Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach Loop

Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach Loop is a more rigorous ridge to ridge and back climb offering outstanding 360° vistas of Mt. Tam, the Pacific and San Francisco Bay. There is approximately 2300 feet of elevation gain in the three climbs. Loop length is 11.1 miles. Difficulty rating is 3 (somewhat difficult).

Trailhead Leave the parking lot by riding west down the paved road. The first fire road to your right leads (.75 mile) up to Haypress Backpack Camp. The second uphill road to the right is Fox Trail, off limits to cyclists.

Mile .65 The pavement ends, bear right, continue on the fire road.

Mile 1.20 Join the Coastal Trail fire road. Go right for a steep climb out of valley and up to Coyote Ridge. The view down to left to the beach and small pond is exquisite.

Mile 1.70 We leave the Coastal Trail as it becomes the Coyote Ridge fire road, turning northeast as it ascends the spine of the ridge. On a clear day the Farallon Islands can be seen to the west, with Bolinas Head to the north and Pt. Reyes beyond.

Mile 2.35 Fox Trail joins from the right.

Mile 2.40Turn right at the junction and head for the top of Coyote Ridge.

Mile 2.55 We pass the Middle Green Gulch on the left. This single track was recently opened to bicycle use uphill only; we'll be coming up this later in the ride.

Mile 2.60 The Green Gulch trial leads down to the left, despite being a road, it is closed to cyclists.

Mile 2.85 Stop for a moment and savor the superb 360° view.

Mile 3.00 Observe the Miwok fire road down to the left, we'll be joining this momentarily.

Mile 3.10 Turn left onto the Miwok, this is a big chain ring descent to Highway 1, but be wary of other users, as this is a popular road for both runners and dogs as well as cyclists, and there are some blind corners.

Mile 4.65 Highway 1. Bear left and use the short single track next to the road, crossing at the bend.

Mile 4.70 Begin an excellent, looping, legal, single track climb to Diaz Ridge.

Mile 5.00 Join the Diaz Ridge fire road, going left (west).

Mile 5.70 Cresting the hill, we make a quick dip, only to start climbing again.

Mile 6.00 As the road crowns, stop and dismount, go through the gate on you left, being sure to latch it shut behind you, as this is horse pasture. Begin the descent down to Muir Beach. The trail alternates between single track and road, with many technical sections, Avoid the temptation to shortcut the switchbacks.

Mile 6.55 As the trail briefly flattens out observe the stunning view down to the beach. The Middle Green Gulch Trail can be seen zig-zaging its way up hillside to you left and Frank Valley, leading to Muir Woods, is to your right. The trail continues down the crest until you reach a saddle, turning left to:

Mile 6.95 Join Highway 1, after latching the gate. Ride down the highway turning left towards Muir Beach at:

Mile 7.20 The Pelican Inn sits at the corner should a pint, darts and a banger sound better than a 900 foot climb.

Mile 7.30 Turn left at the second gate (right before the road crosses the creek) and skirt the horse pasture that will soon become a wetland restoration project. The creek flows to the right towards the beach.

Mile 7.60 We rejoin the Coastal trail briefly, going left.

Mile 7.65 Left again brings us onto the Middle Green Gulch trail. Ah, single track.

Mile 7.80 Turn left at multiple split rail blocking fences (this portion of the trail is being restored), and go down to the gated entrance to Green Gulch farms for a detour. When riding through the farm, please be courteous and respect their space. Follow the signs and rejoin the trail at gate at the south end of the third row of Cypress trees. Begin a steady, small chain ring climb, switchbacking out of Green Gulch on your way back up Coyote ridge.

Mile 8.80 Bear right as the trail gets a little steeper for a couple of tenths.

Mile 9.45 Rejoin Coyote Ridge fire road for a familiar climb to the top of the knob

Mile 10.00 We rapidly descend to the Miwok Trail, this time going straight, heading towards the Eucalyptus Trees on the hill ahead. The road enters a thick grove of trees, passes a water tank and intersects the fire road:

Mile 10.50 that heads back uphill toward Tennessee Valley. This fire road originates a short distance below off of Marin Ave., a main thoroughfare of Tam Valley that connects to the Tennessee Valley Road. We head up to the right.

Mile 10.75 We begin our descent to the parking lot with some whoopty doos that invite air time as the road gradually becomes singletrack as it gets steeper. This is tough climb up if you reverse this loop, but worth the challenge. As the trail meanders down, you'll encounter a couple of 180° stepped switchbacks that make this portion of the ride technically more demanding.

Mile 11.1 The parking lot. Or return to your left if you parked at the commuter lot. Take the side trip up Oakwood Canyon a half mile on the right down the road, just past the narrow bridge.

The information about this ride is provided as a courtesy to the reader and is as current and accurate as possible; however land use policy, weather, acts of god, war and ignorance may make the content incomplete, out of date or just generally useless; so, as trust goes only so far these days, use your brains and your heart before you ride.

Tennessee Valley to Gerbode Valley

info