Area Summary
Location: Mill Valley, Ross
Best For: Intermediate to Advanced
Suitable For: All levels
Ground Cover: Sagebrush, grasslands and evergreen forests
Seasons: Good year round.

Description:
Mount Tamalpais, considered by many to be the birthplace of mountain biking, boasts a long and colorful fat-tire history. In the mid-70s such now venerable names as Joe Breeze and Gary Fisher were pushing the limits of their specially rigged bikes down trails such as the infamous Repack (technically a bit north of Mount Tam).

Well, the good news is that bike technology has improved dramatically since then. The bad news is that the number of trails available to bikers has been severely limited on Mount Tam, with single-track all but eliminated.

That said, Mount Tam still offers plenty of great riding through widely varied terrain and vegetation. The southern and western slopes of Mount Tam are largely covered in scrub with intermittent stands of evergreen trees. The northern slopes are more heavily wooded with oak and evergreen forests punctuated by meadows and lakes. The rides also offer great bay, city and ocean views. Combine these assets with its proximity to San Francisco and its convenient access and it's no wonder that Mount Tam remains a major destination.