Tucked high up in the peaks of Mt. Tamalpais lies West Point Inn (WPI), a calming getaway known for their viral pancake breakfasts. Run by a number of volunteers, these pancake fundraisers take place just six times a year, the last of which for 2025 concluded on Oct. 12.
The WPI was created in 1904 as a hospitality stop along the Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railway. It still stands tall today as the last remaining piece of that railroad, and is now run by a group of over 600 volunteers.
A relatively new addition to the volunteer association is Beth Windhueser, a San Francisco resident of 14 years.
“We [the volunteers] came up yesterday around 4 P.M. and worked to prepare last night,” Windhueser said.
The breakfast is fueled by the volunteers who, along with working the event, get the opportunity to stay in the Inn overnight.
“It was wonderful. We stayed in the cabins which was so cool, and we got to wake up around 6:30 A.M. to see the sunrise,” Windhueser said, “I got to do this with a couple of my friends, which made it even better.”
The broad patio boasts panoramic views of Marin, with the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline visible from above the clouds.
While there is no driving route directly to the Inn, hikers will park at various locations as recommended on the WPI website, some being along the Panoramic Highway by Bootjack Campground or the Pantoll Trailhead.
From there, hikers like Katie Rimas, a Tamalpais High School senior, will trek up anywhere from two to four miles to the pancakes, depending on the starting point. Many hikers start early in the morning to beat the lines.
“We started hiking around 6:30 A.M. and went about two and a half miles from one of the base parking lots,” Rimas said.
Her one recommendation: leave early!
By 9:00 A.M., when orders officially began, the line had already stretched half a mile back, but the promise of fresh pancakes made the wait worth it.
“I’m really excited to try the blueberry pancakes with maple syrup–it smells amazing even from here,” Rimas said.
The tradition of these fundraisers dates back decades, but the heart of the operation has always been the volunteers behind it.
“The registration [for volunteering] opens March 1st, and you select any weekends that you can do it,” Windhueser said.
Dates for 2026 include: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the second Sunday of each month from July to October.
“This is truly a wonderful experience, and the pancakes are delicious!” Windhueser said.
