Tennessee Valley Trailhead – Coastal Trail loop from Muir Beach

Running trails & routes

Tennessee Valley Trailhead – Coastal Trail loop from Muir Beach

Hard

4.9

(8279)

17,537

runners

Tennessee Valley Trailhead – Coastal Trail loop from Muir Beach

02:05

17.4km

540m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Muir Beach (GGNRA)

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Marin Headlands

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.28 km

Dias Ridge Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This trail gradually climbs up through former dairy ranches, providing a sweeping view of the Pacific and Marin Headlands. It is very well maintained and kept in excellent condition.

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5.62 km

Miwok Trail from Hwy 1 to Coyote Ridge 🚵

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Miwok trail is a very scenic gravel/hardpack fireroad with spectacular views of Southern Marin, Mount Tamalpais, and the San Francisco Bay. This segment is mostly level, rising gently from the highest point on Shoreline Highway 1 to the intersection with Coyote Ridge Trail.

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8.03 km

Coyote Ridge Trail - Miwok Trail Junction

Highlight • Trail

Both, Miwok Trail as well as Coyote Rodge Trail ultimately can be followed down into Tennessee valley: Miwok drops down near the middle to the trailhead, Coyote Rodge drops toward the ocean where it meets Coastal trail to either Tennessee Beach or north toward Muir Beach.

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10.7 km

Tennessee Valley Trailhead

Highlight • Parking

The paved Tennessee Valley road ends here at this popular trailhead, deep in the Marin Headlands. A central junction of several trails heading north or south along the Miwok or other hilly trails, or flat down to the beach

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12.6 km

Coastal Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This section of Coastal Trail between Coyote Ridge Trail and Upper Tennessee Valley Trail is locally known as 'Hurt Locker' for its steepness. It is of course fun if you're descending this mostly smooth hardpack/gravel fireroad (except for some deeply eroded gullies cutting across the lower section), offering sweeping views of the emerald Tennessee Valley below, down to it's opening to the Pacific Ocean. And it's comforting to see the sign at the Tennessee Valley intersection that it's only a mere 482 miles along the coastal trail to the Oregon Border from here ...

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13.7 km

Coastal Trail junction with Pacific overlook

Highlight • Trail

Here Coastal Trail meets with the wider coastal gravel road. The views are already great, and even better at the end of a short spur trail to the edge of the cliffs.

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15.9 km

Coast Trail - Pacific Views

Highlight • Trail

Get out onto the trails and enjoy the Coastal Trail, Pirates Cove Trail, and the route down into Muir Beach (when travelling North). NOTE: Lots of steps and some challenging terrain for the uninitiated or less confident.
I have taken a running stroller on this trail ... we had to take the kid out a couple of times to carry up/down. If you are able to carry child and stroller, confident with difficult terrain, have a good set of lungs, you'll be grand!

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