Where Muir Beach is
The houses sit on the northwest side of the beach. The beach itself is about 1,000 feet long and 200 feet wide, with coarse sand and several large boulders. Redwood Creek reaches the ocean here. State Route 1 leads 6 miles northeast to Highway 101.
The name
Muir Beach is not named directly for the conservationist John Muir. It was named after Muir Woods National Monument, to borrow some of the monument's popularity. The housing subdivision used to be called Bello Beach, and the beach was once Big Lagoon, after a freshwater lagoon that stood where the parking lot is now. Dairy farming in the twentieth century damaged the creek and the lagoon.
Visiting the beach
There is a parking lot at the beach, and a footbridge leads from it to the sand.
Schools
Most of Muir Beach is in the Mill Valley School District, and a portion is in the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District. Students generally attend Tamalpais Valley Elementary School, Mill Valley Middle School and Tamalpais High School.
Government and services
Muir Beach is unincorporated, so there is no city hall. The County of Marin provides general government services, including law enforcement, land use planning, the library, public health and code enforcement. County offices are at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, and departments are listed on the County of Marin website. The Muir Beach Community Services District, a special district, provides local services including fire protection, water, road maintenance and recreation. For emergencies call 911. Contacts for every town are on the Marin County government and services page.
Local businesses near Muir Beach
The Marin County business directory sorts local businesses by trade. Muir Beach listings will appear there as each category is researched and checked.