Mount Tamalpais West Point via Old Railroad Grade Fire Road is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Mount Tamalpais Watershed near Kent Woodlands, CA. The route reaches Mount Tamalpais West Point at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 998 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi1,562 – 2,372 ft · steepest grade: 31%3.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Plank Walk Trail 37.92786, -122.57925
Nearest town Kent Woodlands, CA
Directions
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Mount Tamalpais West Point via Old Railroad Grade Fire Road
3.1 mi · ▲ 998 ft · 1 hr 32 min
Elevation 1,563–2,371 ft
Out & Back · Mount Tamalpais Watershed
Trailhead: Plank Walk Trail · 37.92786, -122.57925
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 · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Plank Walk Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 350 ftBear left onto Fern Creek Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Old Railroad Grade Fire Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miReach Mount Tamalpais West Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Fern Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Plank Walk Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
57% dirt5% paved1% boardwalk37% 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 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.
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 Plank Walk Trail Trailhead
- Fern Creek Trail & Hogback Road via Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 2.8 mi · ▲ 1,296 ft
- Miller Trail & Old Railroad Grade Fire Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 1,401 ft
- Verna Dunshee Viewpoint–Fern Creek Trail Loop, 5 sights 3.6 mi · ▲ 1,283 ft
- Dawn Falls–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 4 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 1,907 ft
- Pilot Knob–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 3 summits 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,997 ft
- Temelpa Viewpoint–Verna Dunshee Viewpoint, 5 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 2,547 ft
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