Muir Woods is one of the top places to visit in the San Francisco Bay Area, however it’s good to know what to expect before you go.
What is Muir Woods?
Muir Woods is the closest place to San Francisco where you can get a chance to take in the beauty of the California Redwoods, the tallest living things on the planet. The Redwoods at Muir Woods can reach 250 feet. Aside from the giant trees, you can also see Tanoaks, Douglas Fir, California Big Leaf Maples and Red Alders, as well as woodpeckers, owls, deer, river otters, skunks and more wildlife.
Getting There
Muir Woods is about 16 miles from San Francisco, but traffic can be heavy depending on when you leave. Expect the drive to be between 40 to 50 minutes. If you drive yourself or take an Uber, you will need to go to one of the 3 Shuttle Stop locations to grab your shuttle to the entrance. Reservations should be made in advance for your chosen shuttle stop.
Shuttle Locations:
Sausalito
Location: Bay & Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
*No Parking Available
Pohono Park & Ride
Location: 100 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941
*Free Parking Available
Marin
Location: Donahue & Terners, Sausalito, CA 94965
*No Parking Available
To make reservations, click HERE. (https://gomuirwoods.com/)
If you don’t want to deal with making reservations and transportation, the better option would be to take a tour bus from San Francisco. Aside from being a much easier process, some of the shuttles offer other options like lunch in Sausalito, City Sightseeing or Alcatraz Tours in addition to the Muir Woods visit.
The Experience
There are 6 miles of trails at the park, but most people take either the 1/2 hour loop, 1 hour loop or 1.5 hour loop. Other, longer trails extend all the way to Mount Tamalpais National Park. Hiking trails vary in the distance and level of difficulty, but the main trails are generally easy and flat. A list of all Muir Woods Day Hikes can be found on the National Park Service Website HERE.
Detailed Hiking Trail Map and Information:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/471/files/MountTamalpaisSPFinalWebLayout110816.pdf
Other Details:
-There is no “tree that you can drive through” at Muir Woods. There are four trees like this in California, however they are all located further north in Humbolt County.
-The trees at Muir Woods are certainly impressive, however they are not even close to the largest redwoods. You will have to head up further north to see the largest trees, reaching over 350 feet.
Muir Woods Tips
-Muir woods is typically cool and damp all year, so make sure to bring a jacket
-You won’t get any cell service or WiFi
-Stinging Nettle and Poison Ivy are growing in the woods, so make sure you are familiar with them and be on the lookout!
-Don’t feed the Animals
-There is a snack bar and gift shop at the entrance, so you can grab foos and souveneirs.
*NOTE: The following are not permitted at Muir Woods:
-Pets
-Bicycles
-Smoking
-Camping
-Horseback Riding
-Picnics (in the forest)
