MT Tam: Cataract Falls 8 mi Moderate Hike
Details
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CARPOOL REQUEST COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE GROUP. Please read below how to carpool.
Level: Moderate
Total Distance: 8 miles round-trip
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Elevation Change: 1,600 feet
Facilities: Pit toilets at the trail head and at Laurel Dell
Sleep Late and Hike Dog Policy: No Dogs. Learn more:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials/sleep-late-and-hike-dog-policy/
Please read our tutorial for hiking in the sun:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials-how-to-hike-in-the-sun/
Recommended Map:
Download it. Print it out. Load it on your phone. Use it to get to the start location.
http://www.mappery.com/maps/Mount-Tamalpais-State-Park-Map.pdf
AllTrails map:
Note: This map says the hike is 6.5 miles long, but it is actually about 8 miles long when RECORDED on AllTrails.
GPS Coordinates for meeting place:
Degrees Decimal Format for Google Maps:
37.914404, -122.609160
Degrees/Minutes/Seconds format for most cars:
Latitude 37°54'51.9"N
Longitude 122°36'33.0"W
Nearest street address:
None. Use the Google GPS coordinates in Google Maps.
Getting there:
Please use the Google maps link at the top to plan your own route from your home. And, download the PDF map below onto your phone before you start, or print it out.
NOTE: If possible, use the GPS coordinates when driving as the nearest street address may be a couple of miles away on some of our trips in some GPS maps.
Meeting place:
Quarry Parking Lot, Behind Mt. Tam's Mountain Theater
Parking:
Quarry Parking Lot.
Carpooling
We will use this link for carpooling:
https://groupcarpool.com/t/xhq5cd
Please sign up here.
CARPOOLING MANNERS:
Please refrain from trying to negotiate your carpool in the comments, as it is equivalent to sending multiple "Reply All" emails to everyone.
Please start your carpool quest, by first adding yourself to the carpool link above.
Then, use the contact info provided by the driver or rider in the link above to contact them directly and privately.
Please be considerate of others and resist the urge to "Reply All".
Thank you for understanding.
Summary:
One of Mount Tamalpais’s most compelling assets is its broad variety of possible hikes This entire loop is a tour de force of the mountain’s magic: you’ll experience dense forests, aromatic chaparral, rushing creeks, waterfalls, and seasonal flower-dotted meadows.
Hiking Directions:
Start at Mountain Theater Parking Lot, and head North to cross the paved road and enter Rock Spring Lagunitas Fire Rd ->
Passing on the left side (0.4 mi), Benstein Trail to turn left on to Laurel Dell Fire Rd (0.4mi) ->
Pass Benstein Trail again on your left (0.4 mi), and again on your right (117 ft) to stay on Laurel Dell Fire Rd ->
Pass the road to Barth's Retreat on your left (0.2mi), and Old Stove Trail on your right (0.3) staying on the same Rd ->
As the Rd winds back and forth a few times, you will find yourself facing South and Cataract Falls Trail on your right (0.6 mi) ->
Turning right into the clearing, head to Cataract Falls (0.4 mi) ->
As you go down further, you will see various other falls until you arrive at Alpine Lake (0.7 mi) ->
Retrace your steps back up to Laurel Dell Fire Rd ( 1.1 mi) ->
Do not turn right on Laurel Dell Fire Rd. Cross the road and go straight 100 ft, and continue on Cataract Falls Trail, passing Mickey O'Brien Trial on your left after 200 ft heading to Rock Springs (1.2 mi)->
Cross Ridgecrest Blvd, turning left on the Upper Old Mine trail for 500 ft->
Turn left onto Upper Spur for 200 ft, passing a trail on you right at 100 ft to arrive back at the parking lot.
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