Steep Ravine: Nothing short of magnificent

This classic hike is pure magnificence. If you have delayed returning to it, never hiked it or don’t know about it, the time is now!

Always considered in the top handful of Marin hikes, the Steep Ravine Trail is at its best — Webb Creek and the waterfalls are flowing full, the redwoods and ferns are standing tall and fresh, and the trillium and other early wildflowers are in full bloom.

• Hike summary: The Steep Ravine Trail is 4.25 miles out and back from the signed trailhead located at the lower left corner of the Pantoll parking lot. It is often a steep trail with steps and some difficult footing. In addition, you must climb down and, on the return, up a well-secured ladder approximately 10 feet high located .8 miles from our trailhead. Our trail ends at Rocky Point, overlooking the Steep Ravine cabins and the Pacific Ocean. For the return, we reverse our course.

The hike is beautiful and exhilarating, so if you’re able, even if you have to rest frequently, take it. You can return from any point.

• Getting there: We start from the bottom left of the Pantoll parking lot. Parking there costs $8 ($7 for seniors). Restrooms are available, and no dogs are allowed.

• The hike: We will start early to avoid the crowds and to experience the trail’s early morning serenity. Buz, my frequent hiking companion, and I began early twice recently and were alone much of the time. We first hiked the trail as a loop, returning via the Dipsea, Coastal Fire Road and Old Mine Trail. We much preferred our second hike, the out and back described here, which is spectacular both ways.

The trail starts with long, easy switchbacks going down. They will not be so easy on our return climbing up. Along the way, we are accompanied sometimes by white milkmaids, the county’s earliest appearing flower.

After the switchbacks, we soon come to a bench near a stand of large redwoods. We cross some feeders to Webb Creek, and soon are walking right along the creek. The surroundings are chaotic with fallen redwoods strewn across the creek and slopes at various angles. Yet, all seems in place.

Listen to the creek’s vocals: the sound of falling water, the swirls against the bank, the rush of water against water and other chuffs, whispers and burbles.

At .8 of a mile, we come to the ladder. At the top, position yourself to climb down safely — that is, facing the ladder, just like you would to climb up.

Once down, take a few steps and look back toward Webb Creek spilling around the boulder by the ladder and the redwood trees beyond. The height of the trees, your position by the creek at the bottom of the ravine or steep narrow canyon, and the reach of the forest carry a feeling of immensity.

We continue winding through the towering redwoods, the high slopes and the deep forest surrounded by the circle of life. The trees, plants and leaves are decomposing everywhere, while at the same time others are leafing out, budding and blooming.

We pass various small falls, a large hollowed-out redwood and plentiful Western trillium with three leaves, a short stem, three sepals and three white petals that age to pink and light purple. In the path’s close proximity to the creek there is a feeling of intimacy. My mind turns to a Navajo prayer: “I walk with beauty before me, I walk with beauty behind me, I walk with beauty below me, I walk with beauty above me, I walk with beauty around me.”

After crossing a few bridges spanning Webb Creek, we see on the left a small concrete structure for placement of a dam across Webb Creek, and climb a rise of 50 yards or so to a reddish brown electrical box on the right across from a trail off to the left. Take the trail to the left, and at the top of the initial short rise, you will see a sign pointing to Rocky Point, our destination.

The trail soon rejoins Webb Creek and eventually crosses it. Looking toward the creek in the last 100 yards before Highway 1, you will be rewarded by seeing giant trillium and its flowers ranging here in color from fuchsia to burgundy. This is the only place I know in Marin County where giant trillium grows wild.

After crossing Highway 1, continue to the gate and look down on some of the Steep Ravine cabins on the coast’s edge and the Pacific Ocean stretching out to the horizon.

As we turn back and before recrossing Highway 1, notice on the bank above the road the group of purple shooting stars with their dark pistils pointing down. Heading back, we see water-loving alders leafing out by the creek. We cross the bridge over Webb Creek and merge into the main trail. We notice more falls as we view them walking up current and enjoy the ravine’s great sights and sounds anew.

Ending, we feel grateful for this wonderous hike.

A longtime avid hiker and Marin resident, Jim Holden is the author of two nonfiction books: “It Happened in Marin” and “Adventure Lives, Daring Acts.” He can be reached at MarinhikingJim@gmail.com