Muir Beach and Overlook

Redwood Creek tumbles down from the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais through Muir Woods, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Muir Beach. Although the creek's watershed is tiny––less than nine square miles--it harbors incredible biological diversity, including endangered coho salmon and California red-legged frogs. The National Park Service has done extensive restoration work designed to return the creek and its floodplain at Muir Beach to a more natural condition--work that has also improved accessibility. As a result, this little gem of a beach is even more of a delight to visit.

Before setting out from the parking lot, be sure to check out the tactile model (with Braille labels) of the Redwood Creek watershed that's near the restroom building. Then take the bridge across Redwood Creek to a wide dirt-and-gravel trail that soon forks. The trail to the right leads to the beach; the last few yards take you across sand on a mat that's lined by rope guides. The trail can be busy, particularly on weekends, and there is no place on the mat to pull aside and enjoy the view. To fully enjoy the beach, reserve a beach wheelchair in advance.

At the foot of the bridge If you go left instead of right towards the beach you will reach a rock drainage swale in about 300 feet that will be impassable to most wheelchair users. Alternatively you can hike a section of that trail if you approach it from the entrance road. You can also hike to Green Gulch Zen Center about a half-mile away. See trail description below.

For a panoramic vista and a chance to watch migrating whales (December–April), head north from Muir Beach one mile up Highway 1 to Muir Beach Overlook, a former Army observation post. Stairs make the boardwalk out to the westernmost point inaccessible, but views from the lot are almost as good.