Thousand-Year-Old Redwoods, One Golden Gate Crossing From Fisherman's Wharf
A narrated half-day ride to Muir Woods with the park ticket already paid, free time on the trails, and Sausalito on the way back.
Muir Woods National Monument sits 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The National Park Service puts the average age of its redwoods at 600 to 800 years, with some more than 1,000 years old, and its tallest at 258 feet. This tour covers the two chores of going on your own: the drive and the park entry. A December 2025 rider put it plainly: "Driving, obtaining a parking permit, and the park entrance fee are all covered."
You board at Tower Tours' office on Jefferson Street and ride north with a guide narrating the city and the bridge. Then you walk the redwood trails on your own for up to an hour and a half. Sausalito comes on the way back.
The card below books Tower Tours' Muir Woods run, which is the same trip in every version on the listing. As of October 18, 2026, adults start at USD 84.15 and children 4 to 11 at USD 58.65 for the Muir Woods Only version. The tour holds 4.6 from 622 reviews.
From San Francisco: Guided Tour to Muir Woods and SausalitoAbout 4.5 hours round trip from 99 Jefferson Street at Fisherman's Wharf, Muir Woods entry included. Full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure.www.viator.comUp to Ninety Minutes, Yours to Spend
Inside the monument nobody leads you around. The National Park Service lets only rangers give tours in the forest itself, and tour guides may not present information beyond the park entrance. The Visitor Center hands out a free park brochure with a basic trail map, and Tower Tours describes the trails as gentle walking paths.
The Park Service times its three most popular loops from the Visitor Center. The half-mile loop to Bridge 2 takes about 30 minutes, the one-mile loop to Bridge 3 about an hour, and the two-mile loop to Bridge 4 about an hour and a half. All three stay on the main trail along Redwood Creek, which the Park Service rates mostly flat.
Traffic decides how much of the ninety minutes you get. A February 2026 rider wrote that "the self guided tour of Muir Woods was shortened to 60 minutes" after a slow drive. On a shortened stop, the half-hour Bridge 2 loop is the safe pick. There is no cell phone service at Muir Woods. Agree on a return time with your guide before you walk in.
The listing describes cool, moist air under the fog and says the tour runs in all weather. Tower Tours recommends a light jacket or layers, since the climate varies.
Redwoods Only, a Ferry Home, or a Bus Pass Too
Muir Woods Only is the plain round trip back to Fisherman's Wharf. The Sausalito Ferry version lets you stay in Sausalito and cross the bay on a one-way ferry ticket. The Big Bus version adds a 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass with digital commentary and 17 stops, plus a self-guided Chinatown walk that leaves Stop #3 at 1:00 PM daily. The Muir Woods trip itself runs in Tower Tours' vans and coach buses, which seat 19 to 34 passengers. The listing says the bus pass can be used on a different day from the redwoods.
Ferry riders should keep the booking receipt within reach. A September 2026 rider waited for the ferry before learning they "had to take receipt to a ticket booth for ticket," and a May 2026 rider on the ferry version wrote that "the ferry wasn't included despite the higher price." An April 2026 rider added a warning about "2 different lines with different tickets and different departure times on weekdays versus weekends." Tower Tours' own ferry package names Blue and Gold as the line, so ask your guide where to swap the receipt before you get off in Sausalito.
Skipping the ferry costs nothing on the redwoods side. The bus brings everyone else back to the Wharf.
Over the Bridge Out, Through Sausalito Back
The ride out crosses the Golden Gate Bridge with the guide narrating, and Tower Tours puts that first leg at 45 minutes. Reviews split on the narration style. Many riders name their guide with real warmth, while a few found the running commentary too much.
On the return the bus stops in Sausalito. The Viator itinerary calls this leg a scenic drive through town, but Tower Tours lists 45 minutes there, and riders since 2025 describe getting off for anywhere from about 30 minutes to an hour. The February 2026 rider whose redwoods walk was cut to 60 minutes still had 45 minutes in Sausalito, so don't count on the Sausalito stop to absorb a traffic delay.
Seating is first come, first served, and Tower Tours keeps the front seats for guests with medical restrictions. A June 2026 rider wished for bigger windows, so arriving early helps if the view matters to you.
Confirm, Check In, Bring a Layer
The listing asks every booking to be confirmed with Tower Tours at least 24 hours before the tour date, by phone at 1-415-716-1423 or by email. Tower Tours' own FAQ asks for 72 hours, so call on the day you book and both windows are covered.
- Departures: as of October 18, 2026, the booking calendar offers 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM daily
- Check-in: 20 minutes before departure, at the Jefferson Street office
- Included: Muir Woods entry and a professional guide
- Not included: food, drinks and gratuities
- Cancellation: full refund up to 24 hours before departure on a Viator booking
- Restrooms: none on board; Tower Tours says public restrooms are available along the tour
- Fitness: the listing rates it suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Access: the listing says collapsible wheelchairs can come along with a companion who helps with boarding, and that small children can ride in a stroller, while Tower Tours says its vans and coaches have no wheelchair access or storage space
📍 The tour leaves from Tower Tours' office at 99 Jefferson Street, on the corner of Mason Street in Fisherman's Wharf. Tower Tours says cable cars, Muni buses and the F-Market streetcar all stop nearby. Drivers can use the public garages at 320 Bay Street, 350 Beach Street or Pier 39.
The tour finishes back at Fisherman's Wharf, and the listing leaves lunch to you there. After the redwoods, a seafood counter on the Wharf is a short walk from where the bus stops.