A delightful time at Steep Ravine
This classic hike is pure magnificence. If you have delayed returning to it, never hiked it or don't know about it, the time is now!
Always considered in the top handful of Marin hikes, the Steep Ravine Trail is at its best — Webb Creek and the waterfalls are flowing full, the redwoods and ferns are standing tall and fresh, and the trillium and other early wildflowers are in full bloom.
• Hike summary: The Steep Ravine Trail is 4.25 miles out and back from the signed trailhead located at the lower left corner of the Pantoll parking lot. It is often a steep trail with steps and some difficult footing. In addition, you must climb down and, on the return, up a well-secured ladder approximately 10 feet high located .8 miles from our trailhead. Our trail ends at Rocky Point, overlooking the Steep Ravine cabins and the Pacific Ocean. For the return, we reverse our course.
The hike is beautiful and exhilarating, so if you're able, even if you have to rest frequently, take it.
The hike is beautiful and exhilarating, so if you're able, even if you have to rest frequently, take it. You can return from any point.
• Getting there: We start from the bottom left of the Pantoll parking lot. Parking there costs $8 ($7 for seniors). Restrooms are available, and no dogs are allowed.
• The hike: We will start early to avoid the crowds and to experience the trail's early morning serenity. Buz, my frequent hiking companion, and I began early twice recently and were alone much of the time. We first hiked the trail as a loop, returning via the Dipsea, Coastal Fire Road and Old Mine Trail. We much preferred our second hike, the out and back described here, which is spectacular both ways.
The trail starts with long, easy switchbacks going down. They will not be so easy on our return climbing up. Along the way, we are accompanied sometimes by white milkmaids, the county's earliest appearing flower.