Description

Muir Beach is a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean. It is surrouned by high bluffs, wetlands and a lagoon. The beach is a popular scenic area. It can be somewhat confusing for visitors, however, because of its name.

For one thing, there is Muir Beach, and then there's Muir Beach Overlook. Muir Beach is, reasonably enough, the one that has the beach on it. Muir Beach Overlook is atop some of the nearby bluffs to the northwest, and it provides a good view of the beach and the surrounding area. However, to get from Muir Beach Overlook to Muir Beach, you have to walk or drive through the tiny town of Muir Beach.

So although there's both a bluff area and a town right next to the beach, and they both use the name "Muir Beach", it's the beach that's really Muir Beach.

Also, Muir Beach and Muir Beach Overlook are not part of or related to the Muir Woods National Monument.  Muir Woods is a separate recreation area that shares only its name with Muir Beach, although both are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and are administered by the same authority.  (In turn, Golden Gate National Recreation Area is not related to Golden Gate Park, which is a city park in San Francisco.)

Muir Beach is mostly for soaking up the scenery, picnics, and the like. Touring Muir Beach Overlook can also a nice hike. However, Muir Beach is not a swimming beach. Swimming in the lagoon is prohibited, as it annoys the wildlife. While you are permitted to swim in the ocean, it is not recommended. According to the Park Service, there are no lifeguards, but there are dangerous currents, rogue waves, and sharks. Your call.

The Park Service warns that "animals, plants, rocks, shells, and historic objects are protected in National Parks". On the other hand, the Park Service also encourages beachcombing. This is a somewhat contradictory position, as taking stuff with you is usually the object of beachcombing. Regardless, you're allowed to look for things on the beach, but don't pick them up.

Muir Woods is named for John Muir, a naturalist and conservationist in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  If you've seen a California state quarter (minted in 2005) he's the fellow on the back.  (The mountain in the background is Half Dome in Yosemite.) 

Main Web Site

http://www.nps.gov/goga/muir-beach.htm

Location

If anyone has an address or a precise location, please add it. In the meantime, to get to Muir Beach, take highway 101 north through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Exit on highway 1, and take highway 1 west until you see the Pacific Ocean. Then look for a parking lot.

Drive Time

from Ames to the entrance of the main Muir Beach parking lot (per Google maps): 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic

Public Transit

Hours

Opening hours are not listed. Presumably that means the park opens at first light. Closing hours vary with the season:

Last Sunday of January to second Sunday of March: 6 PM

Second Sunday of March to Third Sunday of September: 7 PM

Third Sunday of September to Second Sunday of October: 6 PM

Second Sunday of October to last Sunday of January: 6 PM

Cost

FREE