Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour in Muir Woods

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 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 • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Golden Gate Bridge

  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 • Admission ticket not included
• (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.

  Admission ticket free
• 3

  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 • Admission ticket free
• 4

  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 • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Muir Woods National Monument

  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 • Admission ticket not included
• 6

  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 • Admission ticket not included
• 7

  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 • Admission ticket not included
• 8
  Founders Grove

  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 • Admission ticket not included
• (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.

  Admission ticket free
• (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.

  Admission ticket free
• 9
  Dipsea Trail

  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 • Admission ticket free
• 10

  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 • Admission ticket free
• 11
  California State Route 128

  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 • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
• Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
• Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
• Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.

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