Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour in Muir Woods

Key facts

What's included

Itinerary

1. Stop 1

   True to its name, Panoramic Highway winds through the slopes of Mount Tamalpais with forests, ridgelines, and scenic viewpoints appearing around nearly every bend. Follow this beautiful mountain road toward Muir Woods while watching the landscape shift between redwood forest, open hillsides, and distant coastal scenery.

   10 minutes

2. Stop 2

   One of California’s most recognizable landmarks, the Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco with Marin County across the dramatic Golden Gate strait. Take in sweeping views of the bay, Pacific Ocean, and city skyline as you cross; pedestrians can walk the bridge for free, while vehicles traveling southbound pay a toll.

   10 minutes

3. Stop 3 Pass by

   Rising high above Marin County, Mount Tamalpais offers forests, winding mountain roads, hiking trails, and spectacular views toward San Francisco Bay and the Pacific. Discover how the mountain became a popular recreation destination and once welcomed visitors aboard the famously twisting Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway.

4. Stop 4

   This narrow, winding road descends through the hills toward the sheltered redwood canyon of Muir Woods. Enjoy the increasingly lush scenery as you approach the monument, but plan ahead if driving—parking at Muir Woods requires an advance reservation and spaces frequently sell out.

   10 minutes

5. Stop 5

   Long before it became Muir Woods National Monument, this sheltered valley was known as Redwood Canyon and formed part of the homeland of the Coast Miwok people. Its cool, moist conditions protected stands of ancient coast redwoods, creating the extraordinary forest visitors still walk through today.

   10 minutes

6. Stop 6

   Walk beneath an extraordinary old-growth forest where coast redwoods rise hundreds of feet above the canyon floor. Protected as a national monument in 1908 and named for conservationist John Muir, this peaceful forest offers accessible walks, longer hiking trails, and an unforgettable chance to stand among some of the world’s tallest trees.

   10 minutes

7. Stop 7

   Begin your walk through the redwoods at the park’s main visitor center, located just inside the entrance. Stop for maps, trail information, ranger guidance, and books about the forest before setting out along the main trails beside Redwood Creek.

   10 minutes

8. Stop 8

   Take a break beneath the redwoods at this café and retail stop inside Muir Woods. Browse souvenirs and locally themed gifts or grab food and refreshments before continuing along the forest trails deeper into the monument.

   10 minutes

9. Stop 9

   Step into a historic grove honoring some of the people who helped protect Muir Woods for future generations. Look for the tree and plaque dedicated to pioneering conservationist Gifford Pinchot in 1910, then continue beneath towering redwoods along the monument’s main walking route.

   10 minutes

10. Stop 10 Pass by

    One of the most peaceful sections of Muir Woods, Cathedral Grove contains some of the monument’s tallest and oldest redwoods and is designated as a quiet area. It also holds an important piece of world history: United Nations delegates gathered here in 1945 for a memorial ceremony honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

11. Stop 11 Pass by

    Flowing beneath the towering trees, Redwood Creek is the natural lifeline of the Muir Woods ecosystem. Follow trails beside its waters while learning how the creek supports redwoods, ferns, wildlife, and important native species including threatened steelhead trout and endangered coho salmon.

12. Stop 12

    One of Marin County’s best-known historic trails, the Dipsea stretches roughly seven miles between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach and passes through the Muir Woods area. Follow part of this challenging route through redwoods and grassy hills while discovering the trail that inspired the famous Dipsea Race in the early 1900s.

    10 minutes

13. Stop 13

    This peaceful grove inside Muir Woods reveals redwoods marked by fire scars, unusual burls, and fallen logs supporting new forest life. Its name dates to 1892, when San Francisco’s Bohemian Club camped in this very part of Redwood Canyon before eventually establishing its better-known retreat farther north.

    10 minutes

14. Stop 14

    Follow one of California’s legendary highways as it curves through Marin County’s hills and coastal landscape. This stretch of Highway 1 connects travelers with roads leading toward Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, Muir Beach, and other scenic destinations along the rugged Northern California coast.

    10 minutes

Meeting point & pickup

Meet at the starting point

Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so there is no need to meet an in-person guide. Start at 256 CA-1 in Mill Valley. Commentary guides you to the Muir Woods Visitor Center, then continues on foot inside the park. Search your email for “Download Audio Tour.”

Cancellation & confirmation