Marin County
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Muir Woods National Monument Marin County |
August 3, 2021
Today's endeavour begins just a couple of blocks from the heart of Mill Valley,
where parking is problematical. Areas not actually metered are designated as
either 2-Hours or 4-Hours. Not knowing just how long this walk
will last, I park just outside a signed zone and ride my bicycle into town, locking
it up in front of the local bank.
Old Mill Park
Two years ago I traversed the entire Dipsea Trail down to Stinson Beach, so I should remember something about today's route.
The old mill site
At the western end of the park is a little sign marked, "Dipsea Trail"; no other information is provided.
Start of the Dispea Staircase
There are 700 stairsteps in three sections plus some inclined sidewalks and sections of roadway, all winding through a remarkable hillside neighborhood where some folks even use the stairs to access their homes. I know of nothing else like it.
No wilderness experience on this route
One has to watch for the telltale trail markers
That house on the hillside is hosting some fun visitors:
Presently I encounter the Panoramic Highway, which provides access to
the park. Turning to the right, I find the trail continuation about a
hundred yards up the way, at the elevation high-point of the trek.
It's all downhill from here
After a steep mile that seems like more, a parking lot appears. Leaving the Dipsea Trail, I head for the entrance kiosk.
There is a $15 entrance fee, but my Old Age Pass lets me in free
Barely a trickle in Redwood Creek
Nifty boardwalks are everywhere
The Coast Redwoods include the world's tallest trees.
Most of the record-setters are a couple hundred miles north
There is loop option on the Hillside Trail, which proves quite boring. I am glad when it finally loops back down to the creek.
Back on the main trail
The Hillside Loop is over to the right
An unusual request
No fish are around today ⇔
Plenty of visitors are around, however; and that fact serves to hasten my departure.
Just outside the park entrance
The nation's second-oldest footrace, held annually, is eight miles long.
The route back is quite steep, including many stairsteps built into the trail. Although I am not feeling particularly energetic today, I do manage to complete the walk without stopping to rest at any time.
The rest is easy
Some Mill Valley storefront flowers:
Baby Sage
Blue and White Daisybush
§: Well, although I remember Muir Woods fondly from decades past,
it proved something of an anti-climax today. In comparison, Big Trees
State Park up in the foothills is much more interesting, if only because it
features — bigger trees.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Adventure |  |
| Flowers | |
ADDENDUM
Having attempted once again to count the storied Dipsea Trail stairs accurately, I still am unclear. Having previously measured the bottom section at 315 steps, today I counted 314 on the way up and 316 on the way down. Go figure.
In any case, a Google search reveals the numbers 680 and 688, both of which are
dead wrong by a substantial margin. My counting simply is not that bad,
and I purposely excluded such things as roadside curbs, etc. The correct total
is in the range of 699-701.
