Richardson East–Alta Trail, 5 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Tamalpais Valley, CA. The route reaches Richardson East at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It climbs 2,421 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi52 – 1,109 ft · steepest grade: 28%12.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Tennessee Valley Trail Trailhead 37.86036, -122.53634
Nearest town Tamalpais Valley, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Richardson East–Alta Trail, 5 sights
11.8 mi · ▲ 2,421 ft · 5 hr 9 min
Elevation 53–1,109 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Tennessee Valley Trail Trailhead · 37.86036, -122.53634
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 62°F / low 53° · precip 1% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:18 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Tennessee Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Coastal Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Wolf Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Miwok Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Bobcat Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Hawk Camp Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Bobcat Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Alta Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Sundial Road, heading S.
- 0.4 miReach Richardson East, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Bobcat Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Hawk Camp Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Bobcat Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Miwok Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Wolf Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Coastal Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Tennessee Valley Trail, heading W.
- 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
74% dirt11% gravel10% paved5% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 62°F53°
Precip1%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity100%
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:18 PM
Tue
58°54°
Wed
66°55°
Thu
73°54°
Fri
76°53°
Sat
76°52°
Sun
69°53°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 6:58 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Tennessee Valley Trail Trailhead Trailhead
- County View Trail & Miwok Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 682 ft
- Coyote Ridge Viewpoint & Miwok Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 845 ft
- Pirates Cove–Coastal Fire Road, 5 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 762 ft
- Hill 88–Marin Headlands Viewpoint, 4 sights 5.1 mi · ▲ 986 ft
- Tennessee Beach–Coastal Trail Tennessee Cove shortcut, 4 sights 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,752 ft
- Muir Beach–Coastal Fire Road, 3 sights 7.1 mi · ▲ 1,652 ft
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