Muir Woods National Monument-Mill Valley, CA
Ash and I used to work for the same company, and we found ourselves in San Francisco at least once a year for work. We would always try to fly in early or stay late to make the most of our time together and explore the surrounding area. One of our most memorable trips was to Muir Woods to see the ancient Redwoods.
Waiting for our bus to arrive.
We signed up for at tour using a well-known company like Viator. The tour offered hotel pickup and was about 4 hours long. We drove past the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, Over the Golden Gate Bridge (and even stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point for photos) and spent most of our time at Muir Woods on a self-guided walk, followed by some self-guided time in Sausalito before being taken back to our hotel.
Map of hiking trails taken from nps.gov
There are tons of hiking trails available for you to explore at Muir Woods National Monument and there are tons of maps and tools available to utilize. We were visiting with a tour group and only had about 90 minutes, so we opted for the Main Trail 0.5-hour hike as we knew we would want to take a ton of photos and did not want to risk getting lost or the bus leaving without us.
-Taken from nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument is in Marin County, California, about 16 miles north of San Francisco. The 558-acre monument preserves one of the last remaining ancient redwood forests in the Bay Area. Some of the redwoods are nearly 1,000 years old and reach heights of more than 250 feet.
-Taken from nps.gov
Fees
Parking Reservation-Reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods National Monument.
$9.00 Standard Vehicle
$30.00 Medium Vehicle
$45.00 Large Vehicle
Shuttle Reservation
$3.50 per adult round trip ticket (16 years and older)
Free - child round trip ticket (15 years and younger)
Park Entrance Fee
$15.00 per adult (16 years and older)
Free - child (15 years and younger)
Entrance fees are separate from parking and shuttle reservations. They may be purchased in advance with your reservation or upon arrival to the park.
-Taken from nps.gov
Crossing one of the bridges on the trail.
Today, Muir Woods National Monument is home to more than 380 different plants and animals, including 27 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, 12 species of reptiles, and 5 species of amphibians. Redwood Creek, the principal stream in the monument, runs clean and clear beneath the towering trees. Its waters are home to Coho salmon and steelhead trout—keystone species in many Pacific ecosystems.
-Taken from nps.gov
Operating Hours
Park Hours
Operating hours vary by season, view the hours at the Muir Woods website nps.gov/muwo
Visitor Center Hours
8:00 am to 30 minutes before the park closes.
Muir Woods Trading Company
9:00 am to one hour before park closes.
Muir Woods Cafe
Closed for remodel - Food and Beverage available at the Trading Post
There is NO cell phone service or Wi-Fi at or around Muir Woods National Monument. Download your parking reservation or shuttle ticket in advance.
-Taken from nps.gov
Things To Do:
Hike (no pets allowed, no camping allowed, and no picnics allowed). See the website for camping information and where you can book a campsite nearby if interested.
Junior Ranger Program.
Attend a Tree Talk: 15-minute talks are presented twice daily. All talks are on the :15 of the hour, and most talks tend to occur between the hours of 10 and 2.
Most of the trees were so big you could not even wrap your arms around them.
The Banana Slug can grow to be 11 inches long!
President Theodore Roosevelt declared the area as a national monument on January 9, 1908. He wanted to name it Kent Monument, in honor of the person who donated the land, but William Kent insisted that it be named after conservationist John Muir, who founded the National Park System.
-Taken from nps.gov
The tallest coastal redwood at Muir Woods is about 258 feet, approximately the height of a six-foot person stacked head to toe 45 times. The average age of the coastal redwoods at Muir Woods is between 600 to 800 years, with the oldest being at least 1,200 years old. This is still young for redwoods as they can live up to 2,200 years.
-Taken from nps.gov
The main path was very accessible and an easy, flat walk.
Some Wildlife You May Encounter:
Several species of Bat
Mole
Bobcat
Coyote
Long-Tailed Weasel
Mountain Lion
River Otter
Gray Fox
Raccoon
Chipmunk
Skunk
Salmon
Trout
Snakes
Northern Alligator Lizard
Camel Cricket
Dragonflies
Millipede
Snail
Syrphid Fly
Butterfly Slug
Ladybug
Salamanders/Newt
Butterflies
Wild Turkey
So many birds
So, if you are looking for something a little different than views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and feeling like a little nature, take a trip across the bridge to the breathtaking Coast Redwoods in Muir Woods. Breathe in the fresh air and take a break from the hustle of the city for a few hours. The trails are well marked and easy to walk, and you will find yourself oohing and ahhing over all the beauty in the trees.
