FAQs Visiting Muir Woods

Need some answers?

We got them!

1WHAT IS MUIR WOODS?
Muir Woods National Monument is located 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and is home to some of the oldest and tallest living trees in the world.
2HOW LONG IS THE BIKE RIDE TO CATCH THE MUIR WOODS SHUTTLE?
The ride from our bike shop on Columbus Avenue is approximately 9 miles (15 km) to Sausalito, where you will catch the Muir Woods Shuttle. It is 90% flat. The main hill you will have to go up is just before the Golden Gate Bridge.
3WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE ON THE RIDE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO SAUSALITO?
Your ride will be along the beautiful San Francisco Bay, where you will pass Aquatic Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, and the Golden Gate Bridge. After crossing the bridge, we encourage our guests to enjoy lunch in Sausalito before catching the shuttle up to Muir Woods National Monument. Along the way, you’ll ride on a combination of bike paths and some street bike lanes. You’ll also have a couple of mild hills to climb as you go.
4WHY CHOOSE BIKE THE BRIDGE & SHUTTLE TO MUIR WOODS?
It’s an all inclusive day! We’ve combined our two favorite activities in San Francisco into one great adventure. Enjoy your bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, then catch our round trip shuttle up to Muir Woods National Monument and back to the city. With this option, there’s absolutely no waiting around. NO ferry, NO taxi, NO Uber. We’ll take care of the transportation for you, so you can just sit back and enjoy the day. We are the only company in San Francisco offering this tour. This is the best way to get in your bike ride across the bridge and visit to Muir Woods National Monument in one day. 100% Refund Guarantee: Change of plans? Feeling under the weather? We are happy to refund the entire cost of your Muir Woods tickets with 24 hours advance notice. In addition, we offer a refund of 50% with cancellations of less than 24 hours notice.
5HOW MUCH IS THE ENTRANCE FEE TO MUIR WOODS?
Muir Woods entrance fee is $15 for anyone 16 years and over. This can be paid with cash or credit card on-site. Muir Woods admission is free for children 15 and under, as well as National Park annual pass holders.
6HOW LONG DO WE SPEND IN MUIR WOODS?
Our tour and shuttle options spend over an hour in Muir Woods.
7WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO WE USE FOR BIKE THE BRIDGE & SHUTTLE TO MUIR WOODS?
We use the Radrunner 1 Electric bike.
8IS MUIR WOODS DISABLED ACCESSIBLE?
Yes, Muir Woods is set up for everyone to enjoy! There are segments of paved trails that are accessible by wheelchair and service animals are welcome with proper paperwork.
9WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE AT MUIR WOODS?
The coastal redwood forest is cool most times of the year with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
10WHAT TO PACK FOR MUIR WOODS?
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket or sweater as the giant redwoods can affect the temperature in the early morning and evening. Be sure to bring plenty of water if you plan on spending a longer day in the old growth forest.
11WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT MUIR WOODS AND THE TRAILS?
You can find all the information you need at the Visitor Center, including assistive listening devices and a Muir Woods map of all the trails in the region. You can also find a ton of info on this website if you go to our ‘Plan Your Trip’ section.
12 WHERE TO EAT IN MUIR WOODS?
Muir Woods Trading Company is the in-park concessionaire facility, which serves meals and snacks throughout the day. It’s located just inside the Muir Woods entrance, so you can easily stop in at the beginning or end of your trip!
13CAN YOU CAMP IN MUIR WOODS?
Unfortunately, Muir Woods camping is not allowed. If you’d like to camp in the redwoods, you can check out the nearby Alice Eastwood and Pantoll campgrounds in Mt. Tamalpais State Park.
14WHAT ARE THE BEST MUIR WOODS TRAILS?
There are several popular Muir Woods hikes you can take. We’d recommend the Bridge 3 Loop, Bridge 2 Loop, or Bridge 4 Loop for easy to moderate hikes. You can pick up a Muir Woods hiking trails map at the visitor center to learn more about the various walking paths!
15DO I NEED A MUIR WOODS PARKING RESERVATION?
Yes, you will need a parking reservation if you plan to drive to the park yourself. The parking reservations must be made in advance for a specific time slot. However, having a reservation does not guarantee that you will be able to park at the time you’ve selected. A parking reservation just means that once a spot is available, you can park there. You do not need parking reservations if you take a shuttle or tour bus to the forest.
16HOW CAN I GET DIRECTLY FROM SFO TO MUIR WOODS?
If you’re flying into San Francisco and want to head directly from SFO to Muir Woods, you can easily take BART or a ride-sharing option into the city from the airport. From there, we’d recommend hopping on our direct Muir Woods shuttle for easy transportation to and from the park! Here’s how to get from the airport to our shuttle pick-up location: + If you take ride-sharing between the airport and the city, you can have your driver drop you off right outside of our bike rental shop. + If you take BART, be sure to get on one of the yellow lines taking you into the heart of San Francisco. You can get off at Columbus Avenue & Lombard Street. Our bike shop is just 480 feet southeast of the stop!
17CAN I BIKE ALL THE WAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO MUIR WOODS?
It is technically possible to bike to Muir Woods from San Francisco. However, this is a dangerous and strenuous option, as you’ll have to climb a series of steep hills on extremely winding roads. There are also no bike lanes, so you’ll be sharing the road with cars, tour buses, and Muir Woods shuttles.
18CAN I TAKE AN UBER TO MUIR WOODS FROM SAN FRANCISCO?
The distance from San Francisco to Muir Woods is only 17 miles. So, technically, you can take an Uber or Lyft driver to the park. However, there is no cell phone service in Muir Woods. So, it won’t be possible for you to hire a driver for the ride back to San Francisco. There is a payphone on the valley floor. So, if you get stranded in the park you can call a standard taxi cab to give you a lift back into the city. Since cabs charge about $75 just to take you to the Golden Gate Bridge, this will make your trip to Muir Woods cost a bit more than usual!