Frequently asked questions about Mt Tam
Here are
some of the more commonly asked questions regarding the Mt Tamalpais State Park. Please check them and if you don’t find your
question, feel free to email [email protected].
Q: When is Mt Tamalpais open?
A: The Mt Tamalpais State Park is open seven days a
week. Hours vary but are roughly sunrise
(but not before 7 am) to sunset. The park is closed after sunset and no
permission is given for recreational use (Hikes) once the park is closed EXCEPT
for the organized DPR/MTIA scheduled night hike(s). Please note that various parts of Mt Tam are
run by different organizations which have their own rules and regulations.
However: A red-flag alert closes the upper
mountain due to fire danger. The official stance of the State Park is:
When the Marin County Fire Department determines that the upper mountain is to
be closed due to fire danger, state parks lands ARE closed to the public - for
public safety.
During fire
season, the number to call to see if Mt Tam is closed due to fire danger is: 415-499-7191.
It’s also
possible for portions of Mt Tam to be closed due to tree falls and snow.
Q: How do I get to Mt Tam? How do I get to trailheads there?
A: Check the Directions Page, which is on the Mt Tam
dropdown. It includes directions and
driving times to the various trailheads.
Remember, various parts of Mt Tam are run by different organizations and
only those trailheads in the State Park are listed here.
Q: Is there mass transit to Mt Tam?
A: Yes. For a
schedule, call the West Marin Stage Coach, 415-526-3239
or visit their web site at http://www.marintransit.org/stage.html
Q: Do I need to pay a fee to use Mt Tam?
A: There is no entrance fee to Mt Tam, though some of
the trailheads require a parking fee.
The MTIA sponsored hikes and the Astronomy Program are free. Other activities, such as camping, may
require a fee. You may hike on Tam for
free.
Q: What can you tell me about the MTIA hiking
schedule?
A: While you are not required to have a guide on Mt
Tam, the MTIA offers free hikes Saturdays and Sundays. During summer months there are also hikes
Wednesday and Saturday evenings. These
hikes are an excellent way to become familiar with the mountain. No reservations are required. Schedules for these hikes can be found on the
Hiking dropdown.
Q: Have you any suggestions for hikes?
A: We have
briefly described several in the Hiking dropdown. Feel free to hike other trails, of course.
Q: Where can I get a map of Mt Tam?
A: The kiosk at Pantoll and the Visitor Center at East Peak sell maps. You can get an online map by clicking here. Local camping stores frequently sell them
too.
Q: What’s the State Park policy regarding dogs?
A: Dogs are not allowed on State Park property except
for the Pantoll Campsite and the Alice Eastwood Road.
They are allowed in the Marin Municipal Water District, which requires them
to be on leash at all times.
Q: Are bikes allowed on Tam?
A: While
biking is a very popular activity on Mt Tamalpais, within the Mt Tamalpais
State Park itself biking is limited to the roads, the very few fire roads, and
the Coast View Trail, which is a multi-use trail. Bicycling is prohibited on all other trails
in the State Park. There are many more
fire roads on which bicycling is permitted in adjacent lands maintained by the
Marin Municipal Water District and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Q: I want to bring a large group to the State
Park. Is there anything I need to know?
A: The State Park asks large groups to form up into
smaller groups and depart with 15 to 20 minutes between each group. This allows
for a much better trail experience for all parties on the trail. Also, departing from Rock Spring parking lot
will serve everyone better too. It would be best not to over run the Pantoll
parking area with a large group on a weekend day.
If you
would like a guide, there are MTIA hike leaders who are available for weekdays
as well as weekends. We offer private guided hikes for any level of hiking
group. We request a donation to MTIA of $150 for any hike. The donations to
MTIA go directly back to Mt. Tam in the form of ranger support and
public activities. We have no overhead costs in our association. The money goes
to whatever programs that Ryen Goering, our Supervisory Ranger asks for. We are
a 501-C3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible.
Q: What about wheelchair access on Mt Tam?
A: The only trail in the State Park at this time that
is available for non-sport chairs is the Verna Dunshee. The State Park is
putting in two additional trails for wheelchair access, but there is not yet a
firm completion date for these two new accessible trails. One is the Old Mine trail
as it takes off from Pantoll. This will extend out to a view point near the
junctions of the Dipsea and the Coast View Trails. The other is an overlook off
of the McKenna Gulch trail. This will have parking off of West Ridgecrest.
The
Bootjack, Pantoll, and East Peak picnic areas all have chair
accessible facilities, i.e. parking, restrooms, and picnic sites. Alice
Eastwood campground and Pantoll campground have ADA access. The Frank Valley Horse Camp
is accessible and has an accessible ramp to assist riders from a chair to a
horse with additional assistance from the chair users party.
Q: What about Camping on Mt Tam?
A: There's no backpacking on Mt Tam. If you go
to www.mttam.net and go to the Other Activities dropdown, you'll find Camping
as one of the pages you can check out to see what is available on Mt Tam.
There are also camp sites at Samuel P Taylor State Park.
For backpacking, check out the Pt Reyes National Seashore.
Q: What cell phone access is there on Mt Tam?
A: It’s variable, depending on your carrier and where
you are on the mountain.
Q: What about WiFi access on Mt Tam?
A: It’s only available at Pantoll Station. For more information, go to the State Park
web site by clicking here.
Q: Where’s a good spot to propose marriage on Mt Tam.
A: The best place I know of is O’Rourke’s Bench, which
is a few minutes walk southeast of the Rock Spring parking lot. There’s no signage for the trail so you
should preview it.