Muir Woods National Monument

Help us conserve Muir Beach by joining us at a monthly beach clean-up! Volunteers will enjoy beautiful ocean views while they remove litter and debris, protect native habitats, and help minimize marine debris. This is a fun family-friendly volunteer opportunity, volunteers of all ages are welcome.

When: one Thursday a month, 9:30 am–12:30 pm.

Where: Muir Beach parking lot. Registration is required.

Supplies: We invite volunteers to bring their own reusable supplies! Limit waste by bringing your own bag or bucket and gloves if you have them - but don't worry if you don't, we'll have some supplies on site for you to use.

Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.

• Volunteers ages 10 and up are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines (PDF) for youth under the age of 15.
• Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form (PDF). Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.
• We'll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Bring layers for changing weather and rain gear if necessary.
• Bring a personal water bottle and sunscreen.
• No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills community service requirements.

Looking for trail suggestions and orientation? Saw something curious in the forest that you want to ask about? Need a junior ranger book? We are here to help!

Come find Muir Woods rangers where you have questions for them: right at the park's entry/exit. Our station has local information, objects to explore, and a wealth of resources to support you during your visit - so don't hesitate to ask. 

Core hours for the ranger station are 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, though we are often open longer than that. For information in anticipation of your visit, please visit the link below. 

Join a Muir Woods Ranger or volunteer in a grove of towering Coast Redwoods for a 15-minute welcome talk. To inspire & connect you deeper to this park, our staff will share about the history & ecology of old growth redwood forests, indigenous stewardship of the landscape, protecting & restoring this ecosystem, and more.

Please allow yourself at least 10 minutes to get from the entry arch & Visitors Center to Founders Grove where the talks take place. The path is a firm surface accessible to most mobility devices.

For day-of scheduling changes, including additional talk times, other programs, and possible cancellations, please view signage at the park entry or ask Visitor Center staff. For a trail map, please visit the link below.

On Wednesdays, the 1:15AM talk does not take place due to limited staffing. 

Journey into the heart of Muir Woods National Monument on a 1-hour ranger-led tour with a national park ranger and naturalists. See the forest through the eyes of an expert as they expand your understanding of this diverse ecosystem and help you observe its rich complexity.

Covered topics vary and include old growth redwood charecteristics, forest and fire ecology, park history, native stewardship, and contemporary conservation practices. This tour is a great opportunity to ask questions and make seasonal observations of flowers, plants, and animals. 

Typically, this program traverses .5 miles from the Visitor Center to Bridge 3 near Cathedral Grove, though guides may extend or abreviate the milage. The path is a flat, firm surface accessible to most mobility devices. All ages are welcome.

For day-of scheduling changes, including additional talk times, other programs, and possible cancellations, please view signage at the park entry or ask Visitor Center staff. For a trail map, please visit the link below.

Celebrate the enchanting Winter Solstice with an evening filled with magic and wonder at the Mill Valley Public Library. Embrace the spirit of the season as we come together to revel in the longest night and welcome the return of the sun and a beloved celebration historically held at Druid Heights and Muir Woods. Delight in engaging activities, perfect for all ages, as we honor this special time of year. 

Whether you're crafting, listening to stories, participating in the Yule log ceremony, enjoying music, or strolling with a ranger beneath the towering redwoods, our Winter Solstice event promises an evening of joy, connection, and the celebration of cherished local traditions. Don't miss this opportunity to embrace the magic of the season with your community at the library.

Registration is requested.

Help us conserve Muir Beach by joining us at a monthly beach clean-up! Volunteers will enjoy beautiful ocean views while they remove litter and debris, protect native habitats, and help minimize marine debris. This is a fun family-friendly volunteer opportunity, volunteers of all ages are welcome.

When: one Thursday a month, 9:30 am–12:30 pm.

Where: Muir Beach parking lot. Registration is required.

Supplies: We invite volunteers to bring their own reusable supplies! Limit waste by bringing your own bag or bucket and gloves if you have them - but don't worry if you don't, we'll have some supplies on site for you to use.

Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.

• Volunteers ages 10 and up are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines (PDF) for youth under the age of 15.
• Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form (PDF). Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.
• We'll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Bring layers for changing weather and rain gear if necessary.
• Bring a personal water bottle and sunscreen.
• No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills community service requirements.

Winter is a magical time on Mount Tamalpais and in Muir Woods. Colorful fungi pop up in the oddest places, early forest wildflowers start to make appearances, and the sound of vigorously flowing water echoes back down from the forest canopy. This hike will seek out all that magic, without needing a Muir Woods parking reservation! There will be plenty of creekside vibes and many opportunities to spot fungi.

This is a moderate 5-mile loop hike that will gain about 800 feet of elevation altogether. It will start at the Mountain Home Inn, go down Alice Eastwood Road, Troop 80 Trail, Sierra Trail, and Lower Fern Creek Trail and will return to the trailhead via Canopy View Trail and Panoramic Trail.

• Participants should carry water and snacks (to be consumed in designated areas), dress in layers, and wear shoes suitable for potentially muddy hiking trails.
• Ticks and poison oak may be present along the trail.
• Pets other than service animals are not permitted on this hike.

Ever wondered what Muir Woods is like after the park closes?

Join us on our free evening tour to explore what keeps the redwood forest awake when we go to sleep. Step outside your comfort zone and into the ancient, nocturnal setting of Muir Woods for this two-hour, two-mile walk.

After all, we're only visitors in a place where countless animals call home - and many are more are crepuscular (active at dusk and dawn) or fully nocturnal (active at night). By learning about what animals are in the forest and when, we can better understand how to protect and appreciate the whole ecosystem.

The night tour is a 2-mile round-trip ranger-led walk in Muir Woods National Monument using the Redwood Creek and Hillside trails. Redwood creek is the primary, highly accessible trail. It is flat with boardwalk and pavement. The Hillside trail is a 0.5-mile trail that runs parallel to Redwood Creek trail. It elevates about 50 feet from Redwood Creek trail, flattens out, and then descends back into Redwood Creek trail. It is slightly narrow with steep drop offs in some areas with exposed tree roots.

Groups can reserve up to 6 people. While the program is free, entry to Muir Woods is $15 per person and free for those under the age of 16. Registration for the event is now open.

Winter is a magical time on Mount Tamalpais and in Muir Woods. Colorful fungi pop up in the oddest places, creeks and drainages flow with water, and, as winter starts to turn to spring, more and more forest wildflowers enliven the trails. This hike will seek out all that magic, without needing a Muir Woods parking reservation! There will be plenty of opportunities to scope out forest wildflowers like redwood violets, redwood sorrel, and fetid adderstongue, plus chances for even more colorful fungi.

This is a moderate to strenuous 5.5-mile loop hike that will gain about 1200 feet of elevation altogether. It will go down Panoramic Trail and Canopy View Trail to Muir Woods and return via a steep climb up Bootjack Trail and then more easily along Troop 80 Trail and Alice Eastwood Road.

• Participants should carry water and snacks (to be consumed in designated areas), dress in layers, and wear shoes suitable for potentially muddy hiking trails.
• Ticks and poison oak may be present along the trail.
• Pets other than service animals are not permitted on this hike.

• The hike at Muir Woods is a strenuous 3-mile hike using the Redwood Creek, Canopy View, Lost, and Fern Creek trails.
• All attendees must be at least 8 years old. Minors 8-15 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
• Groups registering are limited to 6 people.
• Sign-ups will be capped at 30 participants and chosen on a first-come first-served basis. A program confirmation email with more details will be sent after the 30 participants limit has been reached or by the Tuesday before the program date. Sign-ups that did not make the 30-participant limit will receive a waitlist email and notified if space is available.