Muir Woods Pet & Dog Policy
Where to Take Your Dog Instead
Marin County has some of the best dog-friendly trails in the Bay Area. Jurisdictions vary. Here is where dogs are welcome near Muir Woods:
- Coastal Trail at Muir Beach: on leash, ocean views about 10 minutes from the monument.
- Marin Headlands: mixed rules by trail. See the Headlands trail map (PDF).
- Marin Municipal Water District and Marin County Open Space District trails: leashed dogs allowed on almost all trails.
- Mount Tamalpais State Park: dogs not allowed on most trails. Check signs at each trailhead.
Service Animals
Service dogs recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act are welcome. The ADA defines service animals narrowly:
Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
Examples include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, and calming a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
Source: ADA Service Animals.
Never Leave a Pet in a Parked Vehicle
A vehicle interior heats up fast, even on a day that does not feel hot. Pets left unattended in weather over 70°F can be removed and the vehicle impounded at the owner’s expense.
| Elapsed Time | Outside Air Temperature (°F) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 | |
| 0 min | 70 | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 |
| 10 min | 89 | 94 | 99 | 104 | 109 | 114 |
| 20 min | 99 | 104 | 109 | 114 | 119 | 124 |
| 30 min | 104 | 109 | 114 | 119 | 124 | 129 |
| 40 min | 108 | 113 | 118 | 123 | 128 | 133 |
| 50 min | 111 | 116 | 121 | 126 | 131 | 136 |
| 60 min | 113 | 118 | 123 | 128 | 133 | 138 |
| > 1 hour | 115 | 120 | 125 | 130 | 135 | 140 |
Data: Jan Null, CCM, Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University. Safety guidance: American Veterinary Medical Association.
Nearby Pet Boarding
If you want to visit Muir Woods without your dog in the car, book a few hours at a pet lodging facility in Mill Valley, Sausalito, or San Rafael. Several offer half-day daycare.
Planning Your Visit?
A guided tour is the easiest way to visit Muir Woods. No parking reservation or driving stress. Tours include park admission and round-trip transportation from San Francisco.
See Muir Woods Tours & Shuttle Options
More visitor info: Trail Maps | Hours | Entrance Fees | Parking