Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
United States
California
Marin County
Mill Valley

Fern Creek Trail loop from Muir Woods National Monument

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
United States
California
Marin County
Mill Valley

Fern Creek Trail loop from Muir Woods National Monument

Moderate

5.0

(2119)

7,786

hikers

Fern Creek Trail loop from Muir Woods National Monument

02:08

6.77km

250m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1

625 m

Ocean View Trail meets Panoramic Trail

Highlight • Trail

From Panoramic Highway near Mountain Home this is a great trail to descend into Muir Woods from the backside (and for free😉).
To continue along a spectacular all-day loop through the most impressive trails on the Pacific side of Mount Tam and Stinson Beach check out komoot.de/tour/7916366

Tip by

2

3.08 km

Redwood: A Slice of Tree-Ring History

Highlight • Natural Monument

Redwood trees are not only the tallest, but also among the longest living trees on earth. This slice of a redwood tree shows tree rings dating back almost a couple of thousand years

Tip by

3

3.19 km

Muir Woods National Monument Entrance

Highlight • Natural Monument

Dipsea Trail is one of the iconic paths across the flanks of Mt Tamalpais between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach. The route of a national race of endurance, this section between Muir Beach and Cardiac Hill will raise your heartbeat if taken uphill, but also if taken downhill because of its beautiful views

Tip by

4

3.71 km

Fern Creek Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Despite its name, this trail runs along Redwood Creek; it joins the Redwood Creek Trail to the south. This walk is easy and popular, so if you want to avoid the crowds, you'll need to come early.

Tip by

5

3.96 km

Few people know that the United Nations were founded in San Francisco, and then met at the ancient tallest trees at Muir Woods. This plaque from the momentous event memorializes the honored president.

Tip by

6

4.04 km

Cathedral Grove is located within Muir Woods National Monument in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This amazing grove is home to the tallest and oldest redwoods in the area! This peaceful area encourages quiet contemplation as visitors walk through it on a gentle loop trail. The coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) in Cathedral Grove can reach heights of 380 feet, making them the tallest living things on Earth. Despite their massive size, redwoods have shallow roots, extending only 10 to 13 feet deep, but they spread out 60 to 80 feet and interlace with the roots of neighboring trees. This interconnected root system provides the strength needed to withstand strong coastal winds.

Tip by

7

4.94 km

Lost Trail is a steep rarely used access into Muir Woods National Park from the backside, descending from Panoramic Highway without going through the ticketing entrance area.

Tip by

8

6.52 km

Ocean View Trailhead heading south (on google the first section is labeled as Panoramic trail) meandering parallel slightly below Panoramic Highway, where it meets Alice Eastwood fire road coming from the north.
From Panoramic Highway near Mountain Home this is a great trail to descend into Muir Woods from the backside (and for free😉).
To continue along a spectacular all-day loop through the most impressive trails on the Pacific side of Mount Tam and Stinson Beach check out komoot.com/tour/7916366

Tip by

B

6.77 km

End point

Bus stop

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.61 km

992 m

138 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

4.28 km

1.40 km

684 m

377 m

< 100 m

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Weather

Powered by Foreca

Today

Sunday 12 July

22°C

11°C

9 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 17, 2024,🇺🇸 - Muir Wood🌲🌲 - Lost Trail 17.06.24
Once again mammoth 🦣🌲 trees, this time it's the redwoods, the tallest trees in the world with a slender trunk 🪵.
Redwood grows on the cooler Californian coast, often shrouded in fog 🌁 🌫️.
The formation of families is interesting, a single old tree 🌲 burns out inside, lives on and forms offspring around itself, its ashes provide a good …

Showing Translation

Good footwear is recommended for hiking the trails. Some of the paths are full of roots. The higher we hiked, the drier the air became. The trees, the scent of the forest, but also this incredible silence is very impressive.
A little tip: be sure to book a parking ticket online beforehand. The ranger doesn't let anyone in without a …

Showing Translation

If you are in the south of America, Muir Woods should definitely be on your "must-see" list. A great national park with trees up to 120m high, incredibly peaceful and you can spot some wild animals. Including coyotes. We didn't see any, but we did see a chipmunk.

Showing Translation

Beautiful round trip from/to the visitor center, narrow paths away from the main trails with a strenuous climb but worthwhile nature 🌲

Showing Translation

guide_signup

Want to know more?

Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.

Sign up for free

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Print

Share

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Easy

4.9

491

Fern Creek and Hillside Loop

01:19h

4.93km

30m

Explore
RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepackingSitemap
Download the app
Follow Us on Socials

© komoot GmbH

Privacy Policy