Tennessee Beach–Morning Sun Trail, 3 sights is a 10.3-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Sausalito, CA. The route reaches Tennessee Beach at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 2,613 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi20 – 1,040 ft · steepest grade: 24%10.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad 37.85293, -122.49342
Nearest town Sausalito, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Tennessee Beach–Morning Sun Trail, 3 sights
10.3 mi · ▲ 2,613 ft · 4 hr 44 min
Elevation 20–1,040 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad · 37.85293, -122.49342
Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 69°F / low 54° · precip 1% · wind 18 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:18 PM
Transit-accessible: US 101 & Monte Mar Drive stop 150 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Morning Sun Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Alta Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Bobcat Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hawk Camp Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bobcat Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Miwok Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Wolf Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Coastal Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Lower Tennessee Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Tennessee Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Tennessee Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lower Tennessee Valley Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Coastal Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Wolf Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Miwok Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Bobcat Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Hawk Camp Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Bobcat Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Alta Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Morning Sun Trail, heading SE.
- 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
88% dirt5% gravel7% unspecified
Weather
Mostly clearTemperature 69°F54°
Precip1%Wind18 mphUV8Humidity84%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:18 PM
Tue
63°53°
Wed
71°54°
Thu
71°53°
Fri
74°51°
Sat
74°51°
Sun
67°51°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 6:52 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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
- Richardson East–Alta Trail, 4 sights 1.8 mi · ▲ 558 ft
- Peak 1041 & Morning Sun Trail via Bobcat Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 809 ft
- Hawk Camp Trail & Morning Sun Trail via Bobcat Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 869 ft
- Alta Trail–Morning Sun Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,134 ft
- Hill 88–Marin Headlands Viewpoint, 4 sights 7 mi · ▲ 1,767 ft
- Miwok Trail & Morning Sun Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,852 ft
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