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Tall coast redwoods rising along the boardwalk Main Trail in Muir Woods

National Park Service · California

Muir Woods National Monument

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.

The wooden boardwalk and creek path through Cathedral Grove

Field briefing

Muir Woods National Monument changes fast with season and elevation.

Before you go

Muir Woods has no entrance line you can wait in.

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.

Best window
April to October for dry trails, with spring and early fall for the quietest mornings
Signature routes
Main Trail and boardwalk loop, Hillside Trail
Pack focus
Water, weather checks

The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Location
California
Established
1908
Size
554 acres
Best time
April to October for dry trails, with spring and early fall for the quietest mornings
Entrance
$15 per adult 16 and older, plus a mandatory parking or shuttle reservation
Nearest airport
San Francisco (SFO) about 1 hour; Oakland (OAK) about 1 hour

When to go

Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.

Spring

High crowds

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.

Summer

Peak crowds

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.

Fall

High crowds

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.

Winter

Moderate crowds

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.

Top things to do

  • 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.

How long to spend

Make Main Trail and boardwalk loop the timed anchor

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.

  1. 1Start with Main Trail and boardwalk loop: The flat, accessible loop along Redwood Creek past the tallest trees and Cathedral Grove. The reason most people come.
  2. 2Add Hillside Trail: A short climb off the valley floor that lets you escape the busiest boardwalk crowds and look down through the canopy.
  3. 3Use Dipsea, Ben Johnson, and Stapelveldt loop as the slower finish before leaving the area.

Plan your trip

Turn Muir Woods's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.

Redwood Creek running clear through ferns and the redwood grove

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.

  1. 01Size your water for a mild day on the trail
  2. 02Find the right daypack size for a day out

What to pack

Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.

Pack planning

Decide what Muir Woods National Monument asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.

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.

  • First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
  • Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
  • Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
  • Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Rain jacket

Checklist mode

13 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.

  1. Dates and season are set.
  2. Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
  3. Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.

Gear for Muir Woods

The buying guides that match what Muir Woods asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.

Where to stay

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

Camping reservations

There is no camping at Muir Woods. The reservation you must book is parking or shuttle.

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.

  • All vehicles must have a parking reservation, and there is no first-come parking on busy days.
  • The Marin Transit shuttle requires its own reservation and is often the only option once parking sells out.
  • The entrance fee is separate from the parking or shuttle reservation and can be added online or paid on arrival.

Where to book or verify

Reserve Muir Woods parking and shuttle

The official reservation system for parking and the Marin Transit shuttle, or call 1-800-410-2419.

Muir Woods parking and shuttle details

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy page with current rates and pickup locations.

Search Recreation.gov

Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.

Campgrounds to know

Mount Tamalpais State Park (nearby)

Details
Season
Varies by campground; Pantoll has walk-in sites and Bootjack is seasonal.
Sites
Walk-in tent sites and the Steep Ravine cabins and environmental sites.
The closest real camping to Muir Woods. Book early for weekends and summer.

Getting there and practical info

Tall coast redwoods rising along the boardwalk Main Trail in Muir Woods

Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.

Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.

Getting there

Get to Muir Woods National Monument, then remove the first-morning friction.

Nearest airport
San Francisco (SFO) about 1 hour; Oakland (OAK) about 1 hour
Access rhythm
Park once, ride in
Region
California
  1. Arrival note

    Muir Woods sits about 12 miles north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County.

  2. Car strategy

    The access roads are narrow and the lots are small, which is why reservations are mandatory.

  3. 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.

LocationCalifornia

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a reservation for Muir Woods National Monument?

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.

Can you camp at Muir Woods?

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.

How much does it cost to visit Muir Woods?

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.

What should I wear at Muir Woods?

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.

Keep planning