Muir Woods: Public Update Set On National Monument Project

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The National Parks Service will present an online, detailed rundown on parking reservations and traffic control measures underway at the Muir Woods National Monument on Tuesday morning, May 4, The progress report will be for the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and locals are encouraged to log in and participate.

NPS and Marin officials committed several years ago to a phased elimination of parking outside of the monument's boundaries. And the upcoming session is expected to update progress since the last review in October 2020, along with what the public can expect moving forward, county officials said.

The County of Marin in 2015 entered into a memorandum of understanding with NPS to monitor the long-term sustainability of the Muir Woods National Monument, which is visited annually in Mill Valley by more than 1 million people, and accessed via Muir Woods and Frank Valley roads, in the county’s road jurisdiction, staff said.

As a provision of the NPS-Marin agreement, updates are provided through public meetings twice per year. Additional details on the overall sustainability project can be found on NPS’ website.

Beginning in January 2018, NPS launched a parking reservation system to relieve congestion and enhanced the Muir Woods shuttle program, along with implementing such restrictions as traffic barriers, wooden posts and no parking zones along Frank Valley and Muir Woods Road, according to the county.

"Based on public feedback and usage data, the impact of the reservation system has been effective at reducing congestion in and around the park, and it has improved visitor experience while in the park," county officials said. "Additionally, it has reduced the adverse impacts to the Muir Woods and Redwood Creek watersheds, that were identified prior to the implementation of the parking restrictions and reservation system."

The online meeting is expected to take place during the supes' morning meeting. Details on how to attend the virtual session and to submit comments can be found online (view in Spanish).

Anyone needing disability accommodations for the session, can call (415) 473-6358 (voice), CA Relay 711 or e-mail the Digital Access staff at least five business days in advance of the May 4 event. Copies of documents also are available in alternative formats, upon request.

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