1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD — a beach in Marin County, California — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 3.3 km (2.1 mi) SW of Tamalpais Valley.
From the National Park Service
WAYSIDE TITLE: Restoring Habitat
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: Standing in front of the kiosk facing south, away from the parking lot, a row of brown recycling and trash bins is to your left. Directly behind you is a 3-D topographic model of Muir Beach and the surrounding area, and, on the edge of the parking lot, a bathroom building. Just past the row of recycling bins is a metal and wood boardwalk that spans the distance over the wetlands and leads to the beach. Beyond the boardwalk are two wooden benches that face the willows in the wetlands and in the distance, the ocean.
TEXT: As you journey across this bridge, consider how the health of people and wildlife are linked. Who benefits from the restoration of Muir Beach and how? For over a century agriculture, recreation and construction severely degraded the floodplains, wetlands and aquatic habitat. The creek stopped flowing freely. As a result, sediment built up, causing poor water quality, and flooding was common. Big Lagoon almost vanished. Wildlife dependent upon the creek system for survival dramatically declined in population.
From 2009 to 2013, concerned local volunteers and professionals from the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and community groups came together to restore this dynamic environment. Relocated buildings and parking now allow the creek, riparian woodlands, tidal lagoon and dunes to return to their natural functions. The restoration created habitat critical for the survival and ongoing resilience of native plants and animals. Dedicated park stewards will continue to care for the site as plants take hold and weather events shape the land.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:15 AM | 90° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 59° ENE | 8:37 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 120° ESE | 4:55 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 32m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:57 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 50m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:56 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:44 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 46m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 32m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:01 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 33m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:59 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:08 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:29 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:18 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.82 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 69 | 76 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 84 | 78 | 65 |
| Low °F | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this beach
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Point Bonita, Bonita Cove, 6.3 km (3.9 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD, closest first.
BeachBeachBeachBeach
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Waterfall
Botanical Garden
BeachCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haypress Campground2.6 km (1.6 mi) · reservable
- Hawk Campground4.9 km (3.0 mi) · reservable
- Bicentennial Campground5.6 km (3.5 mi) · reservable
- Kirby Cove Campground7.9 km (4.9 mi) · reservable
- Rob Hill Group Campground11.3 km (7.0 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD?
What time is golden hour at 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD?
Where does the sun rise and set at 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD?
Can you see the Milky Way from 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD?
Do you need a permit to photograph at 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD?
How far is 1 - Restoring Habitat - Muir Beach AD from Tamalpais Valley?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service, USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.