Muir Woods National Monument

Things To Do Near Muir Woods National Monument

Covering about 554 acres of land, the Muir Woods is the perfect destination for RV adventurers, especially those who are hiking enthusiasts. The area highlights groves of towering redwoods to explore. This park is a place for stunning photography, bird-watching, and enjoying a gorgeous view of the coast.

Hiking Trails

• Muir Woods Trail

  The Muir Woods Trail is a popular trail near Mill Valley. It is an easy walk along Redwood Creek that is accessible for those with a wheelchair or stroller. Be sure to get a parking pass online before you visit. The trees along the walk are stunning.

  Location

  696 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

  Length

  1.3 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

• Dipsea Trail/Steep Ravine Trail/Matt Davis Loop

  The Dipsea Trail is a steep trail decorated with gorgeous wildflowers and plenty of birds to watch. This is a must-do hike with beautiful scenery for the seasoned hiker. It is especially magical to hike during a foggy morning. You will go from the shady redwoods out onto an epic view of the Pacific Ocean. 

  Location

  Steep Ravine Trail, Stinson Beach, CA 94970

  Length

  7.5 miles

  Intensity

  Moderate

• Owl Trail

  The Owl Trail is another trail that features these beautiful redwoods. The elevation goes up about 300 feet, so it is a little bit of a climb, but the wildflowers and scenery are worth the trip. The trail goes up to Slide Ranch, an educational farm. You may be able to spot sheep and goats as well as rabbits, birds, and other wildlife.

  Location

  Muir Beach, CA 94965

  Length

  2.1 miles

  Intensity

  Moderate

Sightseeing

• Mount Tamalpais State Park

  With an elevation of 2,571 feet and an area of around 25,000 acres, Mount Tamalpais is a towering presence in Marin County. From the peak of the mountain, you can see San Francisco and the Farallon Islands. This is another beautiful spot to visit the redwoods and explore the network of trails.

  Location

  3801 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

• Muir Beach Overlook

  The Muir Beach Overlook is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This area has views of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby cliffs. If you visit when the fog has lifted, you can even see San Francisco. In times of war, soldiers used this as a helpful vantage point to scope out enemy ships and aim nearby defense guns. Today, this is a great place for whale watching.

  Location

  Muir Beach Overlook, Muir Beach, CA 94965

• Golden Gate Bridge

  Golden Gate Bridge hardly needs an introduction, but if you are in the area, this is a sight you cannot miss. This bridge is a mile long and spans the strait leading into San Francisco. You can drive up the Marin Headlands to get some fantastic pictures looking down on the bridge or visit the H. Dana Bowers Rest Area at the north end of the bridge to get some closer pictures. 

  Location

  Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Museums

• Mount Tamalpais Gravity Car Barn Museum

  The Gravity Car Barn Museum tells the history of the cars that would let people coast down the mountain after riding the train up. The museum has a replica gravity car you can sit in. During your visit, watch a video about the cars and take some fantastic pictures. 

  Location

  Verna Dunshee Trail, Mill Valley, CA 94941

• Marin Museum of Bicycling

  The Marin Museum of Bicycling is a museum and cultural center in Fairfax. They feature examples of bikes from the 19th century Golden Age of Cycling. This is also the home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. The museum includes many types of bikes: track, road, touring, racing, and everyday transportation.

  Location

  1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930

• Bolinas Museum

  The Bolinas Museum preserves and exhibits the art and history of Coastal Marin. The Main Gallery has a wide variety of changing exhibits. The Coastal Marin Artists Gallery features regional artists. The Floyd Russell Family History Room details local history with documents, photographs, and objects from their extensive collection.

  Location

  48 Wharf Road, Bolinas, CA 94924

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Terrestra

  Terrestra offers handcrafted accessories, as well as elegant gifts. They have dinnerware, glassware, and tabletop accessories. You can also find some nice gifts in handcrafted jewelry and personal accessories. This store has plenty of interesting products that just make it fun to window shop. 

  Location

  30 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941

• Monarch

  Monarch is an import store offering statues, home décor, and clothing. You can find a variety of candles, jewelry, and tunics. They feature the Monsoon Collection of earrings. This store works to support artisans and their families by selling products that are handmade from all over the world. 

  Location

  27 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941

• Watershed Mill Valley

  The Watershed is known to have Marin's best outdoor dining. The building was the original sawmill in Mill Valley. Now they offer some of the best of California cuisine cooked fresh from local farmers, ranchers, and fisheries. This restaurant over the creek offers a welcoming atmosphere, excellent local flavors, and stunning views of Mount Tamalpais. 

  Location

  129 Miller Ave., Suite 500, Mill Valley, CA 94941

• Bootjack

  Bootjack is a local bakery with some tasty products. They offer naturally leavened organic bread, a wide assortment of baked goods, and coffee drinks to wash it down. Everything on the menu is baked fresh daily.

  Location

  17 Madrona Street, Mill Valley, CA 94941

How To Get To Muir Woods National Monument

To get to the Muir Woods National Monument from Interstate 5, merge onto I-505 just west of Sacramento, and follow it to Vacaville. Once there, take Exit 1A, and merge onto I-80 West. Take Exit 33B for CA-37 going toward Novato. Take that past Sears Point until you merge onto Highway 101 toward San Francisco. 

Take Highway 101 through San Rafael and turn on Exit 447 to CA-131. Turn right onto East Blithedale Avenue. From there, turn left onto Amicita Avenue, and then turn right onto Sycamore Avenue. Take a slight left onto La Goma Street. Continue onto Monford Avenue. Turn right onto Molino Avenue and continue right onto Edgewood. That becomes Sequoia Valley Road. Then, turn right onto Muir Woods Road, and follow that to the park. 

Address

Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Fee: Entry fee (ages 16+) $15.0

Fee: Parking Reservation fee (per vehicle) $8.5

Fee: Shuttle fee (per person) $3.25

Muir Woods National Monument is a spectacular tribute to the naturalist John Muir, who made a huge contribution to our national parks system. This park has a network of trails weaving through the redwood forest where you can enjoy spectacular views, flora and fauna, and fresh ocean air. Since there is so much space to cover, traveling by RV gives you the freedom and flexibility to relax and enjoy all that Northern California has to offer.