Centennial on the mountain: Mt. Tam's West Point Inn is still a magical place

Sunset, June, 2004 by Harriot Manley

In the century since West Point Inn opened on Marin's Mt. Tamalpais, the steam trains that once chugged up from Mill Valley have given way to mountain bikes, and visitors arrive in hiking shorts instead of top hats and long skirts. But the reasons for visiting this secluded aerie remain the same: unbeatable views of mountains, sea, and sky.

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Built in 1904 for $2,500, the inn linked the railway to a stagecoach rumbling down to Stinson Beach (then called Willow Camp). Though there were rooms for overnight guests, West Point served mostly as shelter from the wind. With changing times, the inn nearly closed. But in 1943, local hikers formed what is now the West Point Inn Association, which today maintains five cabins and the main building--a magical place when the gas lamps are lit and the fog rolls in. INFO: A birthday party on June 26 will include a re-created stagecoach ride from Mill Valley up to the inn. Live music, food, and other events are scheduled (many are in Mill Valley). To hike or mountain bike to West Point Inn (no vehicle access), take Old Stage Rd., a gradual, 2-mile climb from the Pantoll Ranger Station (parking $4 per day). For a map ($1), call Mt. Tamalpais State Park (415/388-2070). Guests at the rustic inn ($35 per person) must bring sleeping bags and a pillowcase and prepare their own food. For inn reservations and celebration details, call 415/646-0702; for more details and inn hours, call 415/388-9955.

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. STORY