The monument now has an area of 554 acres (225 hectares) and includes 6 miles (10 km) of walking trails; those along the canyon floor next to Redwood Creek are paved. Muir Woods is surrounded by Mount Tamalpais State Park and is administered as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Additionally, Can you drive through Muir Woods? You can’t drive through Muir Woods, so taking a private car does not offer any advantage. Because there is a limited number of parking spaces at the entrance of Muir Woods, you need to reserve and pay for a parking spot in advance.
Why is Muir Woods special? Muir Woods is the first National Monument that was created solely because of a land donation from a individual. Congressman William Kent donated the land to protect redwoods, some of which are over 150 years old, from the logging industry boom.
Subsequently, Is Muir Woods Worth seeing? Overall, Muir Woods National Monument is an amazing place that will make you feel insignificant (in a good way) standing before some of the largest trees in the world. Experienced without people, it is nothing short of breathtaking, and one of the coolest places you’ll visit in California.
FAQ
Are there bears in Muir Woods?
There is no chance that you will be harmed by or even see a bear in the Muir Woods. Can we bring our pet to the Muir Woods? Pets are not permitted in Muir Woods by the National Park Service. (NPS) The only exception is for service dogs.
Is Muir Woods open to the public? Muir Woods is usually open 365 days a year!
The Muir Woods Visitor Center is open 8:00 am to 30 minutes before the park closes.
Does it cost to go to Muir Woods? How much does it cost? The entrance fee is $15.00 for people 16 years and older. A parking reservation is $8.50 per vehicle OR a spot on the shuttle is $3.25 per person. Is Muir Woods accessible to those with limited mobility?
Who donated Muir Woods? William Kent, who donated the land for the monument, requested that it be named for noted conservationist John Muir.
Can you go to Muir Woods without a reservation?
No! Visitors arriving by vehicle must have a parking reservation in advance. If you arrive to Muir Woods without a reservation, you will be turned away.
How long should you spend in Muir Woods? Visiting Muir Woods can be a great experience as long as you plan everything right and take time to explore it. I recommend taking between 1,5-3 hours to explore everything, however, if you want to do more hiking, you should allocate about 5 hours for your trip.
What was filmed in Muir Woods?
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
In the fictional tales, the apes have made Muir Woods their home, even though the film was actually shot in British Columbia. The Muir Woods National Monument, perhaps better known simply as the Redwood Forest, spans 12 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County.
Can you take Uber to Muir Woods? Technically, you can still take Uber to Muir Woods – although this may change in the future. The only problem is getting back. There is no cell signal or wifi in the woods, and thus ordering a car via your phone to return to San Francisco isn’t possible.
Does Muir Woods have restrooms?
There are two sets of restrooms at Muir Woods. The largest set of restrooms are in the parking lot. If there is a line or they are closed for cleaning, you’ll want to head into the park for the other Muir Woods restrooms.
What lives in Muir Woods?
Muir Woods Animals To Look Out For
- slugs.
- White-tailed deer.
- Wild Turkeys.
- Butterflies.
- Gray foxes and their pups – in Spring.
- Coho salmon migrating upstream – November to early January.
- Ladybug swarms – May, usually along the Bootjack Trail and Fern Creek Trail.
- River Otters.
Do you have to wear a mask at Muir Woods? Face coverings are required to enter the concessionaire facilities. Pets are not permitted in Muir Woods. The park is very small and can get very crowded.
Is Muir Woods open during Covid? Muir Woods remains open from 9 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Parking requires an advanced reservation. Park entrance fee collection, as well as limited food and gift services, will be open.
How do you sneak into Muir Woods?
Access is via Hwy. 1, from Hwy. 101 at the Stinson Beach exit. Upon reaching the top of the climb out on Tam Valley (3 miles from the freeway exit) make a right turn onto Panoramic Highway and head to next intersection, aptly called Four Corners.
Are the Muir Woods named after John Muir? Named in John’s honor, Muir Woods was proclaimed a National Monument on January 9, 1908.
Who were Muir Woods named after?
We used to tell a straightforward story about how Muir Woods was saved: William Kent purchased the forest and named it after his personal hero, John Muir. Working together with Gifford Pinchot, William Kent convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to accept the donation for the forest to be a National Monument.
What towns are near Muir Woods? Local towns near Muir Woods National Monument
- Mill Valley, CA.
- Tamalpais Valley, CA.
- Muir Beach, CA.
- Almonte, CA.
- Alto, CA.
- Tamalpais Valley Junction, CA.
- Manzanita, CA.
- Baltimore Park, CA.
How do you experience Muir Woods?
Main Trail Muir Woods
If you arrive early in the day and plan to spend several hours in Muir Woods, we suggest first walking the Muir Woods Main Trail loop in its entirety, to soak in the beauty of the monument while it is relatively uncrowded. Then do one or more of the trails that go up the canyon.
Is Muir Woods open during shutdown? Muir Woods remains open from 9 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Parking requires an advanced reservation. Park entrance fee collection, as well as limited food and gift services, will be open.
Is Muir Woods a hard hike?
Muir Woods Trail – Bridge 3 and back | Level of difficulty: Easy | Length: 1.3-mile | Duration: 1h. This path follows the Redwood Creek Trail, which is the most popular taken way for anyone visiting the Muir Woods National Park.
Where is the giant tree you can drive through? It is in the Tuolumne Grove in Yosemite National Park. You can drive through a tunnel cut into a fallen giant sequoia tree in Sequoia National Park.
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