John Muir National Historic Site

Things To Do Near John Muir National Historic Site

The John Muir National Historic Site is a fun place to learn about some local history while enjoying nature. Start at the visitor center to begin exploring John Muir’s life and legacy with a 20-minute film about his contributions to conservation. You can tour the Muir/Strentzel house on your own or take a guided cellphone tour. Be sure to check out the seasonal programs as well. Visiting the park in an RV means you can take your time to explore because you have a convenient place to stay while you are there.

Hiking Trails

• Mount Wanda Trailhead

  The Muir Farm and Mount Wanda hiking trail is a nice walk with lots of uphill stretches to give you a good workout. It goes in a loop with a gradual ascent. You will enjoy some fantastic views of Martinez at the top. There are signs to give you good information along the way and benches placed at the perfect spots to enjoy the views. 

  Location

  Parking lot just off Highway 4 across from the John Muir House

  Length

  2.9 miles

  Intensity

  Moderate

• Orchard Trail

  Orchard Trail connects with Toyon Trail and Lagoon Trail to make a loop. This area features a gorgeous array of wildflowers. This is a fun trail for walks or jogging, bird-watching, or mountain biking. There are beautiful forest views. If you go during the hotter months, be sure to wear a hat to be protected in non-shaded areas or go when it is cooler outside. Keep an eye out for wildlife since deer tend to frequent the area.

  Location

  1039-1033 Briones Road, Martinez, CA 94553

  Length

  6.5 miles

  Intensity

  Moderate

• Bay Area Ridge Trail

  The Bay Area Ridge Trail goes from John Muir to the Franklin Ridge Ranches and is a great trail to see a variety of wildlife. You will hike through oak and grasslands and up to excellent views of Mount Diablo and the Delta. It is a nice hike with well-maintained trails and a few cows along the way. This is a great little spot for an afternoon hike. 

  Location

  Parking lot at Arguello Gate entrance to the Presidio near Vallejo, California

  Length

  4.9 miles

  Intensity

  Moderate

Sightseeing

• Fischer Hanlon House

  Fischer Hanlon House was a Gold Rush hotel in the 1800s. After a fire, it was purchased by Joseph Fischer, who moved the building to where it is now. Then he added servant’s quarters, porches, and privies. Now the beautiful Victorian garden at the house is available for weddings and special occasions.

  Location

  115 W G Street, Benicia, CA 94510

• Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline

  The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is made up of 1,568 acres of bluffs and is a gateway to the river delta region. From the highest elevations, you can see the marshland of Benicia State Recreation Area. You can also see Mt. Tamalpais to the west and Mt. Diablo to the east. You can explore grasslands, ravines, meadows, and shorelines. This is a great area to spot a wide variety of birds and animals like foxes, deer, raccoons, and gophers. You may also see a cow or two.

  Location

  11 Carquinez Scenic Drive, Martinez CA 94553

• Waterbird Regional Preserve

  The Waterbird Regional Preserve is 198 acres of wetlands around the rich Al McNabney Marsh. This is a beautiful area to observe waterfowl and shorebirds in their own habitat, as well as small mammals. There are several trails in the uplands area. A spectacular time to go is in the fall and spring when the migrations bring in waterfowl that stop to rest and eat during their journey. 

  Location

  2701 Waterfront Road, Martinez CA 94553

Museums

• Martinez Museum

  The Martinez Museum was started in 1973 to save an 1890 cottage. It became a repository for documents, photographs, and artifacts that tell the history of the area. This building itself has quite a history, and from here, you will be directed on a walking tour to many other historical buildings in the area. From there, take a tour of the Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery, which has been around since 1830. 

  Location

  1005 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553

• Galindo Home Museum and Gardens

  When the Galindo Home was built back in 1856, it was one of the few Victorian ranch houses in the county. Between 1875 and 1880, the house was expanded from six rooms to ten. It was passed down through generations of the family until it became the property of the city of Concord. In 2010, it was transferred to the Concord Historical Society and became their museum. Now you can tour the exhibits and beautiful grounds. 

  Location

  Location: 1721 Amador Avenue, Concord, CA 94520

• Shadelands Ranch Museum

  The Shadelands Ranch was established in 1856 as one of the original and largest farms in the Ygnacio Valley. You can enjoy informative docent-led tours with guides dressed in period clothing telling you stories about the history of the local area. 

  Location

  2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Sun Valley Shopping Mall

  The Sun Valley Shopping Mall houses more than 160 shops and restaurants. The stores include Macy’s, Bath & Body Works, and Build-A-Bear Workshops, just to name a few. You can buy items for all members of the family, including luggage, jewelry, health, and electronics products. They also have a variety of eateries available. You can enjoy American food from Auntie Anne’s, Charley’s Philly Steaks, or Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream, among many more. 

  Location

  504 Center Drive, Martinez, CA 94553

• Bad Girls Antiques

  Bad Girls Antiques is a shop to explore that is not far from the monument. They have a variety of jewelry, buttons, old toys, and military items for sale. 

  Location

  810 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553

• Pho May Vietnamese Restaurant

  The Pho May Vietnamese Restaurant offers a flavorful menu of rice dishes, stir fry, smoothies, soups, and stews. They also have party trays so you can share a little bit of everything with friends. 

  Location

  4041 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553

• Sol y Luna Cocina Mexicana

  The Sol y Luna Cocina Mexicana features a tasty array of Mexican dishes, including tacos, enchiladas, seafood, burritos, and quesadillas. They feature Taco Tuesday and fantastic local flavors.

  Location

  1910 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

How To Get To John Muir National Historic Site

To get to the John Muir National Historic Site, head out of San Francisco on Interstate 80 East across the bay toward Emeryville, where it turns to Highway 580 and back to Interstate 80. Take Exit 23 and merge onto CA-4 East toward Stockton. Turn left onto Alhambra Drive to reach the site.

Address

4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553

Fee: Entry fee $0

The John Muir National Historic Site honors a wonderful naturalist who contributed a lot to the conservation movement on the West Coast. This park celebrates him in the way he would most approve, by offering scenic hiking trails with stunning views and a chance to spot a wide variety of wildlife. There is plenty to explore, and traveling by RV means you will have the flexibility to wander without worrying about check-out time.