Muir Woods is a National Monument was recently re-designed to be wheelchair accessible! It’s a gorgeous roll through the redwoods. For me it was the first time I’d taken a “hike” through the woods since being in the wheelchair. All the other National Forest parks I’ve been too have either been desert or just overlooks where I could get out of the car and get to an overlook, but not be really in the woods like this.
Booking
Parking: You need to reserve parking ahead. Go here and (assuming you have a blue placard) reserve and ADA space. It will ask you to give an arrival window. You will get a proof of purchase that you should download, screenshot or print. There is no cell service there so don’t think you can get it from your email or text when you get there. No vehicles over 35 feet. The roads in are narrow and winding.
Shuttle: There is a shuttle. It is not wheelchair accessible if you need to stay in your chair or have a non-folding chair but it can take a folding wheelchair. More info here.
Tickets: If you have a blue handicapped placard (permanent disability) you can get an “America the Beautiful” parks pass card get ahead online. That will allow you and three other adults in with you at no cost to any national park including this one and it doesn’t expire. If you need to get a ticket, or need more tickets you can get them at the gate. They also say they have wheelchairs available to use at the gate on a sign at the gate, but the accessibility guide says they don’t. My guess is don’t count on it.
Arrival
The ADA parking spaces are in the first lot you get to. There will be attendants. If the sign says “FULL” (it likely will) ignore that, it doesn’t apply to those spaces. Talk to the attendant and show them your badge. When we got to our spot it was the very last one, but I guess they do have exactly the number per time slot.
Welcome Center (and restrooms)
Shortly after you go through the gate you’ll come to this lovely circle. To the left is the ramp access, which circles up to the right and takes you to the Welcome Center with cafe, restrooms and gift shop, all of which are wheelchair accessible. There is a separate all gender/family/ADA bathroom that is plenty big enough for a wheelchair. The cafe even has a designated wheelchair table.
The Trail
The main trail (marked in white outline) is wheelchair accessible. The black dashed bit between Cathedral Grove all the way to across bridge 4 is a little rougher but was ok. The other areas are very clearly not accessible (they are proper hiking trails that are far too vertical). There are a couple slightly bumpy and narrow bits, but I managed in my Permobil M5 (a large power wheelchair). I was glad my husband was there just in case to support the back on some spots, though his help wasn’t needed. The trail is mostly paved or wooden but there are some packed earth spots.
We went up to bridge 2, crossed it, then up to bridge 3, crossed it, up to cathedral grove and around it, then up to bridge 4, crossed it, crossed back, came down, crossed bridge 2 the other way, then came back across bridge 1 and back to the restrooms. That way we saw everything we could see. We were lucky to go on a gorgeous day.
I was able to correspond with the designer John Roberts who made it ADA accessible and he mentioned that Muir Beach was also worth a trip and is also accessible with beach wheelchairs to use. I’ll have to try that another time.
I highly recommend this. It was a great morning out.
My Wandering Wheels 