Black Sands Beach–Marin Headlands Beach, 3 beaches is a 2-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Marin City, CA. The route passes Marin Headlands Beach before reaching Black Sands Beach at the turnaround, 0.8 miles in. It climbs 576 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi102 – 341 ft · steepest grade: 25%2.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Coastal Trail 37.82972, -122.52447
Nearest town Marin City, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Black Sands Beach–Marin Headlands Beach, 3 beaches
2 mi · ▲ 576 ft · 57 min
Elevation 101–342 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Coastal Trail · 37.82972, -122.52447
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 65°F / low 55° · precip 1% · wind 13 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:18 PM
Transit-accessible: Field Road & Bodsworth Road stop 75 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Coastal Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftPass Marin Headlands Beach.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Upper Fisherman's Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miReach Black Sands Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Coastal Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.7 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
15% dirt85% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 65°F55°
Precip1%Wind13 mphUV8Humidity96%
Hourly temperature
65°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:18 PM
Tue
61°55°
Wed
66°56°
Thu
73°55°
Fri
77°53°
Sat
76°53°
Sun
69°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 7:42 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM — 3 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Field Road & Bodsworth Road stop 75 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
Get outside more
A wild hike near Marin City, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Marin City, California