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Muir Woods National Monument

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Overview

Muir Woods National Monument celebrates the best that the California Redwoods have to offer. Set aside in 1908 by William and Elizabeth Kent, the park was created to honor early conservationist, explorer, and mountain man John Muir. Delighted by the idea, Muir declared, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world." Protected from development, the national monument is a beautiful and restful place to take in nature's diversity. Visitors to the park will be astounded by the gigantic redwoods and expansive forests of the park.

To learn more about Muir Woods National Monument, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:
The Muir Woods Visitor Center and Muir Woods Trading Company Gift Shop and Cafe are open daily. Hours vary by day and season. Check the park's website to see the current hours of operation.

Muir Woods Visitor Center:
  • January-March: Open 8 am to 6 pm.
  • March-September: Open 8 am to 8 pm.
  • September-October: Open 8 am to 7 pm.
  • November-January: Open 8 am to 5 pm.

Visiting Tips

Muir Woods National Monument is open 365 days a year from 8 am to sunset. Muir Beach, Muir Beach Overlook, and Stinson Beach close one hour after Muir Woods. Visit the park's website for more information on current operating hours, conditions, and closures.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

Camping & Lodging

Camping:
There are no campsites in Muir Woods National Monument, but options exist in close proximity to the monument. Golden Gate National Recreation Area maintains four reservable campgrounds, and the Presidio of San Francisco also maintains one campground. Camping is also available in Kirby Cove Campground in the Marin Headlands.

Lodging:
There are no lodging facilities within the Muir Woods National Monument. Accommodations can be found in Golden Gate National Parks, and in the nearby towns outside of the park.

Food & Drink

Visitors can choose between two dining options in the park. The Muir Woods Trading Company is a concessionaire facility that serves snacks and meals throughout the day. The Trading Company is located in Mill Valley within the monument. The second option is the Siren Canteen & Cafe. This local eatery is located outside of the monument in Stinson Beach, nestled near the lifeguard tower.

Other Activities

While small in size, the Muir Woods National Monument provides an excellent array of trails. There are trails for a variety of skill levels, ranging from paved paths that are wheelchair and stroller accessible, and more primitive trails leading into the canyon. As Muir Woods is surrounded by California State Park property, many trails that begin in the monument connect with park trails. These can be linked together to provide longer outings for those who wish to spend a full day in the woods. For those looking for other activities in the area, be sure to check out the many options for mountain biking in the Golden Gate National Recreation area and the awesome opportunities for rock climbing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gems in Muir Woods National Monument - 2

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gem Favorite Tall trees

Cathedral Grove

(30) Mill Va…, CA
gem Favorite Muir Woods

Bohemian Grove

(24) Mill Va…, CA

Recommended Routes in Muir Woods National Monument - 3

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Muir Woods
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

Hillside Loop

2.5 mi 3.9 km 255' Up 77.77 m Up 255' Down 77.75 m Down

Tamalpa…, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Muir Woods
Intermediate Intermediate

Panoramic Loop

4.5 mi 7.3 km 943' Up 287.4 m Up 941' Down 286.79 m Down

Tamalpa…, CA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Muir Woods
Difficult Difficult

Mount Tamalpais from Muir Woods

8.7 mi 13.9 km 2,416' Up 736.37 m Up 2,416' Down 736.36 m Down

Tamalpa…, CA
Explore in 3D

Muir Woods National Monument Running

  • 13 Miles 21 Kilometers of Trail
  • 3 Recommended Routes
  • 2 Gems Gems
  • 4 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 4 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 4 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Share what you know about this area!

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Trails in Muir Woods National Monument - 9

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6.6 mi 10.6 km #1Dipsea Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Mill Valley, CA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Mill Valley, CA 36 
0.3 mi 0.4 km #2Bohemian Grove Trail
Easy Easy
Mill Valley, CA
Easy Easy
Mill Valley, CA
1.5 mi 2.4 km #3Canopy View Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA 13 
0.4 mi 0.7 km #4Fern Creek Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA
1.1 mi 1.8 km #5Ben Johnson Trail
Difficult Difficult
Mill Valley, CA
Difficult Difficult
Mill Valley, CA 10 
1.2 mi 1.9 km #6Redwood Creek Trail
Easy Easy
Tamalpais Valley, CA
Easy Easy
Tamalpais Valley, CA 11 
0.7 mi 1.1 km #7Sun Trail
Easy Easy
Mill Valley, CA
Easy Easy
Mill Valley, CA
0.9 mi 1.4 km #8Lost Trail
Difficult Difficult
Mill Valley, CA
Difficult Difficult
Mill Valley, CA
0.7 mi 1.2 km #9Hillside Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Mill Valley, CA

Photos of Muir Woods National Monument - 30

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Muir Woods
Jul 28, 2015 near Tamalpa…, CA
Boardwalk through giant trees
Dec 18, 2015 near Mill Va…, CA
Without a figure for scale, it's difficult to truly appreciate the size of these trees!
May 9, 2016 near Mill Va…, CA
Big trees are great all over in Muir Woods.
May 12, 2016 near Mill Va…, CA
Muir Woods
May 12, 2016 near Mill Va…, CA
Tall trees
May 12, 2016 near Mill Va…, CA
Muir Woods Canopy View Trail
May 12, 2016 near Mill Va…, CA
Sunlight filtering in the redwoods.
Sep 15, 2016 near Tamalpa…, CA
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