Muir Woods National Monument is a sanctuary of ancient coast redwoods located in a canyon on the western slope of Mount Tamalpais, just north of San Francisco. This national monument is primarily characterized by its towering old-growth redwood forest, with trees reaching over 250 feet in height, creating a unique environment for outdoor pursuits. The area's proximity to the Pacific Ocean contributes to a regular marine layer fog, essential for the redwoods' ecosystem. Visitors to Muir Woods National Monument can engage in several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more within and around its boundaries.
Exploring the outdoor activities in Muir Woods National Monument offers a range of experiences amidst its ancient forest. The area features more than 10 routes across several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more. More than 95,000 visitors have shared their experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Hiking is a primary activity, with trails winding through redwood groves, offering options from accessible paved paths to more challenging routes with elevation changes; for more details, see Hiking in Muir Woods National Monument. Jogging is also popular on the Monument's trails, providing a unique running experience among the giant trees, as detailed in Running Trails in Muir Woods National Monument. While cycling is not permitted within the Monument itself, the surrounding Marin County area, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, provides extensive opportunities for road cycling and touring cycling, with numerous routes to explore.
143
Routes
4.7
(290)
Average rating
7138
People visited

4.9
(16)
455
hikers
4.93km
01:19
30m
100m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
14
hikers
11.2km
03:33
480m
470m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

24
hikers
9.91km
03:18
450m
370m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(2)
12
hikers
12.7km
03:54
430m
430m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(22)
949
riders
50.9km
02:42
830m
830m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(10)
645
riders
65.4km
03:41
1,330m
1,330m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
128
riders
31.0km
01:52
710m
710m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.9
(22)
583
riders
64.6km
03:00
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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3
riders
15.8km
01:18
420m
230m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(19)
284
riders
42.1km
02:35
380m
390m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
96
riders
47.2km
03:52
1,320m
1,320m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
22
riders
18.4km
01:19
150m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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56
runners
11.6km
01:41
480m
480m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
5.11km
00:46
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
6.73km
00:54
280m
270m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
runners
13.6km
01:55
610m
610m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
5
riders
13.0km
01:14
320m
320m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(14)
82
riders
31.4km
03:05
900m
900m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
59
riders
44.3km
04:52
1,470m
1,470m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
39
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(6)
79
riders
47.4km
04:24
1,270m
1,270m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
53
riders
37.7km
03:08
1,000m
1,010m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
20.5km
01:49
540m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

14
riders
45.7km
04:00
1,180m
1,180m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Muir Woods National Monument preserves an old-growth coast redwood forest located north of San Francisco. It features towering redwoods, some over 250 feet (76 meters) tall and up to 1,200 years old. Redwood Creek flows through the park, supporting species like coho salmon and steelhead trout.
Muir Woods National Monument offers opportunities for hiking and jogging within its boundaries. The surrounding Marin County area, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, provides extensive options for road cycling and touring cycling. The komoot community has created 16 routes across these sports.
Yes, Muir Woods offers approximately 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) of trails for various skill levels. A paved, accessible main trail loop of about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. More challenging routes like the Canopy View, Lost, and Fern Creek Loop offer significant elevation changes.
The main trail loop is popular for its accessibility and views of the redwood groves. For longer or more challenging hikes, the Canopy View, Lost, and Fern Creek Loop, as well as the Ben Johnson Trail, are frequently explored. Find more details in the Hiking in Muir Woods National Monument guide.
Dogs are generally not permitted on the trails within Muir Woods National Monument, with exceptions for service animals. Visitors should check the official park regulations for specific guidelines. For dog-friendly options, explore the Dog-friendly hikes in Muir Woods National Monument guide.
Cycling is not permitted on trails within Muir Woods National Monument. However, the surrounding Marin County area, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, offers numerous road cycling and touring cycling routes. Bike racks are available outside the park entrance for those who cycle to the Monument.
Yes, the main trail loop is paved and accessible, making it suitable for families with strollers or young children. This loop provides an easy way to experience the redwood groves. Additional family-friendly options can be found in the Family-friendly hikes in Muir Woods National Monument guide.
The primary natural feature is the old-growth coast redwood forest, with trees reaching over 250 feet (76 meters) tall. Redwood Creek flows through the park, and visitors may observe coho salmon and steelhead trout during spawning migrations. The ecosystem supports diverse plant and animal life, including various mammals and birds.
Parking and shuttle reservations are required to visit Muir Woods National Monument. Reservations can be made online at GoMuirWoods.com. Visitors can also call 1-800-410-2419 for reservation assistance.
Muir Woods National Monument is highly popular on komoot, with more than 95,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The 16 routes available have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 4,000 ratings.
The official website for Muir Woods National Monument is www.nps.gov/muwo. For visitor information, the park can be reached at +1-415-561-2850. Parking and shuttle reservations are handled separately through GoMuirWoods.com or by calling 1-800-410-2419.

