Muir Woods National Monument

beams of light from the top left corner of the image beam into a forest of towering redwood trunks
This 550-acre park protects an old-growth forest of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest type of tree in the world. Named for famed American naturalist John Muir, the National Monument occupies the homelands of the Coast Miwok people.
a visitor points to a sign that says muir woods
Visitors can receive orientation at the front entrance before entering the forest. Download the NPS App before you visit to have maps, self-guided tours, and more right in your hand.
A yellow banana slug creeping along a twig
Redwood forests are quiet and deeply shaded places in which wildlife may seem rare or absent entirely. In truth, redwood forests are surprisingly lively places, full of animals like this banana slug.
Two people walk on a meandering wooden boardwalk in a densely vegetated forest. Tall redwoods tower.
At Muir Woods, visitors can enjoy miles of trail meandering through the old-growth coast-redwood forest. Trail features include boardwalks & benches to ensure access for visitors with various mobility needs.
Two rangers stand next to a big sign and speak to visitors seated in the foreground
Knowledgeable National Park Service rangers offer several daily programs to help visitors connect with the site on a deeper level. Check our website calendar to learn more.
Photos: National Park Service

About Muir Woods National Monument

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. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908, this primeval forest is both refuge and laboratory, revealing our relationship with the living landscape. What will you discover in Muir Woods?

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Monument
Park State / Territory MembershipCalifornia
Current Alerts4
Visitor Centers1
Campgrounds0
Things To Do3

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

The coast redwood forest is cool most times of the year with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 F/ 4 - 21 C. Always come prepared with layers. From late October to early May, expect cool weather & possible rain. Summer months (June-August) can be warmer, but it is generally…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Per Person$15.00

$15 per person 16 years of age and older. Entrance fees may be purchased in advance with your parking/shuttle reservation or upon arrival to the park. Parking/shuttle reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods National Monument. Reservation fees are separate from entrance fees. Please visit GoMuirWoods.com for parking/shuttle reservations.

Operating Hours

Muir Woods is open every day of the year, with exceptions for inclement weather and hazardous conditions. Our core winter hours are 8 am- 5 pm; in the spring, summer, and fall we are open later based on increased daylight hours. Updates on closures will be posted as an alert to the website and on social-media pages.

Friday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Monday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Sunday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Tuesday8:00AM - 5:00PM
Wednesday8:00AM - 5:00PM

Activities

FoodDiningGuided ToursHikingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingShoppingBookstore and Park Store

Current Alerts

Auto-Theft Warning - Only Bring What You Need to the Park

You can prevent vehicle break-ins in parking lots and scenic overlooks. Before leaving your car for even a short period of time: 1) Remove all valuables, 2) Lock your doors. 3) Take your wallets, purses, backpacks, keys, key fobs, cell phones, and electronics with you. Read article for more details.

Parking Reservations Always Required

Reservations are required for all personal vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods. You can make your reservation by visiting www.gomuirwoods.com. Visit our "Know Before You Go" webpage to learn more important details before your visit.

No Cell Service at Muir Woods

There is NO cell service at Muir Woods. We discourage scheduling a rideshare service to leave the park. When hiring a taxi, visitors have the option of negotiating a flat rate or using the meter. Under some circumstances a flat rate may be cheaper.

Mount Tamalpais State Park - Trail Conditions

Many trails in Muir Woods connect to trails in Mount Tamalpais State Park. For up-to-date information about trail conditions within State Park boundaries, check the Mount Tamalpais State Park Info page (click more) and scroll down to Trail Updates.

Getting There

From San Francisco: Muir Woods is located 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take Hwy 101 North --> Mill Valley/Highway 1/ Stinson Beach Exit --> Follow the signs to Hwy 1 --> Follow the signs to Muir Woods From the north: Take Hwy 580/Richmond/San Rafael Bridge West --> Hwy 101 South --> Take the Stinson Beach/Mill Valley Exit --> Follow the signs to Highway 1 --> Follow the signs to Muir Woods No vehicles over 35 feet. Vehicles over 17ft need an oversized parking spot. More info below:

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressMuir Woods National Monument, 1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA, 94941

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park$45.00

This pass is good for 12 months. It admits the pass holder and three persons (16 and older) to Muir Woods. A physical card can be purchased at Muir Woods -OR- a digital version of the Muir Woods Annual Pass can be purchased on recreation.gov. Parking reservations are required for all visitors.

Topics & Themes

AnimalsBirdsFishForests and WoodlandsConiferous ForestsRiver and RiparianTrailsUnique SpeciesEndangered

Things To Do

Muir Woods Birdwatching

Muir Woods Birdwatching

Birdwatching in Muir Woods

Whale watch from Muir Beach Overlook

Whale watch from Muir Beach Overlook

Whale Watch from Muir Beach Overlook

Hike the Main Trail at Muir Woods

Hike the Main Trail at Muir Woods

Visit the historic, infamous redwood forest at Muir Woods!

Visitor Centers

Muir Woods Visitor Center

Visitors are required to check-in at the Visitor Center upon arriving at Muir Woods. Purchase entrance tickets or use your annual pass here for entrance…

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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