BarMaxx Blog: The Mountain Home Inn 2025: Fabulous Views & Endless Hiking

+ Paradise & Yorkshire Pudding | The Pelican Inn, Muir Beach is Close By

19,001 views
The Essence of Mountainous Serenity

December 9, 2025

+ by Mike Kirner

1st Published in 2010, story has been updated numerous times. Thousands have visited this story since then. I expect I have sent many hundreds of visitors to this fabulous place on Mt. Tamalpais. See the breakdown of where the tourists are from here:

United States 2.49K

China

1.95K

Singapore

451

Brazil

Netherlands

Germany

United Kingdom

India

Vietnam

Other

4.56K

In case you haven't heard, this wondrous destination is for sale. Got an extra $4.9 Million? This is an investment that you'll never regret. Put some work and love into it and you will thrive. The current owners would frequently rent out the whole place for weddings, baby showers, bar mitzvahs and other soiree's. I'm sure it costs a bundle to rent out the entire venue.

Here's more info: 810 Panoramic Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941 - Mountain Home Inn | LoopNet

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Even though it's been around for over 100 years, there are many folks, even those who live near downtown Mill Valley, CA, who aren't quite sure where the + Mt. Home Inn is located. This restaurant sometimes has quirky hours, so be sure to call before heading up the mountain.

It will take you about 15 minutes to drive up here from downtown Mill Valley and maybe 1 hour to walk up here from the 2AM Club. The inn is often rented out entirely for weddings or birthdays, so expect to be turned away.

Check out a great short video of the Mt. Home Inn on their website. According to legend, Jack London used to visit here.

The famous, yet smallish Mountain Home Inn is not exactly hidden, but I suppose if you're not paying attention you can drive past this bed and breakfast as you cruise on the wondrously curvaceous Panoramic Highway on your way to Stinson Beach or the top of Mt. Tamalpais.

Stinson Short Cut

For many locals, this is the path they take to Stinson Beach in order to avoid a lot of the weekend traffic near Tam Junction.

The parking lot directly across the street from the Mountain Home Inn is only 100 yards North of the entrance to the Alice Eastwood Road and campground - which is also very easy to miss, as it is poorly marked by outdated signage. I drove past the entrance for 10 years and did not know it was the main entrance for Alice Eastwood campground.

photo: the steep trail towards the German Tourist Club, about 1.5 miles south of Mountain Home Inn.

The aforementioned parking lot is also about 1.5 miles north of the German Tourist Club, or the Nature Friend Tourist Club - another devilishly hard place to find.

30 MPH - Be Safe
Be careful, first-time visitors; or even seasoned mountain hikers, these roads are treacherous.

The views surrounding the Mountain Home Inn, which is perched at approximately 925 feet above sea level, are spectacular and it's important to keep your eyes on the road and watch for deer, skunks, bikers and pedestrians.

Drive slow, folks.

Do not drive faster than 30 miles an hour up here, which will of course irritate some local tailgaters and self-entitled Millennials who have the need for speed. I just ignore them, frankly. I truly enjoy driving nice and slow like a tourist and getting glimpses of the pissed off idiot behind me.

My "Existential Theory on Driving" is that when you drive deliberately slow, you are doing your part to save the planet.

You are driving slow to save the life of a beautiful and innocent deer; a hapless skunk; the idiot driver behind you and anyone else who would potentially be affected by a swerving car.

If you hit a skunk, your car will smell of deceased skunk for up to 4 months. It can cost thousands of dollars to get rid of the skunk smell.

If you hit a deer, you will kill or maim the deer and likely have over $2500 of damage to your fender. If you hit a Millennial or two....well, that's not so bad.

RIP
Another very important life decision to ponder: if you swerve off the road up here, you will likely not survive it. Most of the Panoramic Hwy road has steep ledges, with almost no shoulder. Your car will tip over and over as it tumbles down the hill; your neck and every bone in your body will be broken. Likely everyone in your vehicle will not survive.

There is a grim and lonely roadside monument near the Mt. Home Inn were 4 young adults in their twenties swerved off the road late at night in 1995.... and not one of them survived. It was a huge, community tragedy for these parts. Four young dudes, with their whole life still ahead - gone in an instant; one wrong move. It was a devastating local incident for the tiny town of Stinson Beach and all of Marin County.

According to a local guy named Clint, another regular at the Mountain Home Inn, the group who perished were from Stinson Beach. After an entire day and night of enjoying themselves at the local dive, the 2:00 A.M. Club in Mill Valley, they sadly met there demise on a late night, foggy trip back home. + Read sobering story here.

This local community tragedy happened just a few hundred yards from the Mountain Home Inn. Be very careful and always drive slow and with respect for the mountain and its perils. Read more about Mt. Tam accidents here.

Snoop Dawg and I
I simply love going for a jog on the fabled Matt Davis trail (nearby) with my boxer dogs over the years; During the early 2000's there was the insane Augustine Octavius "Auglet" Tiberius, followed by my dearly departed and crazy Claudius Tiberius Drusus Germanicus...and today there's the completely insane Romulus Claudius Tiberius Agrippa Habbakuk Germanicus. I have no children, so my only child must have a long, regal and Roman name. I cannot understand why people give their dogs such stupid names like Spot or Barney. Dogs deserve long, important names.

+See my dearly departed Claudius Tiberius here.

+ Video of some of the trails near the Mt. Home Inn. the Matt Davis Trail is among the most popular and scenic.

Photos Below:

There must be 1,000 trails to walk near Mt. Home Inn. I lost count after 300.

I now reside in Florida, but cannot wait to get back, so my newest boxer, Romulus Tiberius can enjoy this place also.

After a jog or hike, visitors can enjoy a beer or two at this somewhat remote location on top of the world. It's not Nepal or even Berchtesgaden, but as you look up towards the top of Mt. Tam (2,574 feet), this is as mountaineously good as it gets around here. I always compare it to the Smoky Mountains or the Appalachians, without the inbreeding.

2005 AD: Claudius Tiberius Drusus Nero Germanicus

Fog & Clouds
When visiting this historic inn, you will inevitably and frequently see the city of San Francisco entrenched in fog while you are enjoying 80 degrees of sunshine. It's one of the magical mysteries of the North Bay. If it happens to be foggy and cold, do not dispair.....the weather up here can change within one hour.

On the other hand, the fog could last for most of they day; it's hit or miss sometimes, so go with the flow. During March and for many months afterwards, it can be a fabulously sunny day hanging out up here.

SPONSORED AD:

Pay Attention: The Ins and Outs of the 4 Inns
Here's the part you need to pay close attention to, because many locals even get this wrong when they give you directions.

Read carefully.

There are four places people get mixed up: The Mountain Home Inn, The West Point Inn, The Pelican Inn and the German Tourist Club or Nature Friends Tourist Club.

I know all of them; even many Marin residents do not. Before you plan to travel to any of them, make sure it's open to the public. Some venues get rented out frequently for events and weddings.

Most frequently, people confuse The Mountain Home Inn with the West Point Inn, which is located maybe 4 miles or so up the mountain. It is situated much higher than the Mountain Home Inn and its elevation is 1,781 feet.

The West Point Inn is about a 1.5 hour rugged hike (if you leave from Mt. Home Inn) up near the top of Mt. Tamalpais, which casts a tall and ubiquitous shadow over the southern end of Marin County, CA. You need the right clothing and shoes up here.

If your girlfriend is Ariana Grande, or Paris Hilton....and she's not the outdoors type, do not attempt to climb to the West Point Inn. Many city folks do not like overly long hikes, so keep track of time. If you walk 1/2 hour up the hill; it will take you almost the same amount of time down the hill.

And always bring extra sweaters, caps and water. People get lost up here - I certainly have. Bring two working flashlights in case you get lost. Also bring extra batteries, please!

NOTE: I lived here nearly 25 years. I once got completely lost in the dark for 4 hours.(No Joke). Do not play games up here; if it gets dark...it's total, blacker than black out up here, as there are very few street lights and none in the forests. Read story below.

Mother Nature's Dark Side

We should always know that Mother Nature is not always your friend.

She has a dark side too. The nature that Mr. Teddy Roosevelt has rescued for posterity can easily turn on you anytime Mother Nature chooses.

You must respect it and treat it with caution, foresight and preparedness.

At the end of one long hike, I erroneously decided to take a short cut at about 2,000 feet ( I was on the International Trail) and it was getting dark. I had forgotten my flashlight and cell phone. Around 6:30 pm, it was black, black dark.

You could not see the hand in front of your face. No lie.

The dense, thick and towering redwood tree canopy above me hid any light whatsoever. It was pitch dark and alas, I was on a new trail. I did not know what was east, west, north or south. My phone was dead; no light.

Despair was palpable in the dark, mountain air. I could not shout, because there was nobody to hear me, except my dog Claudius Tiberius Drusus Augustus Germanicus - or Claudie.

We were on a steep, rugged fire trail about 6 feet wide. Luckily you can feel with your hands that when you get to the edge of the trail, there was grass. Beyond the grass there were steep ravines and precipices.

One wrong step and I'm a goner. I decided to get on my hands and knees and slowly crawl to be sure I don't walk off a cliff. I was lost for 3 hours and finally some light came from the moon. It was very scary and luckily I made it to a fire station by midnight.

Today, I have two flashlights with me at all times. One is called Roosevelt, the other one John Muir.

Quite frequently, locals and tourists alike confuse the Mountain Home Inn with the somewhat more touristy Pelican Inn, which is owned by the same owner and is located approximately 6 miles down the mountain in Muir Beach.

photo: the Pelican Inn is approx. 5 miles down the hill from Mt. Home Inn. It is close to Muir Woods and Muir Beach.

The truth is, all four inns are fabulous in their own special way and even if you get them mixed up, you'll enjoy the views and ambiance without question.

WEST POINT INN

The West Point Inn is only accessible by foot; unless you get a special permit to drive up the fire roads with a car.

It's important to note, however, the West Point Inn is an extremely simple and Spartan inn and does not have a bar and restaurant; basically it's a wooden cot and a washroom and showers not directly attached to your room. It's tasteful and cozy, but alas, you'll have no room service, maid or anything remotely relating to luxury living.

You will be "roughing it", but it will be a fun adventure. The overnight rates are extremely affordable.

There will be no room service, no luxury, no coffee, no food, no 7/11 nearby......or maids or really anything except a room with a view. read more.

photo: small room inside West Point Inn

If you bring your shopping spree loving, high maintenance, Gucci bag wearing Kardashian, Beverly Hills girlfriend or wife up here, she'll likely break up with you.

It's sort of like camping outdoors; very rugged, simple and rough. You must bring any food, drink or necessities with you.

MOUNTAIN HOME INN

The Mountain Home Inn, on the other hand, is a full service bed and breakfast establishment. It has a great wine and beer selection (no liquor at all) and the inside and outside restaurant serves meals to the public on most days during the year.

Always call ahead of time; this place has few rooms. It also tends to be more skewed to the more modest accomodations, and clearly not a W Hotel.

photo: room inside Mountain Home Inn

This Mountain Home Inn's offerings include overnight accommodations, a small bar and a dining room with a cozy fireplace. When you make dinner reservations, be sure to ask for a spot close to the fireplace. The lunch and dinner times vary, so be certain to call first if you are planning to sojourn up Mt. Tam to check it out. Bring coats and hats; it could be cold outside and it could also be warm.

I am a man of faith, and I always insist that God was at his most creative when he created the area surrounding Mt. Tamalpais. Especially when you consider how wonderfully close it is to Sausalito, downtown Mill Valley, Tiburon and San Francisco.

Staff:
Most probably, there's entirely new staff here in 2024. I have not been here since 2021.

Between 1995 until 2020 I was a frequent regular at the Mountain Home since it's really the only place up here to have a beer after jogging.

I've known most of the staff over the years: There was Bryson, a tall, outgoing guy, Danno, a big fellow with a big heart; Seve, the tattooed strong man, Desiree' - sister of Danno; Josh, the boyfriend of Desiree...and way back in the early 2000's there was Andrea, who was just plain fabulous.

In 2019, a few of the staff have left for other positions, so now I only know a young Russian bartender named Fyodor, who often works with his very young sister, who buses tables; the two clearly look like siblings.

I also know Shirley, a Mexican American server and her young daughter Paula. Shirley has a twin sister that look 100 percent identical. All of the staff at Mountain Home Inn are both friendly and accommodating at all times. The restaurant manager in 2019 was Silvio, a lean, bearded Romanian with a brisk, but amiable Eastern European inclination. I believe he's gone now.

Now and then, the hotel manager Josh will make an appearance; he's somewhat of an Oscar Wilde lookalike and has been working at the hotel for at least two decades. Josh works for the owner, who owns several very fascinating places here in North America and in Europe. See these romantic getaways here: A Collection of Romantic Places

Roosting in the pristine redwood wilderness of Mt. Tamalpais State Park, 25 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge, this modern chalet has developed a faithful following among cognoscenti of the outdoors. It is surrounded by a plethora of nearby trails that could take you twenty years to explore.

The Matt Davis trail will take you to the aforementioned West Point Inn. Most of the trails are ideal for hiking with a group of friends or jogging alone with your dog. Be careful of the leash laws, as all trails require a leash at all times, which I have to admit is a law that I have violated for approximately 23 years.

Late in the afternoon, as the sun goes down gradually, this is a great place for an appetizer such as calamari and a glass of Pinot Grigio.

It can get very busy and hectic here on weekends, especially if it's sunny and warm, so bare with the wait staff who do their very best to keep up with the crowds. The kitchen where they retrieve the food is located at the base of a long staircase, so these people really get a serious workout running up and down the stairs..sometimes 50 to 75 times a night. Try it once, see how you feel!

A Special Note to Millennials and Zoomers. Please don't sit down with a large group of people; i.e. - five or ten friends and then ask the waiter to give each of you separate checks. Please cut out that BS!.

Have one or two of you roll up your sleeves, take charge of the situation and SPLIT the bill on a credit card and the others can pay you on Venmo, guys! This drives waiters crazy; so please don't do it - It makes a quick transaction take 10 minutes longer than it has to.

I used to come here much more often, but it seems that the friends I used to have, like Tony Tudisco of San Francisco ( who is among the laziest people in NorCal) are just too plain old lazy to get off their butts anymore; it's a crying shame to think of such complete lack of effort.

Many people fall in love with the view and the rustic ambiance that they choose to host their wedding at this wonderful gem near the top of Mt. Tam. The rooms are not high end and luxurious. The entire hotel is not one of these Hawaiian AAAA luxury spots; it's a place to take in the natural beauty, always keep this in mind.

First Impression: An inside that's all about being outside. Wherever windows can fit, they do, looking out onto a vast view of redwoods and over San Francisco Bay. Hikers break for hibiscus tea on the eagle-nest deck, watching the breeze cradle hawks. As long-time hiker R.F. "Dad" O'Rourke said, "With these hills and the friends I love--I ask no other heaven."

Details: Skylights, Redwood-trunk columns in the lobby. Doors left open year-round to catch the breezes. Wood accented guest rooms (many with balconies) pairing hickory-branch bedposts and regally striped wallpaper-perfect for sharing a bottle of reserve Sonoma Chardonnay and a fireplace campfire against a million far-off city lights. A popular saying among the staff here is, "Once you're here, it's whatever you need."

Guest Book: The buzz is there's no buzz. "Everyone stays here," one of the shift managers says. "Celebrities, CEOs—but their privacy is more important than our self-promotion."

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