“Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog.” – nps.gov
The Muir Woods National Monument is an old-growth coastal redwood forest located near the Pacific coast in Marin County.
If you are visiting the Bay Area in California this summer or even if you are someone who has lived here your whole life and never taken the time to visit, a stop at Muir Woods is a wonderful way to spend some time.
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Quick Tip: You Need a Reservation to Visit Muir Woods by Car
There are two important things to know about visiting Muir Woods. One, it gets very crowded, especially on the weekends and especially in warm weather. Which is what led to number two – you must now make a reservation to park at Muir Woods. Don’t spend the time driving up and down the twisty roads to get to the park only to be turned away because you didn’t pre-book parking.
Parking reservations are available at https://gomuirwoods.com/.
Getting There
To get to Muir Woods you take the 101 either North or South, depending on where you’re coming from, take the Mill Valley/Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit, follow the signs to Highway 1 and then follow the signs to Muir Woods.
There is also a shuttle that will bring visitors parking outside of the park to the entrance and back.
What To Do Once You Are at Muir Woods
Once you arrive and park, enter under the iconic Muir Woods sign and pick up a map. There is a visitors center at the entrance with free guides available as well as more extensive maps that are available for purchase.
There are 6 miles of trails in Muir Woods, including a 1/2 hour loop, a 1 hour loop, and a 1 1/2 hour loop. If you are prepared and have directions or know your way, you can extend your walk into Mount Tamalpais State Park. But if you just want a relaxing time wandering through the incredible landscape, choose one of the shorter loops and go. Plan your hike with the NPS guide found here.
There is food and drink available inside Muir Woods as well as bathrooms and a pay phone. However, there are no picnics allowed in the forest. There is no cell service or wifi in the park.
Where to Go When You Leave Muir Woods
You can easily combine your Muir Woods trip with a stop at Muir Beach for a full day of outdoorsy fun.
For more info check the Muir Woods National Monument Website and for shuttle info and parking reservation go to https://gomuirwoods.com/.
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