Secret Booty

Hike to Pirate's Cove from Muir Beach on the Marin Coast

06.02.2016

It’s hard to say what’s better: the hike to Pirate’s Cove, or Pirate’s Cove itself. Tucked between Tennessee Beach and Muir Beach on the Marin coast, Pirate’s Cove is a rugged little beach with a colorful past. And it’s only accessible by hiking in. Even better, the hike’s awesome: a 1.5-mile (one-way) Pacific-hugging ramble. From Muir Beach, the Coastal Trail climbs for three-quarters of a mile before topping out at a number of dramatic vantages: Southward views stretch from Point Bonita and San Francisco all the way to Pacifica. And tiny Pirate’s Cove can be spotted below.

The final section down to the beach is a bit of a scramble (wear good shoes!); it's short but steep in a few spots, with loose dirt. Take your time. But once there you get to enjoy a haven of soft white sand bookended by huge cliffs. Pirates Cove is a crescent-shaped haven with a hulking and holed rock formation and plenty of driftwood benches made by previous visitors. Important: Mind the tides! Some of the “home-made” benches are closer to the water and waves can come up quickly … keep an eye on the ocean and waves.

The cove’s covert location makes it easy to see why it was a staging area for bootleggers during California’s Prohibition era. These days you won’t find the hooch, but there’s plenty of booty in the form of salty air and solitude. Argh, matey, there be treasure here!

BEVERAGE BONUS: Muir Beach and Pelican Inn are practically synonymous. After your hike, head to the Inn and spread a blanket on their large front lawn, a dog-friendly spacious enclave perfect for kicking back. The Pelican Inn seems plucked from the Cornish coast, full of old English charm, serving up tasty British beers (okay, there’s California options too), and perfectly paired foods like bangers and mash or fish and chips.

Start at the Muir Beach parking lot. Cross the bridge, go left and continue up the Coastal Trail. Follow signs for Pirate's Cove which is reached in about 1.5 mile. The trail to Pirate's Cove is not dog-friendly. Muir Beach is dog-friendly! The lawn at Pelican Inn is dog-friendly! 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View