Most visitors never leave the boardwalk — which is exactly why the Hillside Trail is worth it. It climbs gently along the canyon’s western wall and lets you look across at the tops of the redwoods you just walked beneath, with a fraction of the people.
Pair it with the Main Trail for an easy loop: walk up the paved floor to Bridge 3 or 4, cross, and come back down the Hillside. It’s the single best way to feel the scale of the forest without a big hike.
The Hillside Trail is dirt and does climb, so it’s not accessible or stroller-friendly — but it’s not strenuous, and the perspective from partway up the slope is what people remember.
The famous Dipsea Trail, which crosses through here, is the route of the oldest trail race in America (run since 1905) — a brutal, beloved 7.4-mile scramble from Mill Valley over the shoulder of Mount Tam to Stinson Beach.
Pro tip: Want more? From here the Ben Johnson and Dipsea trails climb out of the redwoods toward Mount Tamalpais and Muir Beach — serious hikes with ocean views for those with time and legs.
- • The Hillside Trail is unpaved and climbs — wear real shoes and skip it with a stroller.
- • Longer routes (Ben Johnson, Dipsea, Fern Creek) leave from the upper canyon toward Mt. Tamalpais.
- • Check trail status at the visitor center; some connectors close after storms.
- What is the best hike at Muir Woods to avoid crowds?
- Loop the paved Main Trail with the Hillside Trail — climb back down (or up) the dirt Hillside for a ~1.5-mile loop that most boardwalk visitors skip. For a real hike, the Ben Johnson and Dipsea trails climb toward Mount Tamalpais with ocean views.
