Tennessee Beach–Coastal Trail Tennessee Cove shortcut, 4 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Marin Headlands near Tamalpais Valley, CA. The route passes Tennessee Beach before reaching Tennessee Beach at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 1,752 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Tennessee Beach–Coastal Trail Tennessee Cove shortcut, 4 sights
6.7 mi · ▲ 1,752 ft · 3 hr 7 min
Elevation 14–873 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.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Coastal Trail Tennessee Cove shortcut, heading NW.
- 0.4 miReach Tennessee Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Coastal Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn right onto Tennessee Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 6:59 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
- Muir Beach–Coastal Fire Road, 3 sights 7.1 mi · ▲ 1,652 ft
- Scotty's Bluff–Tennessee Beach, 5 beaches 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,741 ft
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