West Point Inn in Mill Valley, CA

West Point Inn sits at 100 Old Railroad Grade on Mt. Tamalpais, along a gated fire road where hiking trails meet the old railroad line. It was built in 1904 as a stop on the Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway, the line once called the Crookedest Railroad in the World for its 281 turns. The railroad closed in 1930. West Point Inn is the only surviving building from that route.

Volunteers have run the inn since 1943 through the West Point Inn Association, now hundreds of members strong. The property is off the grid. There is no electricity. What you get instead is a covered deck, picnic tables, two stone-fireplace lounges, and a view that makes the climb worth it.

What West Point Inn Is

West Point Inn is a historic lodge, not a Highway 1 pub you drive to. The grounds and deck are open to day visitors, including the Hiker's Lounge. Overnight guests book one of seven rooms or five cabins, including an accessible cabin with a ramp. The inn is ADA accessible, and guests who need to drive in can arrange that with the innkeeper. Everyone else hikes or bikes.

The kitchen has two six-burner stoves, gas ovens, two refrigerators, and a dishwashing sink for overnight guests. You cook your own meals except on special association events. No fires of any kind are allowed on the grounds. No weddings, bachelor parties, kegs, or loud gatherings.

What's On Offer

Day hikers come for the deck, the view, and a picnic they packed themselves. Overnight guests come for a dark, quiet mountain night after the last walkers leave. A few times a year the association hosts pancake breakfasts, the public event most Marin hikers know.

Hours, Closures, And Overnight Rules

The inn is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, commonly 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in winter. It is closed Mondays for members and non-members. It also closes on red-flag alert days on Mt. Tam.

How To Get There

Do not treat Fire Road / 100 Old Railroad Grade like a street address your GPS can drop you on the porch. The site is hike-in or bike-in. For a day visit, common parking includes the Panoramic Highway lot across from Mountain Home Inn and lots near Cushing Memorial Amphitheater. Paid parking is commonly $8 cash or check at Bootjack, Pantoll, and East Peak. Fill out the envelope and put the receipt on the dash.

Overnight guests usually park at Bootjack or Pantoll, pay the nightly fee, and write WPI plus the departure date on the receipt. Trails range from a shorter climb of about 45 minutes to longer approaches near two hours. Start earlier than you think. After-hours hiking can mean park fines.

What The Visit Is Like

Expect a historic wooden inn, a big covered deck, and a quiet that feels older than the Bay view in front of you. Bring layers, water, and food unless you hold pancake tickets. The mountain is colder and windier than Mill Valley. Construction sometimes hits weekday hours on the cabins, so check the site if you booked for silence.

Why People Go

People come because you cannot drive up, eat, and leave. The hike is the price of admission, and the reward is the last railroad inn on Mt. Tam plus a porch that looks across the Bay. Pancake mornings turn that into a shared Marin ritual. Overnight stays turn it into one of the county's strangest and best cheap luxuries. A dark room, a shared kitchen, and no cars.

Who West Point Inn Is Best For

The inn works especially well for hikers and cyclists who already know Mt. Tam, couples who want an off-grid overnight, families who will buy pancake tickets early, and visitors who can treat the walk as part of the meal. It is less ideal if you want a restaurant table, electricity, or a last-minute Sunday brunch without a reservation or a climb.

Where It Fits In Your Mt. Tam Day

A simple loop is park across from Mountain Home Inn or at Bootjack, hike Old Railroad Grade or a connecting trail to the inn, sit on the deck, then return before the light drops. Pair an overnight with a next-morning walk toward East Peak. Save pancake dates for when tickets are already in your email.

Planning Your Visit

Confirm open hours and red-flag status by phone before you leave town. Pack out what you pack in. Book rooms early for weekends and for the night before a pancake breakfast, when members get priority. If you cannot hike, call about ADA parking and the fire-road drive. Do not show up Monday and hope the door is open.