You soon might need a reservation to visit Muir Woods National Monument in California/Kurt Repanshek

Whether you drive to Muir Woods National Monument in California, or take the shuttle, you soon might need a reservation to visit the site that honors John Muir.

Through November 21 park officials are taking public comment on a proposal to require reservations for visits. The motivation behind the plan is a lack of suitable parking at the monument near Mill Valley. The proposed reservation system was based on goals outlined in park’s General Management Plan, the Redwood Creek Watershed Vision for the Future, input from transportation experts, and feedback from stakeholders and members of the public gathered over the last 20 months.

Approval of the plan will enable the National Park Service to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Marin that outlines a series of collaborative steps to address congestion and parking for Muir Woods National Monument.

The proposed reservation system would enable the park to proactively manage parking and visitor flow to protect the health of the Redwood Creek Watershed, and to effectively address overcrowding, traffic congestion, and parking issues.

"This EA represents the culmination of in-depth study and many years of thoughtful discussion with our community to implement a key piece of the Redwood Creek Watershed Vision for the Future,” said Aaron Roth, deputy superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. “It will enable a safe and inspirational experience in this special place, while reducing traffic and congestion impacts for area residents.”

The reservation system would manage demand for parking and also reduce peak-period visitation. Reservations for private vehicle parking and the Muir Woods Shuttle would both be made through a reservation system. Commercial vehicles would be required to obtain a reservation for one of the commercial carrier parking spaces using a separately managed reservation system.

Outside the boundaries of Muir Woods National Monument, parking along the road would be phased out over a period of seven years, starting this year. This would be accomplished by parking restrictions, installation of physical barriers (post and post-and-cable fencing), and enhanced law enforcement.

The EA is available for review and comment on the park’s planning website, or at the following public libraries; in Marin at the Corte Madera, Marin City, Mill Valley, and Sausalito Public Library Branches as well as in the Marin Civic Center Library and at the Muir Woods National Monument Visitor Center and in San Francisco at the Main, Marina, and Presidio Public Library branches), until November 21.