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For information on upcoming trail days, please visit our News and Events Page. Condition Reports This page is a compilation of reports on conditions and maintenance needs of Mount Tamalpais trails. The TCC's Trails Committee maintains this page as a service to hikers, and for use in planning future trail maintenance projects. We rely upon you, the users of the mountain's trails, to provide information on trail conditions. There are well over 100 miles of hiking trails on the mountain. We cannot be everywhere at once. Please take the time to send us any information you do not see already posted on this page. We would appreciate reports of any maintenance needs you see, and also reports of any trails you find to be in good condition. Our goal is to provide comprehensive information on all trails. Scroll down this page to see the list of reports. The area covered is generally the same as included in Barry Spitz' book, Tamalpais Trails. This area is bounded by Highway 1 through Green Gulch to the southeast, and by Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. and Audubon Canyon Ranch to the northwest. This page also covers a small part of the Pine Mountain area. To submit a report, please click here and fill out the form.
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Shadyside: 1/29/01, CVR: This route is in reasonably good condition. However, the heavy traffic that this trail receives presents some maintenance challenges. In places, the tread has migrated down the hillside, and needs to be rebuilt. In places, tree roots should be cut out. Some of the steps need to be better backfilled, as they trap muddy pools in winter. Some of the water bars need to be cleaned and improved. Sunnyside: 5/20/01, CVR: This route is in reasonably good condition. |
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Muir Woods to Van Wyck Meadow: 6/8/03, CVR & Bill K.: Several short sections are in need of tread repair, notably the first switchback where the trail steepens above Muir Woods, which suffered damage several years ago when a tree rooted in the edge of the trail fell. A few timber steps at this point would probably be the best solution. Just below Van Wyck Meadow, several of the timber steps are very loose and prone to slipping out of place underfoot. Van Wyck Meadow to Bootjack Picnic Area: 12/19/02, Bill Stevens & CVR: This section is mostly in good condition, much of it having been extensively rehabilitated by a California Conservation Corps crew in late 1999 and early 2000. However, water bars need cleaning, a few of the water bars remain in need of improvement, and short sections of the tread need leveling. Some of the slash should be better disposed of. Bootjack Picnic Area to Mountain Theater: 7/21/00, CVR: This section is mostly in good condition, having been extensively rebuilt over the past several years by various volunteer groups under the direction of Gary Bischof. |
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1/3/01, CVR: This trail is mostly in good condition, though it is narrow and has short steep spots. |
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10/14/00, CVR: The MMWD has closed and obliterated this trail. Please do not use this route. |
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3/8/04, CVR: This extremely popular trail has suffered excessive wear in many places from heavy foot traffic. The MMWD has been rehabilitating the entire trail, in stages, which is improving matters. The entire length of the trail is mostly clear of brush and obstructing limbs. Starting a short distance below Rock Spring, the MMWD relocated a section of the trail to the south side of the creek, and did the same with another section approaching the connector trail south to Laurel Dell Fire Road. Some of the portions of the trail that have not been rerouted are in need of rehabilitation, as traffic has worn a wide path that strays from the original location of the trail and bypasses original low retaining walls and gully crossings. The next trail section, approaching Laurel Dell Picnic Area, was relocated in 1999 out of the meadow. Some may consider the new trail's close proximity to the restrooms unpleasant. Reconstruction of the bottom section, below Laurel Dell Picnic Area, all the way to Bolinas-Fairfax Rd., has been completed by a contractor for the MMWD. This includes long flights of steps. The MMWD added a short spur trail down to Cataract Creek. The job included repairing or constructing many flights of steps, and building tie walls. The topmost switchback turn along this segment below the curved bridge remains very steep and would benefit from the installation of additional steps. |
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Coastal Trail (MTSP, GGNRA) |
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5/26/07, Bill Stevens: Past Willow Camp Fire Road, the trail is lightly used and needs lots of work. The tread is narrow and the trail overgrown. All but one or two wood water bars are plugged. In places, the tread is eroded into a trough. The worst section is from Willow Camp Fire Road north through the wooded area with the bridge. In some places, hikers have bypassed fallen trees blocking the original trail. On one tree, a small chain saw would be helpful. The rest could be handled with loppers and a pruning saw. The continuation on GGNRA land north to Bolinas-Fairfax Road also needs work. |
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Lagunitas Southside Road to Colier Spring: 10/9/01, CVR: This is a steep trail, by any standard. Much of it could be considered hazardous to take in the downhill direction. The trail requires only light trimming of vegetation along its entire length. At Lake Lagunitas, it begins gently for a short distance. This section could use some very minor tread repairs. Just above the second creek crossing, an important drainage dip will need improvement if it is going to last. Where the creek forks, the trail ascends the left branch for a short distance, then crosses, whereupon it precipitously climbs the ridge separating the forks, thus showing the trail's true character for the first time. This climb appears quite vulnerable to erosion. After the trail tops the divide and crosses to the right branch of the drainage, the grade moderates somewhat. As one reaches the watercourse, the trail, having to this point followed an old skid road, suddenly becomes very narrow, precarious, and rocky, and ascends the left bank very steeply. As one continues for perhaps .2 mile, the grade gradually lessens a bit. The location of a creekbed crossing is ambiguous. The old skid road soon becomes evident again, but after only a short distance disappears once more, apparently for good. The trail continues climbing at a similar pace, aided by a few small switchbacks. The appearance of large, old-growth redwoods signals the apparent limit of old logging operations. The grade then becomes gentle, and Colier Spring is soon reached. The sections of the trail following the old skid road are, for the most part, outsloped and not displaying serious erosion problems. The other sections are very narrow, but for the most part on firm ground and not subject to any substantial erosion. The initial question must be if the Colier Trail should be improved to a more comfortable standard. This would be an enormous project, because the existing route is so steep. It would probably be better to leave the trail essentially as it is, a very challenging route. In that event, only minor tread repairs should be undertaken, to improve footing at the most difficult points. Large-scale widening or smoothing would be a great mistake, because it would necessarily disturb a stable trail tread, making the surface slippery and promoting erosion. Colier Spring to Ridgecrest Blvd.: 10/9/01, CVR: The trail begins by climbing a drainage bottom. Parts of this section are, naturally, gathering water. Short of a reroute, a few water bars should be installed. The trail then turns right to begin a series of switchbacks. The trail is narrow, but this aids in preventing erosion on the steep climb. Very minor repairs would be beneficial. The vegetation needs only light trimming. Nearer the top of the trail, work by the TCC on Oct. 6 has left stumps that should be removed. The TCC crew installed a number of water bars here. |
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MP3 
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