With its soaring redwoods and shaded paths, Muir Woods is undeniably a popular local and tourist attraction. But in spite of a push to have guests get there and leave by shuttle, 80 percent of the park’s nearly one million annual visitors arrive by car, only to face backed-up traffic and a full parking lot. As a result, after years of deliberation and studies, the National Park Service will implement a parking reservation system as of 2018. The changes are designed to alleviate overcrowding and elevate the quality of the visitor experience, as well as reduce impact on the environment. Reservations for vehicle parking and the Muir Woods Shuttle will be handled through a website or call center.
This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition under the headline: “Reservations Required“.
Kasia Pawlowska loves words. A native of Poland, Kasia moved to the States when she was seven. The San Francisco State University creative writing graduate went on to write for publications like the San Francisco Bay Guardian and KQED Arts among others prior to joining the Marin Magazine staff. Topics Kasia has covered include travel, trends, mushroom hunting, an award-winning series on social media addiction and loads of other random things. When she’s not busy blogging or researching and writing articles, she’s either at home writing postcards and reading or going to shows. Recently, Kasia has been trying to branch out and diversify, ie: use different emojis. Her quest for the perfect chip is never-ending.
