Muir Beach to Pirates Cove, Coastal Trail and Pirates Cove Trail
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Start from Muir Beach parking lot, Highway 1, Mill Valley, CA, near connection to Muir Woods Road
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Muir Beach information:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/muirbeach.htm
Maps with trails:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/MUBE-sb_web_17e.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance: About 0.5 miles on the Coastal Trail heading southeast from Muir Beach, about another 1.5 miles on Pirates Cove Trail, hugging the coast.
Considerations: Some steep trails segments, and a steep rocky climb from the trail to the beach at Pirates Cove. Watch for the trail sign leaving Coastal Trail to Pirates Cove Trail, and also for the steep turn down to Pirates Cove, otherwise you could go all the way to Tennessee Valley.
Restrooms are available at the Muir Beach parking lot
Bonus visit: From the Muir Beach parking lot, turn left on Highway 1, drive through a few curves, and watch for the small sign indicating Muir Beach Overlook for a stunning view.
The Muir Beach parking lot is pretty big, but arrive early on weekends for easier parking. Weekdays are ideal if you don’t like fighting crowds.
From the parking lot, cross the small bridge over the Redwood Creek wetland restoration (watch for deer and other wildlife), and turn right toward Muir Beach.
Facing the ocean and looking left, there is a steep stair/trail that rises up the hill to get you to the Coastal Trail. As you climb to the top of the ridge, take time to turn back and enjoy the view of Muir Beach with the hill full of houses rising behind the beach.
Walk along the Coastal Trail for about half a mile, ocean on your right, until you see the connection to the Pirates Cove Trail, which hugs the coastline (rather than the Coastal Trail which veers left, more inland).
The Pirates Cove Trail twists around hidden corners, highlighted by stunning cliff crests and charming wooden structures. The two miles in one direction can feel longer than that as you make another turn and think that Pirates Cove is just beyond the next ridge, only to find that, after déjà vu of that feeling several times, there is an inland turn that requires climbing down into a valley before you can turn back out toward the ocean.
Hopefully the sign is in place to see where you climb down to the charming little buccaneer beach that is Pirates Cove. If you miss the sharp turn down to the beach, you could end up walking all the way to Tennessee Valley. That makes for a great hike, too, but you’ll miss Pirates Cove.
Use caution with the rocky climb down to the beach and back up. Sunny days with blue skies are great for sparkling waves, but overcast, gray days offer their own moody atmosphere.
(Muir Beach to Pirates Cove Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Hidden Treasure” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Start from Muir Beach parking lot, Highway 1, Mill Valley, CA, near connection to Muir Woods Road
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Muir Beach information:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/muirbeach.htm
Maps with trails:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/MUBE-sb_web_17e.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance: About 0.5 miles on the Coastal Trail heading southeast from Muir Beach, about another 1.5 miles on Pirates Cove Trail, hugging the coast.
Considerations: Some steep trails segments, and a steep rocky climb from the trail to the beach at Pirates Cove. Watch for the trail sign leaving Coastal Trail to Pirates Cove Trail, and also for the steep turn down to Pirates Cove, otherwise you could go all the way to Tennessee Valley.
Restrooms are available at the Muir Beach parking lot
Bonus visit: From the Muir Beach parking lot, turn left on Highway 1, drive through a few curves, and watch for the small sign indicating Muir Beach Overlook for a stunning view.
The Muir Beach parking lot is pretty big, but arrive early on weekends for easier parking. Weekdays are ideal if you don’t like fighting crowds.
From the parking lot, cross the small bridge over the Redwood Creek wetland restoration (watch for deer and other wildlife), and turn right toward Muir Beach.
Facing the ocean and looking left, there is a steep stair/trail that rises up the hill to get you to the Coastal Trail. As you climb to the top of the ridge, take time to turn back and enjoy the view of Muir Beach with the hill full of houses rising behind the beach.
Walk along the Coastal Trail for about half a mile, ocean on your right, until you see the connection to the Pirates Cove Trail, which hugs the coastline (rather than the Coastal Trail which veers left, more inland).
The Pirates Cove Trail twists around hidden corners, highlighted by stunning cliff crests and charming wooden structures. The two miles in one direction can feel longer than that as you make another turn and think that Pirates Cove is just beyond the next ridge, only to find that, after déjà vu of that feeling several times, there is an inland turn that requires climbing down into a valley before you can turn back out toward the ocean.
Hopefully the sign is in place to see where you climb down to the charming little buccaneer beach that is Pirates Cove. If you miss the sharp turn down to the beach, you could end up walking all the way to Tennessee Valley. That makes for a great hike, too, but you’ll miss Pirates Cove.
Use caution with the rocky climb down to the beach and back up. Sunny days with blue skies are great for sparkling waves, but overcast, gray days offer their own moody atmosphere.
(Muir Beach to Pirates Cove Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Hidden Treasure” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
