Pirates Cove & Miwok Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Tamalpais Valley, CA. The route reaches Pirates Cove at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It climbs 1,727 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi85 – 902 ft · steepest grade: 27%8.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Miwok Trail 37.86188, -122.53529
Nearest town Tamalpais Valley, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Pirates Cove & Miwok Trail
8.2 mi · ▲ 1,727 ft · 3 hr 36 min
Elevation 84–902 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Miwok Trail · 37.86188, -122.53529
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:12 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Miwok Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Miwok Cutoff Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Miwok Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Coyote Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Coastal Fire Road, heading SW.
- 1 miSharp left onto Coastal Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Prirates Cove, heading SW.
- 150 ftReach Pirates Cove, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Coastal Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miSharp right onto Coastal Fire Road, heading N.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Coyote Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Miwok Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Miwok Cutoff Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Miwok Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 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
81% dirt19% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:12 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 5:44 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Miwok Trail Trailhead
- Miwok Trail–Tennessee Valley Trail, 3 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,833 ft
- Alta Trail–Rodeo Valley Trail, 4 sights 14.8 mi · ▲ 3,017 ft
- Morning Sun Trail–Tennessee Valley Trail, 3 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 2,561 ft
- Rodeo Avenue Trail–Tennessee Valley Trail, 3 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 2,443 ft
- Old Springs Trail–Tennessee Valley Trail, 3 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,757 ft
- Scotty's Bluff–Tennessee Beach, 5 beaches 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,741 ft
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