Steep Ravine Beach
Stinson Beach, CA

Steep Ravine Beach sits below a cluster of rustic cabins and campsites within Mount Tamalpais State Park, genuinely hard to book since reservations for the cabins go fast. Walk-in day use is available even without a reservation, a rocky, scenic stretch worth the visit on its own.
The rustic cabins give it real character beyond just another rocky beach, though actually booking one is genuinely difficult given the demand.
How we score beachesBook cabin reservations months in advance if an overnight stay is the goal, they're genuinely some of the hardest to get in the whole state park system.
A day use fee applies; the exact amount is best confirmed at the entrance station.
A path leads from parking down to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed at Steep Ravine, including the beach, cabins, and campsites.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Marin coast, with water staying cold year round.
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