Muir Woods National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

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Road Conditions

Adverse weather may cause delays on roads leading to Muir Woods. See Mill Valley on 511.org for traffic info. In heavy fog, use low-beam headlights. Tail-lights will be visible to drivers behind you.

Welcome to Muir Woods National Monument!

On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation establishing Muir Woods National Monument. William and Elizabeth Kent had donated the woods to save the trees, and asked that it be named after John Muir. Upon learning of its dedication, Mr. Muir declared, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world."
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Photo of the Muir Woods Visitor Center and entrance arch.

Fee Increase in 2012 to Keep State Parks Open

The adult entrance fee to Muir Woods will increase from $5 to $7 on January 1, 2012. The fee increase is in collaboration between the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service to keep California State Parks near Muir Woods open.Click here for the full story and a page of Frequently Asked Questions.

Main Trail section beyond the construction zone. Access this quiet area via Bridge 2.

Trail Information

The Hillside Trail is closed due to maintenance until mid-February. More than six miles of trails are open for visitors to experience an easy walk on the valley floor through the primeval redwood forest. Click here for additional trail information.

The Fern Creek to Alice Eastwood trails are located in Mount Tamalpais State Park which surrounds Muir Woods. The state park and Muir Woods operate aeamless forest boundary. NPS Photo by Lou Sian

About Muir Woods ...

Muir Woods National Monument was established to protect an old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction. The park's award-winning trails are recognized for their accessibility, providing visitors with an easy walk on paved trails or boardwalks through the Woods. Other trails to the ridge tops offer a more strenuous experience for avid hikers. In the light gaps beneath the redwood trees are red alders, California big leaf maples, tanoaks, and Douglas fir. The forest floor is covered in redwood sorrel, ferns, fungi, duff and debris. Several bridges cross Redwood Creek which flows through the park year-round. Wildlife residents include the endangered coho salmon fingerlings, Pacific wren, woodpeckers, owls, deer, chipmunks, skunks, river otters and squirrels to name a few. Click here for trail information.

$Photo of sunlight refracted by giant redwood trees in Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods National Monument. NPS Photo by Lou Sian$

The Best Times to Visit Muir Woods

The tuuk-tuuk of the Pacific Wren among the shaded ferns, the soughing of coastal winds, the soulful stirring of a primeval forest, the thousand mini-explosions of redwood seeds falling on leathery tanoak leaves, and your inner voice as you watch rays of sunlight refract softly behind a towering redwood; these are some of the natural sounds we hope you experience on your visit to a quieted woods.

Though the redwood forest is naturally quiet, people are key to preserving the ancient tranquility of an old-growth forest in our noisy, modern world. Your best chances of hearing the unobtrusive sounds of nature are to visit Muir Woods early in the morning and walk quietly. The park opens everyday at 8 AM. Also, the winter season, rainy days, and week days are often quieter than the summer, weekends, holidays, or any fine, sunny day. So, dress for the weather, bundle up, and come and experience Muir Woods during the best times of the year.

NPS Interpretive Interns Kristen Henderson and Cooper Griffen greet visitors in the Muir Woods Visitor Center.

Volunteering Information

Looking for ways to show your support? Visit our Volunteers page for further information on drop-in volunteering,internships,and other opportunities.

Write to

Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, California 94941-2696

E-mail Us

Phone

Muir Woods is open everyday at 8 AM, including holidays. For visitor information, please call
(415) 388-2596

Visitor Information and Wildlife Hotline (Recorded Message)
(415) 388-2595

Fax

(415) 389-6957

Climate

The park is cool, shaded and moist year round. Daytime temperatures range between 40 and 70 degrees Farenheit. Before your visit, check the weekly forecast by entering Mill Valley, CA on the NOAA website, http://www.noaa.gov/wx.html.

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