San Francisco Bay from Sausalito in Marin County California - panoramio.jpg
David Broad · CC BY 3.0

Alta Trail–Morning Sun Trail, 3 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Sausalito, CA. It climbs 1,134 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi85 – 899 ft · steepest grade: 22%4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad 37.85293, -122.49342
Nearest town Sausalito, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Alta Trail–Morning Sun Trail, 3 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 1,134 ft · 2 hr 10 min

Elevation 87–901 ft

Out & Back · Marin Headlands

Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad · 37.85293, -122.49342

Weather Sep 20: Fog, high 60°F / low 52° · precip 1% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Transit-accessible: US 101 & Monte Mar Drive stop 150 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Morning Sun Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Alta Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Alta Ave Trail, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftBear right onto Rodeo Valley Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.9 miReach Morning Sun Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 1.9 miBear left onto Alta Ave Trail, heading N.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Morning Sun Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 60°F52°
Precip1%Wind12 mphUV5Humidity96%
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:57 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:12 PM
Mon 59°54°
Tue 67°53°
Wed 79°53°
Thu 72°53°
Fri 70°54°
Sat 66°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~19 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM — 3 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: US 101 & Monte Mar Drive stop 150 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad Trailhead