Eleven miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, a valley on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais holds one of the last old-growth coast redwood groves near a major American city. Muir Woods National Monument protects 554 acres of redwood forest in Redwood Creek canyon — trees that were standing when the Declaration of Independence was signed, some of them more than 250 feet tall and 1,000 years old. The fact that such a forest exists this close to San Francisco is largely thanks to Congressman William Kent, who purchased the land and donated it to the federal government in 1908 specifically to prevent logging.
The Required Shuttle System
Here’s the most important thing to know before you plan your visit: you cannot drive to Muir Woods and park at the monument. Parking has been eliminated at the site, and all visitors arriving by private vehicle must park at remote lots and ride the Muir Woods Shuttle or arrive by alternative transportation. Shuttle parking is at multiple locations along the Highway 1 and Highway 101 corridors; tickets must be purchased in advance through the Muir Woods reservation system.
The shuttle and parking reservations are genuinely required — the old arrangement of a chaotic parking lot jammed with cars caused significant damage to the forest floor and made the experience miserable. The current system is much better. It also means you must plan your visit carefully; showing up without a reservation and hoping to park is not going to work.
The alternative is arriving on foot or by bicycle via the Ben Johnson or Dipsea trails from Marin County parks. This approach is rewarding and eliminates the reservation logistics for the drive portion, though you’ll still need to pay the monument entry fee at the gate.
Cathedral Grove and the Main Loop
The main loop trail through Muir Woods — approximately 1 mile of mostly flat, paved path along Redwood Creek — is what most visitors come for. Cathedral Grove, roughly halfway along the main loop, is where the forest reaches its full impressive stature: a cluster of old-growth redwoods rising over 250 feet, their canopy closing above the path, the understory in deep shade and carpeted with oxalis. The silence here, amplified by the sound-absorbing bark and the soft ground, is something visitors often remark on — even on a busy day, the grove has a quieting effect.
The accessibility of the main loop is one of the monument’s genuine strengths: it’s paved, flat, and stroller- and wheelchair-accessible for most of its length. You can have a meaningful redwood forest experience here without significant hiking fitness. Allow an hour to walk the main loop at an easy pace; going slowly and looking up frequently is the right approach.
Redwood Creek and the Forest Floor
The creek running through the canyon floor is a small coastal stream that supports a run of coho salmon in winter — one of the last coho populations in the San Francisco Bay watershed. From November through January, you may see salmon holding in the pools beneath the redwood roots, or spawning in the gravel reaches near the monument’s lower end.
The forest floor in a mature redwood grove looks simple at first glance — mostly moss and oxalis — but look closely and you’ll find extraordinary detail. Banana slugs (the bright yellow kind that reach six inches long) move through the duff; banana slug season is any wet morning. Ferns grow from every crevice in the bark. Fallen logs become nurse logs, covered in huckleberry and sword fern and eventually hosting the next generation of redwood seedlings.
Beyond the Main Loop: Upper Trails
The monument connects to the Marin County open space trail network via several upper trails that climb out of the redwood canyon into chaparral, oak woodland, and panoramic ridge views. The Ben Johnson Trail, the Hillside Trail, and the Bootjack Trail all offer longer routes with a very different character from the valley floor. These upper trails are not paved and require more significant effort, but they reward you with solitude and views that the main loop can’t provide.
Combining a main loop walk with an upper trail extension makes a 3–5 mile loop that covers the full range of the monument’s ecosystems. The Dipsea Trail, a historically significant route connecting Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, passes through the monument and is well worth knowing about for a longer Marin hiking day.
Practical Visitor Information
Muir Woods is open daily year-round, though hours vary by season. The monument is managed by the National Park Service. Entry fees apply; America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Food is not sold inside the monument, but a small café operates near the entrance with coffee and snacks.
Mornings (before 10:00 a.m.) and late afternoons (after 3:00 p.m.) are less crowded than midday. Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends. For old-growth redwood forests on a much larger scale, the Redwood National and State Parks in far northern California are the natural next destination. See the full Park Guides section for other Bay Area and Northern California parks, and Planning Tips for organizing a Marin County day trip.
FAQ
Can I drive directly to Muir Woods and park? No. Parking at the monument has been eliminated. All visitors arriving by private vehicle must park at remote shuttle lots and take the Muir Woods Shuttle. Parking and shuttle reservations must be purchased in advance through Recreation.gov.
How long is the main trail? The main loop through Cathedral Grove is approximately 1 mile of paved, relatively flat trail. Allow 45–90 minutes for a leisurely walk. The loop can be extended by connecting to the unpaved upper trail network.
Is Muir Woods accessible for strollers and wheelchairs? The main valley floor loop is paved and largely flat, suitable for strollers and most mobility devices. The upper trails are unpaved and not accessible. Confirm current conditions with the monument before visiting.
When can I see salmon in Redwood Creek? Coho salmon typically enter Redwood Creek from November through January, with peak activity in December and early January depending on rainfall and stream conditions.
How does Muir Woods compare to the Redwood parks farther north? Muir Woods is smaller, more accessible, and much closer to San Francisco — ideal for a day visit. The redwood groves in Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt and Del Norte counties are larger, wilder, and less crowded, but require a 5–6 hour drive from the Bay Area.