Are you looking for a short, low-effort escape from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and Silicon Valley? Want to start backpacking, but still a little nervous to go out to the wilderness? Looking for a family-friendly glamping trip for all ages? Look no further than the West Point Inn.

History of the West Point Inn

The West Point Inn is an original cabin perched on the western side of Mt. Tamalpais. When it was built in 1904, it was a stopover spot on the railroad that took visitors from Mill Valley to the summit of Mt. Tam. In 1930, the train service stopped, and while a small but dedicated hiking community would rent the Inn out on weekends, World War II basically caused the Inn to become abandoned. After being threatened with demolition, a fervent group of volunteers took it upon themselves to fight to save the Inn, and the property is entirely volunteer-maintained to this day! The Inn is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Why Stay at the West Point Inn

The West Point Inn has something for everybody. As a historic place, history buffs will love to see the original architecture of the main building and see all of the photographs and old documents. Families will enjoy the chance to bring their kids on an adventure that isn’t too intense, but lots of fun. Foodies will love the fact that you can cook a gourmet meal in the full kitchen - as long as you can carry all the food up. And of course, hikers will love the access to trails higher on the mountain, including a trail that leads to the East Peak summit of Mt. Tamalpais.

How To Get There

There is an unpaved road up to the Inn, but it is reserved for guests staying at the ADA cabin with disability placards. The rest of us get to hike up! The shortest and least strenuous hike to the Inn is on the Old Stage Road trail, which is the same road used by guests in the ADA cabin. Bicycles are also allowed on the trail. To access this trail, you’ll park at the Pantoll Campground at Mt. Tamalpais. You will need to pay the $8 state park parking fee and should place a piece of paper on your dashboard with “WPI” written on it.

The road is unpaved and gravelly, but super easy. It only gains about 200 feet in the 2.25 miles to the Inn. It is pretty exposed, so make sure you are dressed properly for whatever weather you’re facing!

There are numerous other trails you can take to get to the West Point Inn due to the extensive trail network of Mt. Tamalpais, including a hike up from Stinson Beach on the Matt Davis Trail. This is much more difficult and longer, but suitable for those looking for more of a hiking experience!

For those interested in public transportation: you’re in luck! There is a daily bus route from Marin to Pantoll.

What To Expect

The West Point Inn is a property nestled on the side of Mt. Tamalpais. It is comprised of the main lodge with a wraparound porch that houses the sitting areas, kitchen, and rooms to stay in upstairs. The rest of the property consists of rustic cabins with varying occupancy limits.

The whole property is unheated, and without electricity. There are some lights that are operated by propane, which the innkeeper has exclusive control over. There is indoor plumbing with flush toilets. All toilets are shared with other guests, except for the ADA cabin. There are mattresses and quilts on the beds, but you will need to bring a sleeping bag or sheets, a pillowcase, and towels, if interested in showering. You’ll also find a headlamp, flashlight, or lantern handy for when the lights are turned off at night. There is a full-sized kitchen with a large refrigerator and freezer, so you can bring a wide variety of food to cook for yourself. I had cell service with AT&T at the Inn itself, but did not have service during the hike up. There is no WiFi at the Inn.

When you check-in at the Inn starting at 3:00 pm, you’ll be greeted by the innkeeper, who is a volunteer that usually spends a week at a time at the Inn. They’ll go over the ground rules, give you a short tour, and have you sign up for a chore to complete before you leave (11:00 am check-out). At least when we were there, the innkeeper was very nice and sociable and was accessible to answer any questions.

The absolute best experience at the Inn is to stay in the rustic cabins that are slightly separated from the main lodge. We stayed in the furthest one, #11, which had a deck looking out on the San Francisco Bay, the ocean, and the surrounding hills. There was a cold-water, open-air shower on the deck, a small sink in the room, a double bed, and two single beds. When we stayed at the Inn, there was a heat wave in the SF Bay Area. It didn’t go below 90°F, even at night, and having the cold water shower was amazing for cooling us down before going to bed.

The common areas were very peaceful when we were there. All of the other guests were also there to relax and enjoy being off the grid. Most people were reading a book, watching the hummingbirds at the feeders, chatting with their friends, or playing card games well into the evening. Because it was so hot when we were there, everyone was staying out on the deck for as long as possible before retreating to their rooms.

What To Pack

Since this is more of a “glamping” backpacking trip, you don’t need to bring a ton of things. You’ll want some key pieces of gear, but the rest of your kit will depend on what kind of weather you are expecting on the mountain. Be sure to check the weather for Marin before your trip, but understand that the weather station for Marin is actually usually in the fog closer to the water. Because of the microclimates in the area, it can be hard to figure out what the weather will be up there. For example, even though it was nearly 100° F on the day we hiked in on the mountain, it was actually 65°F down by the Bay when we were driving through San Francisco and Marin. Crazy, right?! I am always a proponent of having a comprehensive kit that can be comfortably used in three season temperatures, as it usually covers all your bases!

What You Need

A hiking outfit
Sleeping clothes
Sleeping bag, quilt, or bed sheets (there is a mattress with a quilt cover, and our rustic cabin had heavy wool blankets inside)
Pillowcase or small packable pillow (pillows are provided)
Overnight toiletries, First Aid Kit
Lighting: headlamp, flashlight, or lantern
Food! - Utensils and cooking equipment is provided
Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen, hat

What You May Want to Bring

Puffy jacket or fleece
Beanie and gloves
Rain Jacket
Rain Pants
Playing cards
Packable games
Journal
Book or Kindle
Camera
Portable charger
Satellite Messenger, like the Garmin inReach

How To Book Your Cabin

Cabins and rooms at the West Point Inn can be booked up to three months in advance. As you might imagine, it is a pretty popular place and weekends do fill up fast, especially in the summer months.

Rates start at $100/night for rooms and $150/night for cabins. If you want to stay “for free”, think about volunteering for one of their pancake breakfasts!

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