Mount Tamalpais and the Panoramic/Muir Park Neighborhood
Homes on Mount Tamalpais provide exceptional access to open space, state and national parks, and a rural lifestyle. The mountain, rising to about 2,600 feet, is a highlight of Marin County. Most of the mountain is preserved as open space, divided among these parks:
- Mount Tamalpais State Park comprising about 25,000 acres.
- Muir Woods National Monument, comprising about 554 acres.
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area, comprising 82,000 acres, of which a quarter includes Mount Tamalpais.
- Marin Municipal Water District Watershed comprising about 21,635 acres.
Mount Tamalpais Neighborhoods
Some Mill Valley neighborhoods are located on the high slopes of Mount Tamalpais, particularly the Middle Ridge neighborhood between Blithedale and Cascade Canyons and the Panoramic/Muir Park neighborhood along the ridge at the eastern edge of Mill Valley. Panoramic Highway, along this ridge, provides the primary access to Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods, and the MMWD Watershed. The homes along Panoramic Highway are often set in redwood groves and provide a unique rural setting. Many homes have vistas of Mount Tamalpias, the bay, or the ocean. The ride “down the mountain” to Mill Valley takes only 10-15 minutes.
Homes for Sale in the Panoramic/Muir Woods Neighborhood
West Point Inn
Springtime Walk on Mount Tamalpais
A relaxed, 45 minute hike from the Rock Creek Springs parking area on Panoramic Highway takes you to the historic West Point Inn. The inn, built in 1904, was the at the west end of the railroad built in 1896 to take tourists from downtown Mill Valley to the East Peak of Mt. Tamalpais. The hand-built rail line navigated a remarkable 281 turns to reach the 2,600 foot east peak. The West Point Inn was a stopover on the rail line for transfers to the stagecoach to Stinson Beach.
Mountain Theater
A short walk from the parking area at Rock Creek Springs takes you by the outdoor Mountain Theater, formally known as the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater. This 4,000 seat theater was built by the Convservation Cporp in 1933, a few years after the railroad abandoned operation. The theater is home to the annual Mountain Play, now entering its 105th season.
Another 20-30 minutes takes you to the West Point Inn where you can obtain water, tea, and coffee. On special days through the year the Inn Associations has pancake breakfasts and other events. You can rent the inn for private parties or stay overnight in rustic rooms in the inn building or in screened cabins. One year we attended a private New Years party at the inn, with a feast by the fireplace and overnight accommodations in a screened cabin, cozy in a down sleeping bag. A light snow storm during the night had covered the area in white. Note that you must hike to the inn; no motorized vehicles are allowed.
Madeline’s Walk to the Inn and Stinson Beach
On a recent Sunday, Madeline walked to the West Point Inn from Rock Creek Springs and back. She ended the afternoon with a dive down to Stinson Beach and a late lunch at the Parkside Cafe. Here are the photos from her walk:
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