Double Mocha Day Hike One of the best day hike-and-picnic trails in the world is the 11 kilometer (7 mile) long Dipsea Trail in Marin. The trail begins at one of the best outdoor cafes in Northern California- the Depot Cafe in Mill Valley. Even in the middle of winter, the morning sun makes sitting on the terrace and drinking a hot chocolate a pleasure.
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Dipsea Trail Head-The Depot Cafe- Mocha 1 |
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Sharing the Trail with cross-country runners |
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| Following this warm-up exercise, the trail starts adjacent to a relic of the Gravity Tourist Train that ran to the peak of Mount Tamalpais in the early 1900s. When the train reached the summit, the locomotive would be uncoupled from the passenger cars. The cars would then coast down the mountain in 'complete silence'. Unfortunately for the scenic railroad, the construction of the Golden Gate bridge made Tamalpais accessible to automobiles. By WWII the Scenic Railway was bankrupt, and the rails were recycled into metal for building ships.
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Then
comes the legendary part of the Dipsea Trail- the 'Dipsea Steps'. A
series of 671 steps transports you up and out of Mill Valley. At the
top of the steps you are rewarded with the first of many spectacular
views. Although the steps are a challenge, you'll be
consoled to know runners from 8 to 96 have succeeded not only in
running up the stairs, but the entire distance to the sea in the yearly "Dipsea" race.
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Dispairway- Zoot Steps |
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Richardson Bay |
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Muir Woods National Park- 5km 3 miles |
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6 Km, 3.5 Miles |
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7km- 4miles |
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High Point of the Hike- 8 km, 5 mi.- Calidocious Chocolates and Sarifornia Plum Cake |
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9 Km, 5.5 Miles |
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Descent to the Pacific Ocean- All in less than 12km, 8 Miles- Mocha 2 at Stinson Beach |
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