Muir Woods National Monument is the first significant place to be created solely as a consequence of a private land grant. This was done in order to protect redwoods, some of which are over 150 years old, from logging. Hike through the towering redwoods to understand why John Muir was such a staunch supporter of the preservation of America’s most sacred places.
In the national park, there are limitless opportunities to learn and explore, from hiking to stargazing to uncovering ancient cultures. Also, the air was fresh and clean thanks to the enormous redwood trees and rich, green vegetation. I would recommend arriving early in the morning to escape the throng for the soothing and mystical sounds of nature. Moreover, the enormous redwoods towered over us, magnificent and majestic.
The Muir Woods National Monument is an old-growth coastal redwood forest, just in case you have this question in mind – Is Muir Woods the same as the redwood forest? The Bohemian and Cathedral groves contain the biggest trees – one 252 feet tall and one 14 feet wide.
How to get to Muir Woods
Muir Woods is a few miles to the north of San Fransisco, just after crossing the famous golden gate bridge. You can reach this place early morning if you have plans to visit Napa Valley, famous for some of America’s vineyards.
I would recommend you to travel to this location using your own private vehicle or with a tour operator. Technically speaking, you can make use of cab services like Uber or Lyft as it is about 16 miles from Golden Gate, but returning from this place will be hard. There is no Wifi or mobile signal, so booking a cab won’t be easy. Note that there is an entry fee of $ 15 for 16 years old and above.
You can’t drive through Muir Woods, renting a car isn’t a good idea. Because there are a limited amount of parking places at the entrance, you must book and pay for a spot ahead of time.
Weather and Camping
Muir Woods, like the rest of the Pacific Coast, is known for its pleasant weather. Temperatures in the forest vary from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius most of the year, making it the ideal weekend getaway. Although camping is not permitted within the park, there are numerous choices in the surrounding region. Hikers seeking seclusion in a redwood forest will find this place to be an ideal refuge.
How long does it take to walk through Muir Woods?
The enormous old-growth redwood trees are well-known. Trails go to Cathedral Grove and Bohemian Grove, as well as along Redwood Creek. The Ben Johnson and Dipsea paths in Mount Tamalpais State Park climb a slope for views of the treetops, the Pacific Ocean, and Mount Tamalpais. There are 6 kilometers of trails in this National Monument. There are 30-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute loops available, as well as longer treks on trails that stretch into Mount Tamalpais State Park. View a map of Muir Woods and the surrounding area. All of these hikes have vistas of ancient redwoods, the world’s tallest living objects.
Also read: Canyon Trail – River Place Nature Trail, Austin, TX
So, Is Muir Woods worth visiting? A trip to Muir Woods is definitely worth your time, especially if you won’t be able to see redwood trees otherwise. The site is rather simple to navigate. Also, check out the video from Muirwood redwood forest to get an idea of how it feels to be there. In addition, support my work by subscribing to my YouTube channel.
