Muir Woods National Monument Custom Search 'This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world,' declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods of Muir Woods. Until the 1800's, many northern California coastal valleys were covered with coast redwood trees similar to those now found in Muir Woods National Monument. The forest along Redwood Creek in today's Muir Woods was spared from logging because it was hard to get to. Noting that Redwood Creek contained one of the San Francisco Bay Area's last uncut stands of old-growth redwood, Congressman William Kent and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent, bought 295 acres here for $45,000 in 1905. To protect the redwoods the Kents donated the land to the United States Federal Government and, in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared it a national monument. Roosevelt suggested naming the area after Kent, but Kent wanted it named for conservationist John Muir.     CONTACTS Email - goga_muir_woods_nm@nps.gov Fax- (415) 389-6957 Write to Muir Woods National Monument Mill Valley, CA 94941-2696 Phone Visitor Information Recorded Message - (415) 388-2595 Headquarters - (415) 388-2596 Information For Hearing Impaired(TTY) - (415) 556-2766 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open from 8 am to sunset, including holidays. Closing times for the year: Last Sunday of January, park closes at 6 pm; 2nd Sunday of March, park closes at 7 pm; 1st Sunday of April, park closes at 8 pm; 2nd Sunday of September, park closes at 7 pm; Third Sunday of October, park closes at 5 pm. Getting There PLANE - Commercial airlines serve San Francisco and Oakland International airports, both about an hour's drive from the monument. CAR - Muir Woods is located 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take Highway 101 to the Highway 1/ Muir Woods Exit. Follow the signs to Muir Woods. Roads to the park are steep and winding. Vehicles over 35' long are prohibited. Parking space is very limited and fills quickly on most days. There are no RV parking facilities. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No public transportation directly serves the park. Golden Gate Transit (415-923-2000) bus #63 runs on weekends and holidays and makes stops at the Mountain Home Inn, Pantoll, and Bootjack on Panoramic Highway. From any of these stops it is a 1 to 1.8 mile hike down to Muir Woods. Weather & Climate The park is cool, shaded and moist year round. Daytime temperatures at Muir Woods average between 40 and 70 degrees Farenheit. Accessibility All 2 miles of paved trails are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Handicap parking is available in the main parking lot. Wheelchairs and strollers are available for loan at no cost at the Visitor Center. Getting Around There are 6 miles of trails in Muir Woods. There is a 1/2 hour loop, a 1 hour loop, and a 1 1/2 hour loop as well as trails that extend into surrounding parks. All of these walks afford views of thousands of old-growth coast redwoods, the tallest living things in the world. FACILITIES ARAMARK CAFE AND GIFT SHOP Open All Year Phone - 415-388-7059 Location - The cafe and gift shop are on the first right once you enter the park's main entrance. Exhibits - The cafe has a permanent display of historic photographs that include: John Muir; William Kent; 'The Crookedest Railroad in the World'; and the 'Bohemian Club's' Diahatsu Buddha, constructed in the 1880. Available Facilities - The cafe sells deli-type food items. The gift shop sells Muir Woods souvenirs. Visitor Centers MUIR WOODS VISITOR CENTER Open All Year varies throughout year...call for hours Phone - 415-388-7368 Location - The Muir Woods Visitor Center is located at the main entrance to Muir Woods National Monument. Exhibits - There are both permanent and changing exhibits in the Visitor Center. Both a redwood diorama and a three dimensional trail map are on permanent display. Available Facilities - The Muir Woods Visitor Center contains an array of interpretive and educational merchandise, including books, postcards, posters, maps, and area information.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Muir Woods National Monument.   Campgrounds Near Muir Woods National Monument: Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Frank Valley Group Horsecamp, Mill Valley, 1 miles away Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Alice Eastwood Group, Mill Valley, 1 miles away Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Haypress, Sausalito, 2 miles away Haypress Campground, Marin County, 2 miles away Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Pantoll, Mill Valley, 2 miles away Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Hawk, Sausalito, 4 miles away Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Steep Ravine Environmental Camp, Stinson Beach, 4 miles away   Marinas Near Muir Woods National Monument: Richardson Bay Marina, Sausalito , 5 miles away Sausalito Shipyard & Marina, Sausalito , 5 miles away Clipper Yacht Harbor, Sausalito , 5 miles away Marina Plaza Harbor, Sausalito , 5 miles away Libertyship Marina, Sausalito , 5 miles away   Hotels Near Muir Woods National Monument: Mill Valley Inn Marin County, Mill Valley , 2 miles away Holiday Inn Express MILL VALLEY SAN FRANCISCO AREA, Mill Valley , 4 miles away Americas Best Value Inn, Mill Valley , 4 miles away ACQUA HOTEL MILL VALLEY MARIN, Mill Valley , 4 miles away Travelodge Mill Valley/Sausalito, Mill Valley , 4 miles away Best Western Corte Madera Inn, Corte Madera , 4 miles away Marin Suites Hotel, Corte Madera , 4 miles away   Trails Near Muir Woods National Monument: Bootjack Trail, Marin County , 1 miles away, 1.1 hiking miles, 950 feet elevation difference Ben Johnson Trail, Marin County , 1 miles away, 3.8 hiking miles, 1350 feet elevation difference West Point Trail, Marin County , 2 miles away, 1 hiking miles, 1740 feet elevation difference Throckmorton Trail, Marin County , 2 miles away,  2.8 hiking miles, 1398 feet elevation difference Temelpa Trail, Marin County , 2 miles away,  2.8 hiking miles, 1398 feet elevation difference Alice Eastwood Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away, 1.6 hiking miles, 1951 feet elevation difference North Side Trail, Marin County , 3 miles away,  4.8 hiking miles, 371 feet elevation difference   Beaches Near Muir Woods National Monument: Muir Beach, Marin County , 2 miles away Rodeo Beach, Marin County , 4 miles away Red Rock Beach, Marin County , 4 miles away Stinson Beach, Marin County , 5 miles away Kirby Beach, Marin County , 7 miles away   Whitewater Near Muir Woods National Monument: Whitewater Outfitter - Pacific River Supply, Contra Costa County , 18 miles away, Whitewater outfitter   Public Lands Near Muir Woods National Monument: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco - CA , 11 miles away Presidio National Park, San Francisco - CA , 11 miles away San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, San Francisco - CA , 11 miles away Mount Tamalpais State Park, California , 3 miles away China Camp State Park, California , 9 miles away Angel Island State Park, California , 10 miles away Thornton State Beach, California , 12 miles away   Golf Courses Near Muir Woods National Monument: Meadow Club, Fairfax , 6 miles away San Geronimo Golf Course, San Rafael , 6 miles away Lincoln Park Golf Course, San Francisco , 8 miles away Golden Gate Park Golf Course, San Francisco , 8 miles away Mclnnis Park Golf Center, San Rafael , 8 miles away   Lakes Near Muir Woods National Monument Lake Lagunitas, Marin County , 4 miles away Phoenix Lake, Marin County , 4 miles away Alpine Lake, Marin County , 5 miles away Laguna Puerca, San Francisco County , 10 miles away