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

Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Kent Woodlands, CA. The route passes Bon Tempe Lake, Lake Lagunitas and Verna Dunshee Viewpoint before reaching Mount Tamalpais East Peak at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 2,088 ft, with sections as steep as 38% grade. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi728 – 2,559 ft · steepest grade: 38%5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.94935, -122.59771
Nearest town Kent Woodlands, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 6 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 2,088 ft · 2 hr 39 min

Elevation 729–2,560 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: 37.94935, -122.59771

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 94°F / low 56° · precip 0% · wind 0 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Bon Tempe Lake.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miPass Lake Lagunitas.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading SE.
  6. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading S.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miPass Verna Dunshee Viewpoint.
  10. 400 ftSharp left onto Plank Walk Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miReach Mount Tamalpais East Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  13. 350 ftContinue straight onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Northside Trail, heading N.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading N.
  17. 1 miTurn left onto Lakeview Fire Road, heading NW.
  18. 0.6 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

7% dirt5% paved2% boardwalk86% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 94°F56°
Precip0%Wind0 mphUV8Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:19 PM
Tue 87°55°
Wed 82°52°
Thu 71°53°
Fri 74°51°
Sat 74°51°
Sun 67°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 8:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead