Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument is in Marin County, California, just a few miles north of San Francisco. The 558-acre monument preserves one of the last remaining ancient redwood forests in the Bay Area. Some of the redwoods are nearly 1,000 years old and reach heights of more than 250 feet. Named for conservationist John Muir, it was the 10th national monument to be designated under the Antiquities Act of 1906, the first to be in proximity to a major city, and the first to consist of formerly privately-owned lands. Today, Muir Woods National Monument is home to more than 380 different plants and animals, including 27 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, 12 species of reptiles, and 5 species of amphibians. Redwood Creek, the principal stream in the monument, runs clean and clear beneath the towering trees. Its waters are home to Coho salmon and steelhead trout—keystone species in many Pacific ecosystems. Muir Woods National Monument is managed by the National Park Service as a distinct park unit within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Operating hours vary by season.