Muiraculous Beauty

Have a bonfire at Muir Beach in Marin

03.09.2022

Ready to make your non-California friends jealous? Have a bonfire at Muir Beach while watching the sunset. This is Northern California living at its most braggadocious.

Bring your own firewood and picnic provisions (yep, you can roast some marshmallows and hot dogs if you’re so inclined) and try to arrive in time to get one of the handful of firepits on the beach. Tip: Bonfires cannot be started before 9am, and you must use a designated fire-ring which are first-come, first-served. According to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, there are six fire rings available May through November, and three fire rings are available December through April. Be sure to follow bonfire rules and regulations. Once you get set up, all that’s left to do is kick back, relax, and enjoy the view … beach goers, surfers, and seals bop about and linger as the sun sinks pink over the surrounding headlands.

The beach is dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and bongo-drum-friendly, so take it all in and enjoy. Just be sure to put out the fire completely before leaving it and be conscientious in general. In whale migration seasons you might even get lucky and spy a … wait, is that a blow in the distance?

BONUS HIKES: There’s plenty of trails around Muir Beach for exploring. We like this beach-hopping adventure hike.

NOTE: Muir Beach closes one hour after sunset, so keep that in mind! Dog-friendly!

IMPORTANT: Be sure to follow the rules and regulations on bonfires at Muir Beach, including using only designate fire rings and ensuring that fires are completely extinguished before leaving. You have until one hour after sunset to put out the fire completely and leave the beach. More information.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

    View

  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

    View
  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

    View
  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

    View

  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

    View