Muir Woods

Just a short drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods is the home of giants, namely the ancient forest of Redwoods. Muir Woods is a hiker's and nature lover's paradise. Miles and miles of trails will take visitors through pastoral Olema Valley with its steep trails and old-style farming buildings. Stinson Beach is a good place for a chilly Pacific swim, but only from May to mid September. Muir Beach is a tight little cove with sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Muir Woods Hours of Operation and Location

Muir Woods National Monument is about a half an hour north of the city of San Francisco. Muir Woods is 12 miles north of the city and visitors can drive north along California 1 or Highway 101. The park is open at 8 a.m. each morning and closes at dusk. Admission to the park is $2 for visitors 17 years old and older. Since Muir Woods is part of the National Parks system, many restrictions are placed on visitors. There is no camping sites, lodging or recreational vehicle parking at Muir Woods. It's advisable to fill your gas tank before getting into Muir Woods, since the nearest gas station is five miles from the park. Picnics are not allowed inside Muir Woods. But, picnics can be held at nearby Muir Beach or Muir Beach Overlook. Bicycles are prohibited within the park.

To contact the Muir Woods Visitor Information Center, call 415-388-2596.