made sure to clear off the day to take our time and take in the sights. It was quite overcast when we started which was great because parts of the trail are exposed to the elements and can be really draining on a hot summer day. The trail from Steep Ravine to Pantoll was lush with foilage and beautifully misty in the morning, it was a dream to hike through.

After making a pit stop at Pantoll Campground, we trekked to the summit and had lunch at the peak. This was my first time summiting Mt. Tamalpais so im not sure if this is typical, but when we stopped at the visitors center to use the restroom we noticed that we were literally above the clouds. The last stretch of the plank walk trail to the summit was difficult for me, mainly due to awkward incline on the planks. When we reached the summit the views were incredibly clear and just as breath-taking as the clouds.

On the way back, the Matt Davis Trail was a little less demanding of a tired hiker than the first leg. I appreciated the steady decline and the swtichbacks leading to the beach.

This is not the hardest hike I've ever done, but it definitely has the potential to catch you of guard. Be prepared and enjoy!!!