ZigZag via Tenderfoot up

ZigZag via Tenderfoot up

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	ZigZag via Tenderfoot up
Location:	California - Bay Area
Nearest Town:	Mill Valley
Directions to Trailhead:	101 to Mill Valley (Blithedale) Exit. Follow Blithedale through town, across to Throckmorton at the Depot. Follow Throckmorton till it becomes Cascade. Follow Cascade till you see the "Tenderfoot Trails" sign on the left by a house. There's parking for about 6 cars nearby. Take the Tenderfoot trail up (about 1.5 miles). Tenderfoot has some nice technical sections going up, but it's not too steep to ride just about all of it. At the end, go right on the road about 1/2 mile to the Mountain Home. Go right on the major road, then take the first right towards the Fire Station on Mt. Tam. Take the immediate right onto the gravel road to the end a couple hundred feet. Trailhead is at the end on the left. Alternatively, take any of the routes on the East Peak of Mt Tam, then at the "double-bow-knot" where Railroad Grade meets Gravity Car, take Gravity Car towards the Mountain Home. As you leave the fireroad past the Fire Station take the gravel road on the left just before the main street.
Trail Description:	ZigZag is only about a mile long, but and extremely technical downhill. I think it's about the most intense mile of singletrack I've ridden in the bay area (including El Corte De Madera before all the good stuff was closed down). Requires lots of concentration the entire way and doesn't let up till the bottom. Steeps; roots; root-drops; root-drops between trees; DEEP washed-out sections just wide enough for your pedals to fit through; and a final little steep that drops you next to a BARBED WIRE fence, so be in control, that then exits next to a house on Cascade. Turn right on Cascade, go about 1/4 mile back to the Tenderfoot entrance where you parked. Whew! Starting from Tenderfoot it's about a 3-mile loop.
Trail Length:	3 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Extreme
Submitted By:	Mike Ness

ralph tossoff from City Date: April 7, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: best to start at top an go down. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: These type of MV trails are VERY short and hardly worth scouting out. They're kinda cool to discover but not really for biking. Usually, they start off asphalt - to ride down a tidey little single track for 5 mins. or less - and end up back on asphalt. These trails are better left for, uh, deer.	Overall Rating:

YourMaster from Mill Valley Date: September 5, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: See above Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Tell that bird Trevor to shut his pie hole about riding on Tam. You need to figure it out.	Overall Rating:

Trevor from Mill Valley Date: July 31, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: go up tenderfoot or get a ride to the mt. home inn. Other recommended trails in the same area: for the real serious stuff the DH riders gotta go up higher and poach some of the good stuff like wheeler, indian fire break, temelpa, nora and all the other sweet trails
Review: zig zag is one of the most extreme (legal) single track in mill valley. the trail is very steep, with lots of root sections with dropoffs very narrow in some parts. this trail is not really a fast downhill (you use your brakes over %90 of the time), it is more of a very steep tecnical trail. i do not reccomend going down very fast the first time because there are alot of obsticals that can sneak up on you. rip it up now because the trail is slowly eroding and before you know it the whole thing will be a huge rut.	Overall Rating:

DSR from Berkeley, CA Date: November 14, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: can't say
Review: First off, Zig Zag is on city of Mill Valley property and is not illegal, anything above it in the Mt. Tam park is illegal, and you better rip it cause the rangers up there are serious. However, if a Hiker or Ranger attempts to ticket you on Zag, notify them that they are on city of mill valley property and the trail is perfectly legal. A lot of hikers and locals are real punks and assholes and will give you a lot of shit. Anyway, it's a good trail for DH it is not the most technical(but yes it is worth driving to), but on XC bikes it is definetely hard core, esp. w/ seat up. Good fun trail, but if you want real killer DH, you'll have to go higher up the mountain and poach some serious stuff. -DSR	Overall Rating:

Eric from SF Date: May 4, 2001 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Be Stealthy! Rumor has it that a couple of guys just got busted on Zig Zag. Keep in mind that this is just a Rumor so far, buit lets not draw more attention to this trail. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Furthermore, the fine for be caught on illegal tails in Marin was just increased up to $300 (first offence) from $125. It is now also considered a misdemeanor with up to six months lock down! This trail has been overlooked by the rangers until now and hopefully they will continue to turn their heads....Please help to keep it that way!	Overall Rating:

dinno kovic from San Francisco, CA Date: March 21, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Mike's description is perfect. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This trail tests your technical riding skills, uphill and downhill. This is by far the most technical single track I have experienced. To date, I have not found a 3 mile ride better than this. Definitely for the experienced riders only!!! The best part of the ride is ZigZag (the name is very appropriate)you are tested your riding skills from the top all the way to the bottom. Zig Zag is relentless, trying to toss you off your bike at every turn.	Overall Rating:

Mike Ness from San Francisco Date: January 21, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Looks like I put all the info in the page header. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Intense downhill tight technical singletrack - see the page header. Not for average riders, they will be walking and very unhappy if you bring them.	Overall Rating: