Marin Islands from Mount Tam, February 2026.JPG
Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 4.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Kent Woodlands, CA. The route passes Verna Dunshee Viewpoint and Mount Tamalpais East Peak. It climbs 1,838 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,552 – 2,556 ft · steepest grade: 41%4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lagunitas Fire Trail 37.93047, -122.58646
Nearest town Kent Woodlands, CA

Directions

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Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 5 sights

4.4 mi · ▲ 1,838 ft · 2 hr 23 min

Elevation 1,552–2,554 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: Lagunitas Fire Trail · 37.93047, -122.58646

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 91°F / low 72° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start on Lagunitas Fire Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miBear right onto Northside Trail, heading NE.
  3. 1 miSharp right onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Eldridge Grade Fire Road, heading SW.
  5. 100 ftContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miPass Verna Dunshee Viewpoint.
  8. 350 ftSharp left onto Plank Walk Trail, heading S.
  9. 300 ftSharp right onto Plank Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.1 miPass Mount Tamalpais East Peak.
  11. 100 ftTurn left onto Plank Walk Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  14. 350 ftBear left onto Fern Creek Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.6 miTurn left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading SE.
  16. 0.1 miBear right onto Miller Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.6 miTurn right onto Collier Spring Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.3 miTurn right onto Northside Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.5 miSharp right onto Lagunitas Fire Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.1 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

50% dirt5% paved1% boardwalk44% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 91°F72°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV8Humidity38%
Hourly temperature
95°70°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:19 PM
Tue 79°64°
Wed 74°49°
Thu 65°47°
Fri 69°46°
Sat 69°45°
Sun 61°45°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:59 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:19 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:48 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Lagunitas Fire Trail Trailhead