Steep Ravine to Dipsea Trail Hike (2/16) Preview

On this favorite February hike we should see giant wake robin, redwood evergreen violets, star lilies, Smith’s fairy bells, fetid adder’s tongue and calypso orchids! We’ll go up Steep Ravine since some of us find the ladder is easier to go up than down. Lunch at Pantoll.  (Click here for a recap of last year's hike).

Directions to the trailhead: Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101. Go through Tam Junction, stay on Route 1, and follow signs to Muir Beach. Pass the road that goes to Muir Beach staying on Route 1 (towards Stinson Beach), pass Slide Ranch, and keep going until you see the locked gate for the Steep Ravine cabins on the west (left) side of the road. There is parking is on the east (right) side. Time: 1 hour 5 minutes from COM. No restrooms at trailhead (but you can turn in at Muir Beach en route and use the ones in the parking lot).

Weather forecast: When we have hiked in this area on this date during the past two years, strong storms buffeted the coast, and it rained heavily enough to discourage several of our group from making the trek. But as of Sunday, February 14th, the forecast for this area on the day of the hike is not bad at all: Partly sunny with a high near 58, and north to northwest wind between 5 and 9 mph. . (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: If you have the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, look at their hike "B14 Dipsea - Steep Ravine Trails" which starts at Pantoll, goes down the Dipsea, up Steep Ravine, and ends back at Pantoll. Since we're beginning and ending our outing down on Highway 1, our hike will be slightly longer, but basically the reverse of the Martins' hike. (Page 6 of the Mt. Tam State Park brochure has a park map that you can "zoom in" on to see these trails).