Mt. Tamalpais Panorama (click for larger view)
Mt. Tamalpais is Marin Country’s highest mountain. It offers 360-degree views of the San Francisco Bay Area and the pacific shoreline. Most Bay Area residents are not familiar with Mt. Tamalpais, despite its sweeping views, miles of trails, meadows and picnic areas. The small parking lot offers ample space even on weekends because of the surprisingly small number of visitors that come here.
East Peak offers the best views but requires a short hike of about 10 minutes. Near the parking lot is a small visitor center.
How to get there
My GPS and Google maps were both wrong.
From Highway 1 South take the Panoramic Highway (intersection: 37°53’2.88″N 122°33’13.63″W) and follow it for a long time until you get to the intersection of Pantoll Road and Panoramic Highway (37°54’15.13″N 122°36’14.73″W). Take Pantoll Road to the right. Turn right at the intersection of Pantoll Road and Bolinas Ridge Road (37°54’37.69″N 122°36’45.42″W).
From Highway 1 North take Panoramic Highway (intersection 37°53’46.60″N 122°38’11.74″W) just south of Stinson Beach.
Mt. Tamalpais Map (click to enlarge)
Here is a GPS track log that I took driving from Mt. Tamalpais to Highway 1.
The interactive map from the National Park Service is accurate too.
GPS position
Parking Lot:
How to photograph from Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Sausalito and San Francisco
Mt. Tamalpais is so close to the Bay Area and yet so remote. It is very tempting to rush things, but I encourage you to take everything a bit slower up here. It is the place to practice being the Zen Photographer. Do not rush things and let the picture come to you. Practice the beginner’s mind and look for unique compositions. A rock near the top of the mountain, facing toward San Quentin (maximum-security prison) looks like a broken heart. I am sure there is a great photograph and a great story in there somewhere, but I was feeling too rushed on my last visit.
One of the strongest compositions includes people. Use a friend or even a stranger sitting on a rock enjoying the grand landscape and compose your shot with the person in the foreground. This will give a better sense of the place and most importantly guide the viewer into the image. There is a natural tendency to follow the view of a spectator, to see what he/she is looking at. This will greatly enhance your subject and lead the viewer to it.
The rolling hills and meadows, oak trees and rocky ridges are fascinating subjects in their own right. With fog and clouds engulfing the mountain, you can also take wonderful pictures, even when the far view is not remarkable. The mountain is so tall that it peaks through the clouds.
I am sure that you are tempted to shoot some panoramic photographs. When I left home, I had my tripod ready but somehow I forgot it. You really need a tripod to get the best possible panorama shots. Plan your image carefully and use Aperture Priority or better yet Manual Exposure. Do not use a circular polarizing filter when you shoot panoramas. The angle of view is usually too wide, leading to unsightly changes in sky brightness. I gave a lot more advice about panoramic shooting in my Article on Twin Peaks.
I even discovered some birds of prey, maybe an eagle, circling above. If you want to go after them, set your camera to use the center focal point and use the Servo Focus mode. It will track moving subjects. This requires some practice, since the focal point needs to be on the subject and it needs to show sufficient contrast for the focus to lock. Crop your shot afterwards to create a pleasing composition and move away from the dead center placement.
Best Time of the Day and Best Season
Spring is best when the hills are green, but most of the year should be great if you come for the views. Check the weather cams on CBS5 (resources below) to get a feeling for the weather. Clear days are great for views of the city, but foggy days and cloudy days can look excellent from up here, too.
Time required
Hiking to the top of the mountain from the parking lot will take you about 10 minutes. You need about one hour for some quick stop photography and longer if you set up your tripod and go to work on a lot of detail shots and panoramas. To get the most out of this location you should plan 2 to 3 hours shooting time. Driving up here from Highway 1 can take up to one hour.
Equipment
- Tripod with Panoramic Head and Cable release
- Telephoto lens and extender (bring your longest focal length lens)
- UV filter and or Circular Polarizing Filter to eliminate haze and glare
- Normal Lens
- Binoculars
- Jacket (wind chills)
- Water and some snacks
Fees
Parking near the top of the mountain costs $6.
Difficulty Getting There
My trustworthy GPS cheated me and routed a way up here that did not exist, costing me a huge detour driving on windy roads. Check the description at the beginning of this post and verify your route.
Close Locations
- Muir Beach
- Muir Woods
- Point Bonita Lighthouse
- Kirby Cove
- Sausalito and Tiburon
- Point Reyes Coastal Trail
- Tomales Bay
- Alamere Falls
- Tule Elk Reserve and Pierce Point Ranch
- Marin Headlands – Golden Gate views , Secret Bay Views
- Little Known Views of Marine Headlands
- Angel Island State Park
- Pt. Reyes Lighthouse and Chimney Rock
Useful Resources
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Follow the links in the resource section above to learn more about fascinating Mt. Tamalpais.
3 Comments
Great panorama, it really sets up the article.
Andre,
Great panorama. I didn’t get a chance to go to Mt. Tamalpais when we were in CA last week. We got sick and the vacation didn’t go so well.
You have got to learn me how to take a panorama like yours; my Twin Peaks panorama is hideous.
Frank
Wow, this view is simply amazing. I can’t believe I didn’t know about it. Next time I’m in the city, I definitely have to give it a try.