San Francisco Travel Forum

I'd like to rent & ride a bike from downtown SF out to Muir Woods one day(might be there in mid-June). Is this a safe ride? I'm an experienced rider, but not sure if the way out & back is on an interstate or on rideable roads.

I think I read it's only 17 miles--not a problem.

Heck of a hill climb but it is doable. The bridge ride is on the sidewalk of course

Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is actually a fairly popular tourist activity, so you'll have slow company. Once off the bridge, you'll want to take the first exit into Sausalito, although I believe that you're forced off anyway. After that, you get back onto the freeway, briefly, and exit onto Highway 1 where you'll be able to get to Muir Woods. I think that stretch of CA 1 west of Sausalito will be your most dangerous because of the narrow road width and traffic volume, but Bay Area drivers are generally very bike-conscious.
But it's not 17 miles of ease: it's up and down the whole time, and straight up on the road to Muir Woods. I would think of it more like 30.

Whenever I drive to Stinson Beach or Mt. Tamalpais (same direction as Muir Woods), I always see a few bikers along the way. That's a steep climb though, I give them credit, I don't think I could do it lol.

It's intense in a car. Don't think I'd want to do it on a bike! But more power to you if you can manage it!

I'm not worried about the hills (at least I don't think I am :), but the traffic.

Here's a map: http://goldengate.org/news/transit/documents/Route66_Map.pdf

Looks like you take 101 across the bridge, then it forks and you take Hwy 1 to the left into the Woods. You can't take bikes into it, so I'd have to park outside.

There's also a shuttle from Marin City $6 total, but I'd have to get to Marin City.

So is there a shoulder on Hwy 1 & 101?? I don't want cars flying by me at 55mph+.

I want to avoid a bus tour with a time limit with others from SF.

Sure, you could do it. But, as ideas go, it's not the greatest.

It is a truly spectacular and beautiful spot. I would recommend trying to go during the week, as the weekends are more crowded and the roads are twisty-turny and not all drivers are that great.

You might want to consider riding across the bridge and then maybe taking the ferry from Sausalito back. It's a nice ride and the ferry building is a mecca of superb local artisanal food....

Enjoy...it's MAGIC! I was just hiking that area around Thanksgiving. Let me know if you have any questions!

There is information on how to use public transit to get from downtown San Francisco to the Muir Woods by a ferry/bus combination, or a bus/bus combination at : http://goldengate.org/news/transit/muirwoods.php. Gary

I have a hybrid bike, and I've ridden across the bridge many, many times. On weekends and during commute times, the west lane of the GG bridge is open soley to cyclists, but other times you have to share the east lane with pedestrians who aren't as conscious as they could be about the 2-wheels coming up behind them. Bells don't work. Calling out "on your left" (in every language I can think of) doesn't seem to move them either. So I recommend that when biking across the bridge you go at the times the west lane is open.

Also, once across from the west lane, you come to a parking lot, and on your left is the path to Sausilito. Don't cross over and go with the cars down Alexander Ave--under the bridge is a great, downhill flying ride with no other obstacles. You end up on the Marina, and ultimately hit the main traffic into town, but far less of it.

I've never biked to Muir Woods, hiking is hard enough! But if you feel confident in your skills, I say go for it. It's absolutely beautiful, but in the summer expect microclimates of fog and sun! A light rainjacket is not a bad idea to pack.

Have fun,
Anja