Arrival in San Francisco. Optional Barbary Coast Trail; 4 miles, easy, 100-ft elevation gain, 300-ft elevation loss

Upon arrival at your boutique hotel ideally located near Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, you can set off for today’s optional walk and weave you through the city on a historic and cultural exploration. Including well-known highlights such as China Town and Union Square, the fascinating route also brings you through quieter neighborhoods and to hidden gems such as Maiden Lane and Telegraph Hill. You may shorten the walk as you wish, or if you arrival later in the day, you may relax at your hotel or stroll along the waterfront, perhaps ride an historic cable car, or visit one of the local museums or art galleries. Complimentary bicycles are also available at the hotel. Adjacent to your hotel is the Maritime National Historic Park’s Visitor Center and Interactive Museum, providing an excellent introduction to the history of San Francisco and surroundings.

San Francisco to Sausalito; 8.5 miles, easy, 250-ft elevation gain and loss

From vibrant San Francisco to the charming, historic village of Sausalito, this full day of walking is rich in natural scenery and culture. Leaving your hotel on foot, you walk along the San Francisco waterfront passing Ghirardelli Square (of chocolate fame), historic Fort Mason Park, and the Palace of Fine Arts before following Marina Street with views of the Bay on one side and lovely San Francisco homes on the other, before crossing the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. At 1.7 miles long, this famous suspension bridge offers a pedestrian lane where you can linger over views of the city, bay, and Alcatraz and Angel islands. Leaving the bridge, a quiet road passes a fort and museum before climbing slightly to a headland—a perfect place for your packed lunch. The final few miles of walking follow a road leading to the Sausalito waterfront promenade, lined with cafés and art galleries.

Sausalito to Muir Beach; 5.5 miles, easy to moderate, 700-ft elevation gain and loss

This morning, a short mid-morning transfer takes you to the Tennessee Valley and a wide, well-maintained trail. In just under 2 miles, you reach the lovely Tennessee Valley Cove—nestled between bluffs on either side, this small beach is perfect for a break. As part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this protected region is home to over 1,200 plant and animal species and encompasses 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline. A gradual climb rises to a coastal plateau offering spectacular views of the ocean and, on a clear day, the San Francisco skyline. The trail then hugs the coastline, with a short but steep descent into a lush gully before climbing back to the ridge. As you approach Muir Beach, with a beautiful cove (and one of the only swimmable beaches in the area) and hamlet, you are also walking in the foothills of Mount Tamalpais—its ridge is tomorrow’s destination.

Muir Beach to Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais; 5.5 miles, moderate, 700-ft elevation gain and 1,100-ft elevation loss

Today’s walk combines open trails with sweeping panoramas and wooded paths as you leave the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and enter Mount Tamalpais State Park. You leave the inn with a short transfer to the trailhead and start a leisurely 30-minute walk to a stunning hill-top view before descending towards the Muir Woods. At the Muir Woods National Monument, you enter the ancient and magical redwood forest in a cathedral-like setting. The Muir Woods is the only old-growth coastal redwood forest in the Bay Area and one of the last on the planet. John Muir described this area as “the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.” The trail snakes through fern and redwood canyons following gullies and streams before reaching the canyon floor. A fairly steep ascent, often on stairs, brings you to the mountain ridge line and your final destination, a magnificently situated mountain-top inn.

Transfer to Point Reyes National Seashore. Limantour Beach to Olema; 8.5 miles, moderate, 1,300-ft elevation gain and 1,100- ft elevation loss

After a scenic one-hour transfer along the ridge of Mount Tamalpais, you arrive at the Point Reyes Peninsula. This national seashore is known for its dramatic headlands, steep cliffs, white sand beaches, marine life, and tranquil bays. The walk begins along the coast at Limantour Beach, adjacent to an estuary and Drakes Bay, with intriguing tidal pools along the way. With luck, you may spot harbor seals bobbing offshore or, in the spring, gray whales guiding their calves along the shoreline. Leaving the beach, you enter coastal scrub and eventually traverse lush forest, slowly descending to the Bear Valley Visitor’s Center, where you may wish to learn more about the diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage of the park before continuing 15 minutes to your hotel.

Return to San Francisco

After breakfast, a transfer takes you back to San Francisco for onward travels.