Muir Woods National Monument is a National Monument in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 6 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Muir Woods
We matched 6 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Muir Woods. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (3)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Botanical Gardens (1)
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Muir Woods 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.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:15 PM | 244° | 9h 50m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 295° | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:48 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 301° | 14h 47m |
| July | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:33 PM | 298° | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:34 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:00 PM | 247° | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 241° | 9h 33m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.8966, -122.5808); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Muir Woods, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 19° |
| April | 2:20 AM – 5:00 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:19 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:31 PM – 3:51 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:24 PM – 2:24 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:23 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
The coast redwood forest is cool most times of the year with temperatures ranging from 40 - 70 F/ 4 - 21 C. Always come prepared with layers. From late October to early May, expect cool weather & possible rain. Summer months (June-August) can be warmer, but it is generally cool and dry. Expect heavy fog in the morning, burning off in the afternoon. Often, the fall (September-October) is the warmest time of year.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From San Francisco: Muir Woods is located 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take Hwy 101 North --> Mill Valley/Highway 1/ Stinson Beach Exit --> Follow the signs to Hwy 1 --> Follow the signs to Muir Woods From the north: Take Hwy 580/Richmond/San Rafael Bridge West --> Hwy 101 South --> Take the Stinson Beach/Mill Valley Exit --> Follow the signs to Highway 1 --> Follow the signs to Muir Woods No vehicles over 35 feet. Vehicles over 17ft need an oversized parking spot. More info below:
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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