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 5.3-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Kent Woodlands, CA. The route passes Mount Tamalpais East Peak and Verna Dunshee Viewpoint. It climbs 1,687 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,562 – 2,559 ft · steepest grade: 37%5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 37.92885, -122.58401
Nearest town Kent Woodlands, CA

Directions

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Mount Tamalpais East Peak–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 5 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 1,687 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Elevation 1,563–2,560 ft

Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Trailhead: Old Railroad Grade Fire Road · 37.92885, -122.58401

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 91°F / low 73° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:19 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start on Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading SW.
  2. 0.7 miTurn left onto Miller Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Fern Creek Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  6. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Plank Walk Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miPass Mount Tamalpais East Peak.
  9. 200 ftTurn right onto Plank Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Plank Walk Trail, heading NE.
  11. 300 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftPass Verna Dunshee Viewpoint.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Verna Dunshee Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto East Peak Fire Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.3 miSharp left onto Northside Trail, heading N.
  16. 1.5 miTurn left onto Collier Spring Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Miller Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miSharp left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading E.
  19. 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

59% dirt4% paved1% boardwalk36% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 91°F73°
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 1.1 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

Other ways to reach this destination

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