Dipsea Trail, The
Why it's listed
Running about 7.44 miles from downtown Mill Valley to the Pacific at Stinson Beach, the Dipsea Trail crosses the southern slopes of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. It combines narrow dirt footpaths, wooden and stone stairways, wooden bridges, old roadbeds and short stretches of paved street, climbing to more than 1,360 feet. Much of it lies within Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Named segments such as the Dipsea Steps, Suicide, Dynamite, Cardiac, The Swoop and Insult have become well known to runners. The route is tied to the Dipsea Race, which began in 1905 after two Olympic Club members raced from the Mill Valley depot to the Dipsea Inn. About 92 percent of the course is virtually the same as in the early races. The nomination treats the trail as an influential early example of American trail running. Several rebuilt or altered sections are counted as non-contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the trail as the course of the Dipsea Race, held annually since 1905, which it describes as the "granddaddy" of American trail running competitions and a precedent-setting event. About 92% of the route is virtually unchanged since the early race days, and the trail as a whole is described as retaining historic integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000356, listed June 4, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Throckmorton Ave, Sequoia Valley Rd., Panoramic Hwy., State Rt 1, Muir Woods National Monument, Golden Gate National Rec, Mill Valley and Stinson Beach |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | June 4, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000356 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a popular hiking and running trail and the route of the annual Dipsea Race; some segments are non-contributing because of later rebuilding or suburban construction. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 37.90361, -122.57285 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.