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Muir Woods National Monument
4.8 ★★★★★ 20,544 Google reviews · Running trail in Mill Valley, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 1.8 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Muir Woods National Monument's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Scenic, forested park featuring giant redwood trees, long hiking trails, a visitor center & more.
What runners say about Muir Woods National Monument
“The forest itself was very well maintained with multiple hiking trails, viewpoints, and different areas to explore.”
“The drive out there alone was beautiful — lots of scenic winding roads, forest views, and that cool California coastal air the entire way.”
“The trails are well-maintained and easy to follow, making it perfect for a relaxed walk while soaking in nature.”
“We may have chosen a busier day to visit, as there were quite a few other visitors along the pathways (which disrupted the calm and beauty of the surroundings).”
We were visiting SF and really wanted to see Muir Woods. We didn’t book in advance (which you really should!) so we checked for days and finally had some luck reserving a parking spot a day after Memorial Day.
Absolutely loved visiting Muir Woods area outside of San Francisco. Seeing the redwoods was one of my bucket list experiences for California, and it completely lived up to the hype. The drive out there alone was beautiful — lots of scenic winding roads, forest views, and that cool California coastal air the entire way.
Muir Woods National Monument is an absolutely breathtaking place and was one of the highlights of my SF trip! Walking among the towering redwood trees feels surreal—the scale and serenity of the forest are hard to put into words.
Very nice National Monument in SF area with easy walking trails or if you’re looking for some more challenging hikes, they also have some that can takes you up to about 600 feet of elevation. The trails are very well maintained, signage is also very clear. One drinking fountain is located between bridge 3 and bridge 4.
Trail conditions & character
“Make sure to make parking reservations unless you want to street park, but be warned, you may walk quite a distance just to get to the park entrance.”
“The drive out there alone was beautiful — lots of scenic winding roads, forest views, and that cool California coastal air the entire way.”
“The peaceful atmosphere, combined with the fresh forest air and gentle sounds of the creek, makes it a truly refreshing escape from the city.”
“One thing to note for families: we were told that the entire loop could be done with a stroller, but we found that not all areas were truly stroller accessible.”
“One thing to note for families: we were told that the entire loop could be done with a stroller, but we found that not all areas were truly stroller accessible.”
“There was a beautiful stream trickling through the middle of it all and a well built wooden boardwalk next to the stream for part of the loop.”
“There was also a nice gift shop, and although some of the restroom facilities were being renovated while we visited, everything still seemed well organized and functional.”
“There are water fountains at parking, entrance and even at end of the 0.”
“Trails this time of year Are rainy and muddy So prepare-Dress well for weather conditions.”
Plan your run at Muir Woods National Monument
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance1.8 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(415) 561-2850
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Mill Valley
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Cascade Falls Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 420 reviews
Short walk through redwood trees along a creek to a cascading waterfall.
Old Mill Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 168 reviews
Pet-friendly greenspace featuring a creek, a playground and redwood trees.