Drives California The North Bay
Mount Tamalpais: Panoramic and Ridgecrest
Mount Tamalpais, California · Mill Valley → Ridgecrest Boulevard
The drive
This is the drive up Mount Tamalpais from Mill Valley. Panoramic Highway leaves Highway 1 and climbs the mountain's wooded flank, past the Mountain Home Inn, a 1912 inn and restaurant that is the only commercial property on the mountain, to Pantoll, where the state park has a visitor kiosk, a campground and parking.
From Pantoll the route turns up Pantoll Road to the big lot at Rock Spring, then follows West Ridgecrest Boulevard along the open top of the mountain. The road bobs over grassy hills and bare rock on Bolinas Ridge, with pullouts looking straight down on the Pacific and Bolinas Bay. Near its end the grassland gives way to forest, and the drive finishes just short of Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
It's driven uphill on purpose, so the ridge views open up at the end. The short spur on East Ridgecrest to East Peak is a dead end and isn't part of this drive.
Along the way
- Mill Valley (Highway 1)
- Mountain Home Inn
- Ridgecrest Boulevard (Bolinas-Fairfax Road)
Good to know
- Mount Tamalpais State Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, and cars parked after hours can be fined.
- During red flag fire warnings the upper mountain closes, and Pantoll Road and Ridgecrest Boulevard have been closed to cars.
- There's no entrance fee, but parking at Pantoll, Bootjack and East Peak costs money.
- Bikes are allowed on all the park's roads, so expect cyclists on the climbs and blind bends, and heavy traffic on weekends and holidays.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check California State Parks: Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive up Mount Tamalpais on Panoramic Highway and Ridgecrest Boulevard?
From Highway 1 at Mill Valley, up Panoramic Highway and Pantoll Road and along Ridgecrest Boulevard to Bolinas-Fairfax Road, is 10 miles and takes about 35 minutes without stops.
When is Ridgecrest Boulevard on Mount Tamalpais open?
Ridgecrest Boulevard is in Mount Tamalpais State Park, which is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. The upper mountain closes during red flag fire warnings.
Is there a fee to drive Ridgecrest Boulevard on Mount Tamalpais?
There's no entrance fee for Mount Tamalpais State Park. Parking at Pantoll, Bootjack and East Peak costs money.
How twisty is Panoramic Highway?
Panoramic Highway and the roads above it are narrow and twisty most of the way, climbing about 2,000 feet in 10 miles, with cyclists on many of the bends.
What you get in the app
Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.
More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.