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 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 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
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 1.8 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 8:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:22 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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