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. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View

  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View

  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View

  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View

  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View

  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View