20k loop: ~ 2,150 feet of elevation gain and loss

10k loop: ~ 1,500 feet of elevation gain and loss

An overhead view of the Figure 8. 20k loop to the Southeast, 10k loop to the Northwest





The 20k loop

The Marincello climb starts just beyond the white gate shown in the picture on the left

The white gate - take an immediate right after this gate onto a paved service road, and then the first immediate left

Epic views of the Bay from the SCA trail

The SCA trail

Continue straight on the SCA trail, collecting yourself enough to take some pictures and soak in the beautiful scenery around you. At mile 4.0 make sure you continue straight as shown in the picture above, onto what is technically called Slacker Trail (SCA peels off to the left down the hill and eventually ends up at Fort Baker). There's a bathroom stop and small parking lot at mile 4.5 (right after you cross a road), and make sure you take a right at the parking lot onto the signed Julian trail (which also gets called Coastal in some parts). This is a beautiful, smooth, and gradual descent that will take you back to sea-level and alongside the lagoon of Rodeo beach.





Around mile 6.0 you'll cross Bunker Road again and follow it a bit to the left, heading toward the ocean. Take a quick right, and then a left, and you'll see Miwok and our old friend Bobcat trail again. You want to keep heading straight, toward the ocean, on Lagoon trail. You'll cross Bunker Road yet again, and now you will be running on a path on the southern side of it, heading toward the ocean and the buildings at the end of the road at Rodeo Beach.





Approaching Rodeo Beach, with Bunker Road on the right and

the Rodeo Lagoon on the left

Bathrooms and parking at Rodeo Beach, with the start

of the Hill 88 climb in the background

Now the fun begins - after you regroup and take care of your business get your climbing shoes on because you are going up, up, up. The climb up to Hill 88 starts at mile 8.0 just behind the gate at the parking lot, and wraps its way up the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. It's fire road in some places, closed-to-cars paved road in others, and even a section of steep steps with a cable at one point. It's called Coastal Trail the entire way up, and hard to get lost on - just make sure you keep climbing. Around mile 9.5 you'll be way up on the top, now able to look back down into Tennessee Valley to the north. You'll want take Wolf Ridge Trail (toward Miwok) down, which heads down the north side of the ridge slightly bearing to the right.





Don't forget to turn around and take it all in

on your way up to Hill 88

Around mile 10.3 make sure you stay left onto Miwok for a short bit - and then around 10.5 you'll take another left onto Old Springs Trail for your descent back to your car at the parking lot. Old Springs Trail will gently float you all the way back to the valley floor (even passing a flowing natural spring on the way if you are desparate for water!) and eventually to your parked car at mile 12.0. Get some water, restock your food, and get ready to head out for the next loop to the north!

The 10k loop

The smaller loop starts on the Northeast corner of the large Tennessee Valley parking lot, just down the road on the left. Hop on Miwok trail and begin your climb out of the valley once more. It gains altitude quickly and the views improve with each step once again. Around mile 13.7 make sure you stay straight and merge onto Coyote Ridge trail (there is a resident bobcat that lives up here so keep your eyes open!)





The start of the 10k loop and the Miwok trailhead









It's all downhill from here. Well, almost. The Coyote Ridge trail keeps gradually climbing and winding until you get to the top and are rewarded with a sweeping view of the ocean and coast - Muir Beach and Point Reyes to the north, Tennessee Beach, Point Bonita, Ocean Beach and San Francisco to the south. You'll end your climb finally around mile 14.0 and the fun begins as you plunge down toward the edge of the continent.

You can turn your brain off and just glide at this point, making sure to turn right at the intersection at mile 14.5 and head north toward Muir Beach. You'll get close, but instead of descending to Muir Beach, hang a left at Mile 15.4 as you hit the infamous Pirate's Cove trail.





ARRRRRRRRR ya ready for some fun matey?

When I daydream of running the the Marin Headlands, this is the trail I'm running on. Pretend that you're soaring above the Pacific (because you are!) as you descend to Pirates Cove (a short jaunt off of the main trail if you'd like to explore). Legend says that pirates used to dock their ships here as they waited to plunder easy targets coming out of San Francisco Bay. Don't wait too long, because you've got some steps to climb. Start heading up what will be your last real ascent before ending up back at the car.





I counted these steps once for a bonus prize in a race

Go up, up, and up until the ridge at Mile 16.8, where you will continue straight on the steep fire road decent back into the Tennessee Valley. At mile 17.5 you'll hit the Tennessee Valley Trail, and you can smell the barn now. The trail gradually changes into a paved walking path as you get close to the parking lot - stay on the main path until it drops you right off at your car around mile 18.6.









Labels: route description