Muir Woods National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908, this primeval forest is both refuge and laboratory, revealing our relationship with the living landscape. What will you discover in Muir Woods?
About under an hour from San Francisco by car.
Alerts
- CautionNPS ↗Auto-Theft Warning - Only Bring What You Need to the Park
You can prevent vehicle break-ins in parking lots and scenic overlooks. Before leaving your car for even a short period of time: 1) Remove all valuables, 2) Lock your doors. 3) Take your wallets, purses, backpacks, keys, key fobs, cell phones, and electronics with you. Read article for more details.
- InformationNPS ↗Parking Reservations Always Required
Reservations are required for all personal vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods. You can make your reservation by visiting www.gomuirwoods.com. Visit our "Know Before You Go" webpage to learn more important details before your visit.
- InformationNo Cell Service at Muir Woods
There is NO cell service at Muir Woods. We discourage scheduling a rideshare service to leave the park. When hiring a taxi, visitors have the option of negotiating a flat rate or using the meter. Under some circumstances a flat rate may be cheaper.
- InformationNPS ↗Mount Tamalpais State Park - Trail Conditions
Many trails in Muir Woods connect to trails in Mount Tamalpais State Park. For up-to-date information about trail conditions within State Park boundaries, check the Mount Tamalpais State Park Info page (click more) and scroll down to Trail Updates.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Per Person$15 per person 16 years of age and older. Entrance fees may be purchased in advance with your parking/shuttle reservation or upon arrival to the park. Parking/shuttle reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods National Monument. Reservation fees are separate from entrance fees. Please visit GoMuirWoods.com for parking/shuttle reservations. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThis pass is good for 12 months. It admits the pass holder and three persons (16 and older) to Muir Woods. A physical card can be purchased at Muir Woods -OR- a digital version of the Muir Woods Annual Pass can be purchased on recreation.gov. Parking reservations are required for all visitors. | $45 | |
$15.00 per adult (16 years and older). Purchase in advance with your parking/shuttle reservation or upon arrival at the Muir Woods Visitor Center. Parking/shuttle reservation fees are separate from entrance fees and are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders. Visit GoMuirWoods.com to reserve parking/shuttle tickets and pre-purchase entrance fees.
Parking: Parking/shuttle reservation fees are separate from entrance fees and are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders. Visit GoMuirWoods.com to reserve parking/shuttle tickets and pre-purchase entrance fees.
Hours
| Muir Woods National Monument | Daily · 8:00AM - 5:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hours | 8:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Oct 4 to Oct 31, 2026NowFall | 8:00AM - 6:00PM |
| Mar 8 to Apr 4, 2027Early Spring | 8:00AM - 6:00PM |
| Apr 5 to May 22, 2027Late Spring | 8:00AM - 7:00PM |
| May 23 to Sep 7, 2027Summer | 8:00AM - 8:00PM |
| Sep 8 to Oct 3, 2027Late Summer | 8:00AM - 7:00PM |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Muir Woods Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Visitors are required to check-in at the Visitor Center upon arriving at Muir Woods. Purchase entrance tickets or use your annual pass here for entrance fees, as well as receive a free map of the main trail of the park.
Explore
Things to do
- Muir Woods Birdwatching1-2 Hours
Birdwatching in Muir Woods
Opens on the Park Service site - Whale watch from Muir Beach Overlook0-2 Hours
Whale Watch from Muir Beach Overlook
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Main Trail at Muir Woods1-2 Hours
Visit the historic, infamous redwood forest at Muir Woods!
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Ranger Station10/1409:00 AM · runs through Dec 31 · free · registration requiredMuir Woods Entry Area - check with the Visitor Center for a specific location
- 10:15 AM · runs through Dec 31 · free · registration requiredFounders Grove
- 11:00 AM · runs through Dec 28 · free
- Sunset & Full Moon Hike: Voices in the Dark | Tennessee Valley10/2405:00 PM · free · registration requiredMeet at the Tennessee Valley trailhead.
- 04:00 PM · free
- 04:30 PM · registration requiredMeet at Muir Woods National Monument entry arch.
Show all 8Hide
- Owl Prowl11/0703:30 PM · free · registration requiredPlease meet outside the Muir Woods Visitor Center after showing proof of entry to our fee collectors.
- Muir Beach Clean-Ups11/1209:30 AM · runs through Dec 10 · free · registration requiredMuir Beach
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
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.JPG/960px-Jeremiah_O'Brien_(Liberty_ship%2C_San_Francisco).JPG)
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Muir Woods National Monument and California's national parks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Visitor's Guide to the Plants of Muir Woods National MonumentSteve Chadde and Gladys Smith, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthBrown Pelican 92× · Coyote 72× · California Sea Lion 66× · Great Horned Owl 42× · Harbor Seal 30× · Fox Sparrow 27× · Belted Kingfisher 23× · American White Pelican 21×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 67 birds, 0 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Barred Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Great Horned Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Northern Spotted Owl · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · California Quail · Common Pigeon · Mourning Dove · Wild Turkey
Woodpeckers(Red-shafted Flicker) · Acorn Woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Pileated Woodpecker
Hummingbirds & swiftsAllen's Hummingbird · Anna's Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Bushtit · American Cliff Swallow · American Crow · American Goldfinch · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black Phoebe · Black-headed Grosbeak · Brewer's Blackbird · Brown creeper · California Towhee · Chestnut-backed Chickadee · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Warbling-Vireo · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-crowned Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · House Finch · House Sparrow · Hutton's Vireo · Mallard · Northern Raven · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Olive-sided flycatcher · Pacific-slope flycatcher · Pine Siskin · Purple Finch · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Song Sparrow · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Swainson's Thrush · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Violet-green Swallow · Western Bluebird · Western Scrub Jay · Winter Wren · Wrentit
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
The coast redwood forest is cool most times of the year with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 F/ 4 - 21 C. Always come prepared with layers. From late October to early May, expect cool weather & possible rain. Summer months (June-August) can be warmer, but it is generally cool and dry. Expect heavy fog in the morning, burning off in the afternoon. Often, the fall (September-October) is the warmest time of year.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Muir Woods?
Entrance is $15 per person on foot or bike. $15 per person 16 years of age and older.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Muir Woods?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Muir Woods-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Muir Woods takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Muir Woods free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Muir Woods?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Muir Woods. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Muir Woods?
Standard hours are 8:00AM - 5:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Muir Woods right now?
4 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Auto-Theft Warning - Only Bring What You Need to the Park; Parking Reservations Always Required; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Muir Woods?
756,573 recreation visits in 2025, number 89 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
When was Muir Woods established?
1908. It covers about 0.8 square miles.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at Muir Woods?
The coast redwood forest is cool most times of the year with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 F/ 4 - 21 C. Always come prepared with layers.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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