AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
San Francisco Bay from Sausalito in Marin County California - panoramio.jpg
David Broad · CC BY 3.0
Marin Headlands

Richardson East–Alta Trail, 4 sights

1.8 mi · ▲ 558 ft · 53 min

Richardson East–Alta Trail, 4 sights is a 1.8-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Sausalito, CA. The route reaches Richardson East at the turnaround, 0.9 miles in. It climbs 558 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi545 – 1,109 ft · steepest grade: 20%1.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad 37.85293, -122.49342
Nearest town Sausalito, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Richardson East–Alta Trail, 4 sights

1.8 mi · ▲ 558 ft · 53 min

Elevation 544–1,109 ft

Out & Back · Marin Headlands

Trailhead: Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad · 37.85293, -122.49342

Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 69°F / low 54° · precip 1% · wind 18 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:18 PM

Transit-accessible: US 101 & Monte Mar Drive stop 150 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Morning Sun Trail, heading NW.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Alta Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sundial Road, heading W.
  4. 0.4 miReach Richardson East, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.6 miTurn right onto Morning Sun Trail, heading NE.
  6. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/richardson-east-out-back-3-km-43dc

Trail surface

56% dirt44% gravel

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 69°F54°
Precip1%Wind18 mphUV8Humidity84%
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:18 PM
Tue 63°53°
Wed 71°54°
Thu 71°53°
Fri 74°51°
Sat 74°51°
Sun 67°51°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 7:24 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: US 101 & Monte Mar Drive stop 150 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Morning Sun Trail - Spencer Bus Pad Trailhead

Hikes near Sausalito, California