Tim Kizirian - The Matt Davis–Steep Ravine Loop: A Half-Day Mount Tam Classic That Always Performs

Welcome back. I’m Tim Kizirian: Chico resident, former CPA, and a guy who still trusts a spreadsheet but prefers a dirt track. Today’s post reviews the well-known yet never dull Matt Davis–Steep Ravine loop on Mount Tamalpais. If you only have one daylight block in Marin and want a sure thing—waterfall ladder, ocean view, redwood shade—this 7.3-mile circuit checks every box.

Starting logistics
Park in the paved lot in Stinson Beach by 7:30 a.m. If you’re coming from the valley, that means leaving Chico a little after 5—which hurts less when coffee is already in the cup holder. My wife and I make the drive a few times a year; predictable parking is worth the early alarm. Drop a five-dollar bill in the lot envelope, shoulder a light pack, and head up the quiet side street to the Matt Davis trailhead sign.

Climb strategy
Matt Davis gains 1,400 feet over 3.4 miles, but the grade rarely passes ten percent. Switchbacks slice through Douglas-fir, then chaparral as elevation rises. Ocean fog often hugs the slope; within 50 minutes you’ll clear the marine layer and see Bolinas Head framed in cloud tops. I tell newer hikers: keep conversation minimal on the climb—same rule I used running student labs—save the lungs for the ridge.

Ridge traverse
Kent Trail junction appears at mile 3.4. Ignore it; stay straight on Matt Davis until Pantoll Ranger Station. Refill bottles at the tap. I drink one litre on the climb, top off with 1.5 for the descent. Caloric input is a single granola bar; you’ll eat again at Dipsea junction.

Steep Ravine highlights
Turn right down the Steep Ravine trail, watch for exposed roots. The 36-step redwood ladder at Webb Creek never gets old. Water volume depends on rain week totals. Even in August a trickle cools the air. I clip poles to pack for ladder sections. Duration from Pantoll to Dipsea junction: about 50 minutes if footing is dry.

Return via Dipsea
The last 1.5 miles on Dipsea drops open slope, ocean in direct view. Afternoon sun can cook; pack a brimmed cap. Back in Stinson by noon, total elapsed under four hours including a ten-minute waterfall pause. That leaves a full coastal afternoon or the option to beat bridge traffic home.

Packing list I actually use
Trail runners, fold-up poles, 2.5 litres water, wind shell, small first-aid pouch, two energy bars. No bear can, no stove, no ten-pound camera. Simplicity beats over-spec every time on a half-day loop.

Trail courtesy in one line
Pass uphill hikers with a greeting, yield to those climbing when you descend. Same logic as email chains: deliver respect in short, clear lines.

Trash rule
Dip one sandwich wrapper into your side pocket, not the creek. Tiny step, big dividend; cleaner trailhead next visit.

Mileage summary
7.3 miles, 1,600-foot climb, four hours car-to-car if you keep moving but never hurry. For data-curious folks: my watch logs roughly 16,800 steps, 1,100 calories. Numbers are reference points, not trophies.

You could stack dozens of Marin routes, but if someone drops in from out of town and asks for one signature Tam loop, this is the practical answer. It earns sweat, offers waterfalls, and spits you back at a beachfront bakery for post-hike pastries—all before most commuters clear their inbox.

Other popular hikes Hidden Waterfalls, Family Friendly Hikes, and Scenic View Hikes.