Dipsea Trail-Steep Ravine Loop

Start at the Pantoll Ranger Station (and Park HQ) and head down the short road to the maintenance facilities and Ranger Office. Look for the sign to Old Mine Trail.

The trail will take you down short switchbacks into a forested ravine and then will generally follow the contour line. Periodically the trail crosses short bridges.

After .6 miles the trail will break out of the forest and into grasslands.

Then up to a ridge which opens to a spectacular view of the Golden Gate, Potato Patch offshore, and down the San Francisco Peninsula.

The Junction includes the Old Mine Trail and Coastal Fire Road. Follow the fire road to the left to the next intersection ahead.

Take the Dipsea trail head toward the coast. The trail generally follows the contours across the upper slopes of a deep canyon. For the most part, the trail is through exposed grasslands but dips into forested sections.

A stone with "Dipsea Race 5" on a brass tag.

The Farallons offshore may be visible on clear days offshore. This segment of the trail will generally follow the contour and below a flat topped ridge between valleys. Generally the trail is in mixed chaparral and grasslands with occasional dips into forested areas.

A fork in trail. Follow the trail to the right.

The left trail appears closed for replanting. The trail will immediately begin rounding the hillside, nose drop you into a Bay and Redwood forested valley.

The start of downgrade down to Steep Ravine.

In the following segment the trail drops fast! Much of the trail consists of stairs following the flow-line down into a gully.

GPS accuracy is very poor in this narrow, deep, and forested gully. (Mine was indicating +/- 65 feet).

This point is near the start of a series of staircases built into the trail down.

More steps built into the trail.

Another set of steps. The ravine drops fast with the trail and creek bed nearly merging.

More steps! In this area the trail is effectively in the creek bed.

This portion of the trail would be under water in a hard storm!

Point taken at the base of a course of steps.

The gully and trail is approaching its intersection with Steep Ravine.

A "Dipsea Race #6" monument at the bottom of the canyon near a small bridge across the Steep Ravine creek.

The bottom is a deep, isolated redwood filled canyon with running stream; small waterfalls scattered both up and down stream.

Cross the bridge and head northeasterly up this new canyon.

Steep Ravine Trail to Pantoll Ranger Station - 1.7 miles. Dipsea trail to Stinson Beach 1.4 Miles.

Follow Steep Ravine upstream. The trail will follow up the canyon just above the stream, crossing frequently in a quest to actually find a place to put it.

The canyon rapidly generates that primal feel that only a Redwood forest has. The floor vegetation grows everywhere where there isn't bare rock. The ferns were particularly lush.

Base of stairs. The whole canyon is filled with redwood and fern. Truly spectacular! The uphill climb back to the Pantoll Ranger station starts in earnest.

The trail will continue the uphill climb at the canyon floor. The vegetation continues its starkly vertical theme tucked into this narrow canyon.

The creek in many places is stepped in a series of short falls and provides a constant background atmosphere.

Who needs a gym? Just come here twice a week!

About 75 vertical feet of stepped waterfalls.

The trail continues to cross back and forth looking for a foothold across the stream.

The trail also periodically has steps to aid the climb.

There's downed redwoods passing over the trail.

Base of ladder next to a waterfall.

The trail continues up Steep Ravine but the elevation gain becomes less intense.

Along this segment the forest opens up a bit; there will be switchbacks and trails maintained to a higher level above.

Trail head to Steep Ravine.

Located about 60 feet away is the trail head this walk began at.

Steep Ravine is just that! A spectacular canyon redwood forest. Nirvana for stair climbers. It’s one of the best hikes at Mount Tam.