Mount Tamalpais State Park

Permit Information

California State Parks Marin District Special Event Permit required for all weddings, including small elopements. $50 non refundable filing fee ($25 credited toward admin fee). Administrative permit fee: $175 (1 to 50 people), $225 (51 to 75), $275 (76 to 100), $375 (101+). Location fees vary by site: Hang Site I & III (50 max, no extra location fee), Madrone Grove $125 (75 max), Trojan Point $125 (75 max), Santos Meadows $300 (200 max), Mountain Theater $350 (200 max). Monitoring $90/hr (4 hou…

Planning Your Day at Mount Tamalpais State Park

One-Spot Day

Mount Tam is sprawling with multiple ceremony sites at different elevations across 6,300 acres. East Peak (2,571 ft summit) and the Stinson Beach Overlook on Panoramic Highway sit within a 20 minute drive of each other and pair cleanly. Lodging clusters in Mill Valley (closest to East Peak), Stinson Beach (closer to coast overlooks), or Sausalito for couples wanting Bay Area dining. Plan East Peak for sunrise (above the fog line) and the Stinson Beach Overlook for late afternoon golden hour. Cell service is patchy throughout the park, so confirm guest navigation the night before.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

California State Parks Marin District requires a Special Event Permit for every wedding regardless of size. $50 non refundable filing fee ($25 credited toward admin fee). Admin fee: $175 (1 to 50 people), $225 (51 to 75), $275 (76 to 100), $375 (101+). Location fees on top: Hang Site I & III no extra (50 max), Madrone Grove $125 (75 max), Trojan Point $125 (75 max), Santos Meadows $300 (200 max), Mountain Theater $350 (200 max). Monitoring $90/hr (4 hour minimum) if required. No alcohol without insurance. No amplified sound. No chairs or structures. Acoustic instruments only. Apply 60 to 90 days in advance through https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24221.

A Note on Light

Summer marine layer sits below 2,000 feet most mornings from May through August, which means East Peak (at 2,571 feet) often clears the fog while Stinson Beach below stays buried. Above the fog frames are the signature look here. Fall (September through November) brings the cleanest skies, lowest fog, and warmest light. Sunrise on East Peak catches the Golden Gate Bridge in pink alpenglow with city skyline behind. Sunset turns Pacific facing overlooks gold and pink. Winter brings clearest views overall but cold (40s) and frequent fog or rain.

Ceremony Spots at Mount Tamalpais State Park

• East Peak — 360 degree panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, the Bay, and the Pacific Ocean from the highest point in Marin County
• Stinson Beach Overlook — Dramatic aerial view of Stinson Beach, Bolinas Lagoon, and the Pacific Coast from the winding mountain road above