Start Time: 8:30am
We meet at the Muir Woods visitor center overflow parking lot. Important: Muir Woods requires both an entrance fee and parking prepaid in advance. They expect a crowd for the holiday weekend.
Estimated arrival time: 2:30pm
We conclude at the Golden Gate Bridge North Vista Point. Note that parking there is only possible for four hours max, and it will likely be quite congested heading into a holiday weekend.
From the overflow parking lot, we take the Dipsea Trail 0.3 miles west to rejoin the ADT on the Coastal Fire Road. The day features two significant ups and downs. The first, kicking in a mile into the day's walk, rises 600 feet, primarily along the Miwok Trail. An equivalent descent leads to the Tennessee Valley Trailhead, where we'll catch a break before tackling the second climb, rising another 700 feet on the Marincello Trail. A mix of shorter trails carry us onward from there, with the SCA delivering us to the finish line.
Important: Bring enough food and water to get you through a nearly 12-mile hike. While no taps exist to refill water bottles, we will have a support vehicle available at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead (6.2 miles) with some jugs of water accessible.
Even More Important - Have a Transportation Plan
The parking situation will be complicated. If you are leaving your car at Muir Woods, remember to arrange your parking prepaid in advance. You cannot pay for parking when you arrive and cell reception might be limited.
It's even more difficult at the endpoint. Because of the holiday, parking is restricted in both lots on the north-end of the Golden Gate Bridge. You will not be able to park at the bridge. Pick-up is possible, as rideshares and buses will be able to access the lots.
So what to do? One Marin local involved in the relay has--with our great appreciation--laid out his plan for the day:
- Park at the 101/Seminary off ramp park and ride lot: West side / East side
- Uber from there to Muir Woods
- Take Golden Gate Transit from US-101 Off-Ramp/Sausalito Lateral Rd bus stop to Seminary bus stop
One advantage of this approach is that you don't need to pay for parking at Muir Woods. We have emailed out a voluntary sign-up form that participants can use to organize carpools or shuttles for the day. If you want to take the Seminary park-and-ride approach, you might see if you can coordinate with others on the rideshare option.