One of the Bay Area’s most beloved forests, Muir Woods National Monument’s sense of arrival was confusing and the health of the old growth trees was suffering from abundant foot traffic.

JNRA designed a new arrival sequence—including siting a visitor center with locally indigenous plantings to frame views into the redwood forest, replacing a parking lot with an informal entry plaza and reconfigured parking—and addressed tree health with a series of wholly accessible elevated boardwalks and restored understory planting. Interpretive displays are integrated into the elevated boardwalks and outdoor classrooms and a generous accessible wood deck/gathering area created at the combined ranger station and concessionaire building. Improved parking lots, trails with links to the surrounding park lands, and shuttle facilities have been created throughout the narrow valley helping to disperse visitors and enhance the visitor experience. The new park accommodations serve around 1 million visitors each year while protecting, enhancing, and expanding the primeval redwood habitat.