Along with Mt. Diablo, Mt.Tam is a great place to work in some really long day hikes of varying difficulty for training purposes. The view from the top is great. Always windy and about 20 degrees cooler than the parking lot at the base of the summit, so be prepared. Best in Fall and Spring. Summer can be VERY COLD and Foggy, and Winter is most often just to wet with gummy trails that are often closed due to water damage.
keema - Jan 7, 2007 5:07 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2007
Beautiful Day
Started at Mountain Home Inn and then up the Fern Creek Trail. I counted 6 other county high points from the summit. Afterwards went and watched my alma mater (Cal Maritime) lose a heart breaker to Menlo College
huskerhiker - Oct 30, 2006 10:31 am Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2006
Beautiful Views of Bay Area!
Hiked with Cal Triathlon Team
ROUTE: Muir Woods Visitor Center to Pantoll (Ben Johnson & Stapelveldt trails); Pantoll to Mountain Theater (Bootjack Trail); Mountain Theater to West Point Inn (Rock Spring Trail); West Point Inn to "Summit"; Summit to Mountain Home Inn (Hogback); Mountain Home Inn to Muir Wood Vis. Ctr. (Ocean View Trail).
This route was difficult enough when keeping pace with the triathlon team. Great route to offer as many diverse views of the region as possible - sweeping vistas, immersion in redwood trees. Descent on Hogback is steep and can work the joints.
Clear day, GREAT view of Bay Area. Beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder.
Hope to hit this on my mountain bike soon.
mlarkin2002 - Oct 19, 2006 11:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2005
Dayhike
A quick (~30 min) dayhike up and down the short trail.
Took the lazy-man's route. Finished the day with an 850-mile drive back to Phoenix.
Rockman - Aug 29, 2006 5:26 am Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2000
good
Did this once back a few years. Nothing too memorable about for me though.
straydog5 - Aug 26, 2006 5:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Nice Views
Fantastic view of the fog as it comes in from the ocean over the bay.
Chris Doig - Aug 21, 2006 6:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Family day on the mtn
Drove up and took the summit trail with my wife and 3 year old son.
The little guy scampered up the rocks like a marmot, collecting his
2nd cohp. fun day out with nice views. Only 49 more high points to complete CA. I'll be like 70.
sierramtngoat - Jul 5, 2006 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1997
Route Climbed: Cascade Dam
I've been using Mt. Tam as a training ground for a few years now and have hiked it via the Dipsea Trail, the south face trail, railroad grade, and via a probably unknown/abandoned trail starting at Cascade Dam; this route is probably the most direct on the mountain, but it was a minor bush-whack the time I did it.
the winds were gusty the winds were not gusty. it was cold it was warm it wasn't. It was time for...
McCannster - Mar 5, 2006 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2006
T'was a dark and stormy morning on Mt. Tam...
...and Ridgecrest Blvd. was closed 2.5 miles from the East Peak parking lot, so we braved the hazardous conditions and made our summit bid of the highpoint of Marin County on foot. We were the only ones on the summit and only saw about 4 or 5 other people on the road.
mpjones - Jan 16, 2007 10:49 am Date Climbed: Jan 15, 2007
Nice dayCame up here after doing Mt. Davidson in SF. Took the short route from ridge parking lot. Very nice weather, but crowded!
MtnAv8r - Jan 8, 2007 7:58 pm
Great Place to TrainAlong with Mt. Diablo, Mt.Tam is a great place to work in some really long day hikes of varying difficulty for training purposes. The view from the top is great. Always windy and about 20 degrees cooler than the parking lot at the base of the summit, so be prepared. Best in Fall and Spring. Summer can be VERY COLD and Foggy, and Winter is most often just to wet with gummy trails that are often closed due to water damage.
keema - Jan 7, 2007 5:07 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2007
Beautiful DayStarted at Mountain Home Inn and then up the Fern Creek Trail. I counted 6 other county high points from the summit. Afterwards went and watched my alma mater (Cal Maritime) lose a heart breaker to Menlo College
huskerhiker - Oct 30, 2006 10:31 am Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2006
Beautiful Views of Bay Area!Hiked with Cal Triathlon Team
ROUTE: Muir Woods Visitor Center to Pantoll (Ben Johnson & Stapelveldt trails); Pantoll to Mountain Theater (Bootjack Trail); Mountain Theater to West Point Inn (Rock Spring Trail); West Point Inn to "Summit"; Summit to Mountain Home Inn (Hogback); Mountain Home Inn to Muir Wood Vis. Ctr. (Ocean View Trail).
This route was difficult enough when keeping pace with the triathlon team. Great route to offer as many diverse views of the region as possible - sweeping vistas, immersion in redwood trees. Descent on Hogback is steep and can work the joints.
Clear day, GREAT view of Bay Area. Beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder.
Hope to hit this on my mountain bike soon.
mlarkin2002 - Oct 19, 2006 11:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2005
DayhikeA quick (~30 min) dayhike up and down the short trail.
oluskydiver - Oct 18, 2006 7:13 pm
Mt. Tamnice escape from city, but wait you have the great views of the san francisco. i guess there is no escape from the city.
surgent - Sep 13, 2006 3:22 pm
Fun short hikeTook the lazy-man's route. Finished the day with an 850-mile drive back to Phoenix.
Rockman - Aug 29, 2006 5:26 am Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2000
goodDid this once back a few years. Nothing too memorable about for me though.
straydog5 - Aug 26, 2006 5:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Nice ViewsFantastic view of the fog as it comes in from the ocean over the bay.
Chris Doig - Aug 21, 2006 6:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Family day on the mtnDrove up and took the summit trail with my wife and 3 year old son.
The little guy scampered up the rocks like a marmot, collecting his
2nd cohp. fun day out with nice views. Only 49 more high points to complete CA. I'll be like 70.
sierramtngoat - Jul 5, 2006 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1997
Route Climbed: Cascade DamI've been using Mt. Tam as a training ground for a few years now and have hiked it via the Dipsea Trail, the south face trail, railroad grade, and via a probably unknown/abandoned trail starting at Cascade Dam; this route is probably the most direct on the mountain, but it was a minor bush-whack the time I did it.
Desert_Solitaire - Jun 28, 2006 5:12 am
Hwy/stairsGreat view and wonderful aura
joosts - May 28, 2006 8:35 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
Nice morningGreat morning with awesome views. Straight up from the Mountain Home inn to the east summit.
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Dec 25, 2004
Eldridge Grade from RossDescended via Rock Spring-Lagunitas. Amazingly, this is the only time I have ever hiked this Bay Area icon. I live too far south.
SummitJunkie - May 13, 2006 8:00 am Date Climbed: May 9, 2006
PerfectPerect weather, great view.
b_betts - May 8, 2006 6:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2005
Fog...Took a couple tries as the first time there was just too much fog.. but had a great day the second time!
thetathrees - Apr 17, 2006 7:28 pm
Hiked all over this mountain in 80s and 90s...including hikes to the top - don't remember specific routes.
Matt Worster - Mar 29, 2006 3:33 pm
a 5-bridge daycould see clear to San Jose, very nice, easy day.
Al Pine - Mar 6, 2006 4:22 am
it was a good hike it was a bad hikethe winds were gusty the winds were not gusty. it was cold it was warm it wasn't. It was time for...
McCannster - Mar 5, 2006 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2006
T'was a dark and stormy morning on Mt. Tam......and Ridgecrest Blvd. was closed 2.5 miles from the East Peak parking lot, so we braved the hazardous conditions and made our summit bid of the highpoint of Marin County on foot. We were the only ones on the summit and only saw about 4 or 5 other people on the road.