- Parking: Parking available at Muir Beach parking lot
- Bathrooms: Bathrooms available at Muir Beach
- Water: Water available at Muir Beach
- Food: Food available in Mill Valley
- Fees: No parking fees
- Gear: Food, water, and weather appropriate clothing
Down the road from the world famous Muir Woods, Dias Ridge is a wonderful hiking trail that takes you from the coastline, through the fog to the top of the ridge, and around the bottom of the ridge. 1.8 miles one direction. To loop back, take Redwood Creek Trail via Miwok trail or Green Gulch Trail via Miwok Trail.
The trailhead is a little difficult to find, as it is located across the street from the Muir Beach entrance, right behind the mailboxes as seen in the photo.
When you begin your hike you'll start at sea level and as you make your way up you'll venture through a California Coastal Grassland that is identifiable due its lack of trees. The hike up the ridge will also have stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Muir Beach.
One of my favorite parts of the trail was hiking into the fog the closer you got to the top of the ridge. The fog was refreshing and kept us cool compared to other parts of the Bay Area which are much hotter during the summer months. What was also interesting was rapid change in vegetation as you crossed into the fog layer. Parts of the hike were saturated as moisture collected on the trees and plants.
The Dias Ridge trail is a feeder trail, in order to head back you can either backtrack or take another trail that loops back. If you'd like to loop back you can take Redwood Creek trail(counter clockwise) via Miwok trail or Green Gulch trail(clockwise) via Miwok.