Black Sands Beach–Marin Headlands Beach, 3 beaches is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Sausalito, CA. The route passes Black Sands Beach and Marin Headlands Beach. It climbs 716 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi131 – 594 ft · steepest grade: 22%3.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Upper Fisherman's Trail 37.82536, -122.50962
Nearest town Sausalito, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Black Sands Beach–Marin Headlands Beach, 3 beaches
3.6 mi · ▲ 716 ft · 1 hr 33 min
Elevation 132–593 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Upper Fisherman's Trail · 37.82536, -122.50962
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:12 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on Upper Fisherman's Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Black Sands Beach.
- 50 ftPass Marin Headlands Beach.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Coastal Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Fisherman's Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Julian Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miReach Black Sands Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Upper Fisherman's Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Coastal Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Fisherman's Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 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
86% dirt14% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:12 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Upper Fisherman's Trail Trailhead
- Black Sands Beach–Marin Headlands Beach, 3 beaches 3.3 mi · ▲ 574 ft
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