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Muir Woods
Rating Details »
Categories: Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Parks [Edit]
Muir Woods RdMill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 388-2596
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
234 reviews for Muir Woods
There isn't too much to say that hasn't already been said, but I'll offer up two pieces of advice for future visitors.
1. Approach from the south. It's longer, but the winding of the north part of Muir Woods Road is quite a challenge if you have a large car or aren't a great driver. It is steep, and there are many blind curves.
2. Most people should stick to the main trails (e.g, Hillside, Fern Creek). These give great views of the redwoods, which is why you're here, right? Ocean View took two hours one way with some unprepared hiking partners. The redwoods towards the heart of the park are a lot more impressive.
The Dip Sea trail is one of my favorites. I start from the main parking lot and go for about 9 miles round trip. I know when to stop because I hit the road and see the SEA.
i love that Muir Woods is so close to the city, and there are various hikes, and the beer garden.
This weekend my bf and I hung out with the bears, trees and wildlife in Muir Woods. We ventured over the Golden Gate Bridge into one of the most beautiful spots I've seen in Northern California. On our way through the curvy road to Muir Woods we saw some sweet views of Sausalito and San Francisco. We even got up close (and not personal) with a local deer family. After taking way too many pictures of the wildlife we moved on only to park a million miles away from the entrance, so we hiked to our hiking destination.
The trees are massive and plentiful in this spot making it seem dark right in the middle of a sunny afternoon. My goal was to take as many pictures as possible because it is not everyday that I get access to a car for adventures such as this. I packed the essentials so we wouldn't starve on this mysterious hike. Luckily most of the paths are paved so it would have been pretty tough to get lost in the wilderness.
It's so nice to get away from the city, strap on some hiking shoes, and become a tree lady for a day. I'm for sure making it back to this spot again!
Check out all the pics I took here: http://www.sanfrancisc...
First time here. Arrived a little before 10am on a Saturday and had to park in the second parking lot since the one directly next to the visitor center was full. Took lots of pictures of the redwoods, then made our way up the Bootjack trail. Had a snack at the picnic tables across the Panoramic Hwy, then turned back on the TCC trail/Dipsea. We picked a perfect day to hike - it had rained the previous day but our hike saw nothing but blue skies and sun filtering through the trees. By the time we got back to the visitor center at 3pm, there were TONS of cars in the parking lot and out on the street. It was pretty ridiculous how many cars there were. I guess everybody else loves this place as much as I've decided that I do. I wish I knew about this earlier! I am definitely coming back some time to do the whole dipsea trail out to Stinson. I bet the view there is even more fantastic.
home of big ass trees, amazing windy mountain roads, and clean crisp air!
it was so much fun exploring muir woods, with the amazing well kept trails. it is truly amazing to be around such natural wonders...those are the biggest trees ever.
plus, there are lots of fun photo-ops to be had, and it is a photographer's paradise. i took SO many photos.
ALSO, the bathrooms are clean :) a big perk of state parks !
I have came here twice now to hike. FYI!!!! Check the weather!!!! the first time I came here it was beyond perfect. Did the ben johnson to the dipsea trail to stinson beach and back. It was amazing. even those all the stairs did suck and it was a good workout I loved it! You can see dear up close and mainy different flowers along the path.
Second time- WHo ever thought marin county got THAT hot??? WTF was I thinking?? Same trail twice as hard! It was freakig 90+ degrees in the shade of the trail. I felt like I was an e-woke hiking through the hot ass trees. Seriously felt like a sauna. SO even though it was beautiful again make sure its not a heat wave in the bay area. ( i know it was my fault)
Tiring worthwhile. Parking was for the hours plus two or three, but then from that the minutes were skilled. Pardon visiting English, but it's so loaded with taste of lichen.
Great hiking trail today. Finding parking today was atrocious but almost to be expected, Muir Woods is an amazing place to hike. The views are breathtaking...and the best part of one of the hiking trails is the Tourist Club that serves beer...oh wait...it was closed. Apparently they are closed every second weekend of the month, ugh!
We came on one of the free weekends around 10 a.m. The lots were full but there was plenty of parking on the road and it was a short walk to the park entrance. Truly beautiful, amazing redwood trees.
A majority of the park is paved and stroller friendly, although we opted to have DD in an Ergo.
Borrowing from Mitch Hedberg;
Sequoias are like pancakes, awesome but by the end you curse them.
Also, Fern Creek path is gorgeous but then is closed and hikers are detoured up the Ocean view path. Ocean view was a great workout but does not provide an ocean view.
I'd heard about this place for years and FINALLY went in June. I used to go camping in Big Sur and Yosemite with my family a few times a year, every year for about 15 years. Coming to Muir Woods, brought back memories of my childhood hiking days. Ending the hike at Muir Beach was amazing. I've gone on a couple dozen hikes in my lifetime, but never one that ended at a beach. Finale!! - is what I thought when I saw it. I can't wait to go on the many other hikes here!
I've had a love affair with Muir Woods since I was a little girl living in the midwest - just amazed by these giants that were 2000+ years old! Now that I leave nearby, I love coming here and exploring the trails off the beaten path.
The sheer number of visitors/tourists coming here now gets a bit overwhelming, so if you're able, take a look at the big trees, but veer off onto one of the lesser-traveled paths as soon as you can. The redwood groves off the Ocean View Trail are divine and really awe-inspiring. Taking the Hillside Trail to Ben Johnson hooks you up with Dipsea and makes for a nice 5-ish mile loop.
If only they allowed dogs... oh well, still pretty fantastical!
This is a must-see if you're visiting the area, just be prepared to fight the tour buses full of other sightseers!
Walking through Muir Woods will shake you up.
Big thick trunks and sky extending branches reaching into the air.
You will remember how insignificant you are, walking amongst supreme sized sequoias.
And you will remember how truly momentous nature is. How even though we think we've surpassed nature - and can create and build - we can't compete. We can't recreate the miracles which are born every day in Muir Woods.
And suddenly job/relationship worries - just don't matter. Just don't seem important.
Because as you look up. You are swallowed by looming shadows. You can sit. Breathe. And lose yourself. Because nestled in Muir Woods - you're safe. Time stands still.
It's just you and the redwoods.
I've been here on and off for ages, and never had a chance to fully appreciate the entire forest and all the hikes it has until recently.
There's something magical about this place. Maybe it's the fact that the trees dwarf me. Or maybe because they have stargazing events on Sunday nights. Or maybe it's because the trees in this forest are older than most things you know. Or maybe... it's because they filmed parts of Stars Wars (ROTJ) here.
I recently went on the Muir Beach hike with my hot girlfriend, not to be confused with the 6-8 hr hike (back and forth) to Stinson Beach. If there was one word to describe this trail, it would be 'metaphoric'. You'll go through the trail thinking you're reliving every moment of your life again, trials and tribulations included. I promise you that it will tell you the meaning of life when you're done.
Wear long pants to avoid the stinging nettles and the poison oak. Check your underwear and armpits for ticks. Avoid the pretzel with cheese (PLEASE HEED THIS ADVICE). Look toward the ground when walking, you could be stepping on a lot of horse shit--some old, some awesomely fresh.
I had never seen a redwood before and this was a great way to do it. Although the trees are generally roped off to prevent humans from inevitably damaging them, it still felt like we were in the wilderness. We went off on a trail and took lots of pictures and did some discreet climbing onto downed limbs, etc. We spent a while just looking at trees and enjoying the beauty of nature. This definitely reminds you how old the world is.
Fuck the Woods.. It's all about the Beer Garden. And German Snausages, and Beer.. And playing cards. And, Beer
Did I mention the Beer?
Muir Woods is a great place to go when it is sunny outside but not hot. We were cool the whole time. The trees and ferns are absolutely beautiful. We even say a whole bunch of buterflies.
Although the parking lots were packed and there wasn't close street parking the park didn't feel very full. We went off of the paved trail and it almost felt like we were alone in the woods.
Outstanding beauty filled the most annoying visitors possible. Never any parking.
Get your hike on and enjoy some peace, beauty, and wilderness just a short hop from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco!
Even better was the drive along Highway 1 - talk about scenic, breathtaking, and fun for the driver!
I haven't seen my man in two days and that's a long time for us! We decided to take a trip away from the city dwelling and decided to visit Muir Woods. We ordered salads from CPK and had a picnic in the woods before our hike. This is a great way to escape from the every day rat race and stress in your life! I love the outdoors and hiking so it wa a perfect day to spend it at Muir Woods. We hiked the challenging trail and made it! (1.7 each way uphill) Our sandals were so dirty afterwards (We weren't really wearing hiking gears, lol) There is an entrance fee of $5, but we bypassed that. I would come back here again and go for a longer hike!
Advertised as the closest place to see famous giant redwoods and sequoias of northern California, Muir Woods is a short drive out of the city. If you're coming from the city and are a visitor, you also get the bonus of going over the Golden Gate Bridge and on the way back, I recommend a drive up the Marin headlands for some absolutely amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
I digress. Muir Woods is located a short detour off the 101. Some of the road is quite windy but if you take it slow, it shouldn't be too bad a drive. It's well-signposted.
Parking though can be a challenge - I think we were lucky from reading all the other reviews and the sign on the road advising visitors to park on the verge.
It's a $5 entry fee and it's nice to see that they use the honour system rather than have a guard at the entrance.
It's sometimes hard to get a scale of the trees until you put your arms out to measure the diameter of the trees and to imagine how many stories tall the tree would be if it was a building.
A very tranquil walk along a stream - as my parents aren't spring chickens, we stayed on the flat loops.
Nice to see a sign at Cathedal Grove asking for silence so people could enjoy the tranquility of nature.
It wasn't too crowded when we visited on a Friday afternoon.
Worth the detour if parking isn't too crazy!
Very tall Redwood Trees, lots of walking trails, peace and quiet, cool mists, awesome-fantastic-fabulous-beyond words views and scenery.
Just a short drive from San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and then exit to California State Highway 1 (the PCH), Muir Woods is a much needed escape from the craziness and loud noises and drama of the city, for both the tourist and the local.
If the views don't amaze you, then the tall and very old Redwoods should. It's beauty and history combined. One look up towards the top of a Redwood and you'll sound like that wrestler dude who was a guest at the NASCAR All Star Race last night and go "WOOOOOOOO WOOOOO" at least a dozen times. Well, maybe not get loud about it, but you will be WOWed and amazed in ways you never imagined!
Come before 9 am to enjoy the woods before the crowds. Best way to experience this majestic tree palace. If you come mid day....on a weekend...its a cattle drive.
Another way...take the moonlight tour.
Nice to have a local getaway into the woods.
I don't know how much I can add to the 200+ reviews. There is an enormous amount of huge (like you've never seen) trees and flowers. There are different hikes, depending on difficulty and you can drive up to Muir Woods Overlook for a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Here are my pictures from the trip - http://www.flickr.com/...
WOW! Great HIKING. Such beauty and peace. Not far from San Francisco. Beware though. Check sunset times if you go at the end of the day. It gets dark fast and you don't want to be alone without a flashlight.
I made a mistake. I climbed one of the tougher trails while a bit out of shape. It was lots of fun! Fell once and snapped my cell antenna :( I saw some people actually running up and down the trails. Nuts I say! Too easy to twist an ankle and trip. My mistake was going after work and hiking to the top and down on the hard trail. It started getting really dark and I got a bit scared. I didn't have a flashlight on me or a jacket (it got colder quick, too).
However, the trees are amazing as are the exhibits. I want to go back again and do more hiking on a less rushed schedule on the weekend.
I was out here with my lady...
felt so calming and nice...
I used to come here when I was in middle school searching for a fungus project...
still as beautiful and peaceful as I remembered...
there are times where I wish I could just live in here and not have to deal with the hustle and bustle of the city, so calm and serene..
This place is massive, and as most other 5-star people have iterated repeatedly, it's very nice and serene. Even though I was a little surprised at all the people hiking on a Monday (friends were visiting - hooray vacation) it was still a pleasant trip.
The downside is that you can't picnic on the trails. And uh, we got scolded for having a little of an illegal picnic. But no, fellow Yelpers, resist the temptation and don't err the same way as me.
ANYWAY - if you have visitors or if you just want to get away from it all in a peaceful little getaway, I definitely recommend a drive to see the trees.
"Isn't hiking just like walking, except not really to get someplace?" This is what I said when the significant other suggested we go on a hike. I am notoriously not outdoorsy, not against it at all, it's just I don't go camping or ski or any of that. (Once I heard a comedian jokingly call camping "homelessness for leisure" and have been quoting him ever since. Or I say, "My folks immigrated here so I wouldn't HAVE to poop in a hole outside, okaaaay?")
Friends have scolded me for living in the Bay and not going on hikes, to beaches, and what not. Ok, ok, I'll try it, I said. Little did I know I'd end up becoming energizer-bunny-speed-hiker, enamored with creeks, and delighted by delirium caused by all the fresh oxygen.
(Note: I did reveal myself by constantly referencing MOVIES that FEATURE nature or the woods, e.g. The Birds, Romancing the Stone, The Lord of the Rings, and First Blood.)
Worth the annual pass! A beautiful way to spend a weekend morning.
While not as spectacular as the Redwoods upstate in Redwoods National Park, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of them just over the Golden Gate. Public transit goes straight to Muir Woods on the weekends, but not during the week, apparently. There are tours which go to the woods and buses on the weekend for those without a vehicle.
Here's the deal on Muir Woods: Get there early. We arrived around 8:15 a.m., got one of the few spots in the parking lot, and walked through the redwoods with almost no one around us. It was so peaceful and quiet ... the kind of experience you just can't find many places these days. The natural beauty was stunning. Just standing under those majestic trees and listening to the burbling brook will melt your stress away.
By 10 a.m., there were busloads of visitors stomping around the place. But that first hour and half was remarkable. If you're quiet for a bit, you may hear some wildlife and then be able to spot it. We saw two deer, a chipmunk and a woodpecker.
The man paths are wooden decks, easy for anyone to walk on. If you like a good hike, take one of the trails off the main path. But go early!
Peaceful, amazing, quiet, serene, awe, cool, rain drops, silence are the words that come to mind when I think about my visit here. The smell of the woods is one to remember. The tall trees and moss covered pathways are quite breathtaking.
The drive to get to the woods is a trip in itself. I like Sequoia National Forest better, but there is nothing to not love about these big trees!
Bring your trail shoes and get ready to climb!! This place is gorgeous, we brought our cameras.. Its nearly impossible to take a bad picture with scenery like this. I decided to run to the top of Mt. Tam, I climbed single track trails, natural stairs and loved every moment of it! The staff at muir woods was very helpful with questions on which routes to take and we had no problems finding parking. Its a beautiful drive getting here and I can't wait to visit again!
5 stars is not enough for natures beauty! This was both me and M's first time at Muir Woods. I did my homework on yelp and made sure to wake M up bright and early to ensure 1. we weren't bombarded by tourists and 2. there was ample parking. Good tip, yelpers. We arrived around 9:30 and parked at the entrance.
There are about 6 trails at Muir Woods. M and I decided to hike up the Dipsea Trail and take the Ben Johnson trail back down. This ended up being the best hike for us because the Dipsea was more of a scenic trail (there was a slight view of the ocean at the top) and the Ben Johnson was more of a tropical and shaded trail (perfect since we were tired and it was getting really hot). Also - there is one lone shaded bench that is located in the Ben Johnson trail. M and I had a mini picnic there.
I loved Muir Woods not only for its beautiful, magnificent trees but because the trails were so fun to hike. There are bridges, rock stairs, gigantic tree trunks to climb on, little streams, and tree branches to duck under - felt like an adventure!
As we came back down towards the entrance I understood why so many yelpers recommended to come early. Tourists galore! Not to worry though: most just venture a few steps into the woods to take pictures, and retreat quickly to their tour bus soon after.
After M and I ended the hike and burned off so many calories, we rewarded ourselves with an ice cream bar at the Muir Woods cafeteria and bought mini redwood trees as souvenirs!
Beautiful, serene, and lovely. Come during the week late....less crowds and more parking. A must for tree huggers and friends of nature. A good place to refresh your mind and soul. Enjoy new bohemiens! (spelling?)
What a treasure. Nature's beauty and bounty at its finest. Great for hiking and exploring. Be safe! Don't litter!
Parents: take your children here. teach them to preserve and conserve our national forests.
Muir Woods is one of the great treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area.
In a little canyon amidst the sea swept grassy hills of Marin, lies this majestic forest of redwoods, so close to San Francisco but so far away in the change from city to pristine quiet and natural beauty.
On this trip, we took a leisurely stroll through the woods, which had a flock of tourists and foreigners from around the world on a busy holiday weekend. Besides the sights and smells of the trees and undergrowth, there was added natural wonder when we quietly watched 3 deer eating the clovers on the forest floor right in front of us for half an hour.
This is a great place to go periodically to get grounded and get a better perspective on life and where human's fit in to the world.
It is rejuvenating to the spirit and soul.
Costs $5, and parking is limited near the entrance lots.
John Muir said, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," in reference to the coast redwoods of Muir Woods. He lied.
I am so glad that I did not read all the Yelp reviews before going to Muir Woods National Monument, because I think I would have been even more disappointed. I went to Muir Woods because I love national parks and monuments, love to hike, and love redwoods. I was let down in all three areas...
First off, while on the highway, I saw signs that the parking lot was full. Not a big deal, right? Well, kind of. I drove around for 30 minutes through the small parking lot, parking lots further down the road, and then followed the road for a while, which was lined with cars on one side. By the time I finally parked, I had quite the walk into the park. I was fine with all this, because I was excited about seeing Muir Woods. I have a national park pass ($80/year and covers all National Parks and Monuments) so the admission was free. Glad it was, because I was ready to leave after a few minutes. It was so crowded that I cannot imagine how anyone could find this spot to be tranquil. I had a hard time seeing any of the informative plaques others mentioned because of the sheer number of people. There was a designated quiet area, but it wasn't even quiet.
The Monument itself only has 6 miles of trails (a half hour loop, and hour loop, and an hour and a half loop), but from the monument you can enter Mt. Tamalpais State Park and follow trails that lead to the beach. I would recommend those trails over those in Muir Woods National Monument...
On a positive note, the main paths are paved and there are boardwalks so it is wheelchair accessible.
Again, the trails in Muir Woods National Monument are not that great (unless you prefer paved/boardwalk paths) but you can go from the monument into Mt. Tamalpais State Park and follow some great trails.
A good day trip from the city. It seemed like it was only a half-hour to an hour walk around the park. I took some great photos, and luckily, there weren't too many people out (or small children running around).
Maybe it was my friend Katrina's driving, but the two passengers in the car got nauseous on the ride back down from the park. ick.
So, please note: take those curves easy.
Okay, here are some points to keep in mind when visiting this place.
Go early. For the love of every thing quiet and sane, go early. You avoid the crowds, you avoid the loudness by said crowds, you can enjoy the peacefulness that is Mother Nature. Take in the awe of the immense trees, the quiet energy of feeling so small yet such a vital cog of life.
Do a trail and be prepared to do one. The one we did was about maybe 2 miles. Bring water, bring trail mix, good shoes, long sleeve shirts and pants... you don't want to end up like Miss Hoover at get Lyme disease. (Yes, she was hypochondriac in the Simpsons and it was all in her head.. but bear with me)
Be respectful. If you are slowly ambling along, let those power walkers by. If some one is taking a picture, don't get in front of it, unless they ask you to get in the picture. And please people... if you are going to have sex in the woods, make sure you have a blanket, condoms and are far enough off the trail path. Plenty of kids come through here and I am sure parents don't want their kids to get an early sex education just yet. And be careful, the ground isn't as level as you would think.
Lastly, you may not get to park in one of the lots, so be nice, don't key just any car on the way back to yours out of spite. And be nice to the rangers, if you cross their path, you will get your ear's butt kicked.
Finally enjoy it. It is Mother Nature. This is her playground. Don't litter, enjoy the vibe, pictures and video just don't do it justice to convey how huge these trees are and how small it makes you feel or how connected we are to nature.
