National Park Service · California
Old-growth coast redwoods 12 miles north of San Francisco, where a parking or shuttle reservation is mandatory and is the single most important thing to book.
Field briefing
Muir Woods National Monument changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
A parking or shuttle reservation through gomuirwoods.com is mandatory for everyone arriving by car or shuttle, and slots sell out, so book that first and plan the rest of the day around your arrival window. The canyon stays cool and damp even in summer, so bring a warm layer and grippy footwear regardless of the forecast in the city.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool, damp, and green, with fog and drizzle common under the canopy.
Pack Rain shell, warm layer, and grippy shoes for slick boardwalk and dirt.
Mild and foggy at the coast, with the redwood canyon often 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the city.
Pack Warm layer even in July, plus the earliest reservation slot you can get.
Often the clearest, calmest weather of the year, with mild days and cool nights.
Pack Light layers, a midweek plan, and a booked parking or shuttle slot.
Wettest season, with high creek flow, dramatic green moss, and possible trail or road closures.
Pack Full rain gear, waterproof footwear, and flexibility for storm closures.
Main Trail and boardwalk loop
The flat, accessible loop along Redwood Creek past the tallest trees and Cathedral Grove. The reason most people come.
Hillside Trail
A short climb off the valley floor that lets you escape the busiest boardwalk crowds and look down through the canopy.
Dipsea, Ben Johnson, and Stapelveldt loop
A bigger climb into Mount Tamalpais terrain for hikers who want real mileage and a quieter forest.
Put the timed or highest-demand stop first, then keep the rest of the day close and low-friction. For one day in Muir Woods National Monument, time Main Trail and boardwalk loop first, then keep Hillside Trail and Dipsea, Ben Johnson, and Stapelveldt loop close enough that the visit still feels relaxed.
Turn Muir Woods's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Muir Woods National Monument. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Muir Woods National Monument packing list
0 of 13 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
13 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Muir Woods asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
There is no lodging or camping inside Muir Woods, and the monument closes at night. Most visitors stay in San Francisco or in Marin County towns like Mill Valley, Sausalito, and Larkspur, then drive in on a timed reservation. Campers should look to nearby Marin parks instead: Mount Tamalpais State Park has the closest developed and walk-in sites, and the Marin Headlands has additional options.
Camping reservations
Muir Woods does not have a campground and is day-use only, but every visitor arriving by vehicle or shuttle needs a paid parking or shuttle reservation. That booking, not a campsite, is the thing that sells out.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Parking and shuttle reservations open up to 90 days in advance at gomuirwoods.com or by phone at 1-800-410-2419.
Where to book or verify
The official reservation system for parking and the Marin Transit shuttle, or call 1-800-410-2419.
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy page with current rates and pickup locations.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Arrival note
Muir Woods sits about 12 miles north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County.
Car strategy
The access roads are narrow and the lots are small, which is why reservations are mandatory.
Shuttle access
Drive in on your reserved window, or take the Marin Transit shuttle from Sausalito or the Pohono park-and-ride to skip the parking problem entirely.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Yes. Everyone arriving by car or shuttle needs a paid parking or shuttle reservation through gomuirwoods.com. Reservations open up to 90 days ahead and routinely sell out, so book before you plan the rest of your day.
No. Muir Woods is day-use only with no campground, and it closes at night. The closest camping is at Mount Tamalpais State Park, reserved through ReserveCalifornia.
The entrance fee is $15 per adult 16 and older, and children 15 and under are free. On top of that you pay for a parking reservation or a shuttle ticket, which are booked separately at gomuirwoods.com.
Bring a warm layer and a rain shell even in summer. The redwood canyon is often 10 to 20 degrees cooler than San Francisco and stays damp and foggy, and the boardwalk and dirt trails can be slick.