Scotty's Bluff–Tennessee Beach, 5 beaches is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Tamalpais Valley, CA. The route passes Tennessee Beach and Rodeo Beach before reaching Scotty's Bluff at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It climbs 1,741 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi23 – 873 ft · steepest grade: 23%8.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Tennessee Valley Trail Trailhead 37.86036, -122.53634
Nearest town Tamalpais Valley, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Scotty's Bluff–Tennessee Beach, 5 beaches
7.5 mi · ▲ 1,741 ft · 3 hr 22 min
Elevation 22–873 ft
Out & Back · Marin Headlands
Trailhead: Tennessee Valley Trail Trailhead · 37.86036, -122.53634
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:12 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 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.5 miPass Tennessee Beach.
- 0.7 miPass Rodeo Beach.
- 150 ftBear left onto Tennessee Point Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Coastal Trail, heading E.
- 400 ftReach Scotty's Bluff, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Tennessee Point Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Coastal Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Tennessee Valley Trail, heading NW.
- 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
60% dirt28% paved1% gravel11% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:12 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 5:54 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 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
- 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
- Richardson East–Alta Trail, 5 sights 11.8 mi · ▲ 2,421 ft
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