Nestled along Redwood Canyon on the southeastern side of Mt. Tamalpais, where Bootjack Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Redwood Creek, and Spike Buck Creek converge, lies the picturesque and incomparably majestic Muir Woods National Monument. Saved by the Kent family and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 from the logging industry, which already claimed most of the 2 million acres of coastal redwoods originally in California by the early 20th century, this gorgeous old-growth forest remains one of my favorite places to hike in the Bay Area.
The imposingly gargantuan trees, reaching as high as 258 ft tall, make you feel queerly, yet exultantly insignificant. Filled primarily with 500- to 800-year-old Sequoia sempervirens, a.k.a. California Redwoods, this park transports you to another world: the type of forest being identical to that of the moon of Endor, of Star Wars fame.
Here are my top reasons to visit:
1) The park is GORGE!
I don’t have too much to say here. It is simply something you must experience for yourself. That said, here are some photos I took during my recent visits. If they don’t convince you, then I suggest you go read one of my other blog posts. 🙂
2) Easy to reserve and visit
The park currently costs $15 per adult; children (under 15) enter for free. If you plan to visit frequently, like me, the best option is to pay for an annual pass ($45/per year), as you can also bring up to 3 guests with you for free each time you visit. If you go with a full group, the annual pass pays for itself in a single check-in! In addition, you are allowed to place two names on the pass to give you extra flexibility.
Currently, you also need reservations and a mask to attend, to be worn whenever you cannot maintain social distancing. Parking is $8.50 and has specific, reserved arrival times, but once there, you can stay as long as you want.
If you don’t drive, there are even several options for shuttles, which pick up in 3 locations in Mill Valley and Sausalito.
3) Great hikes
There are a number of trailheads that whisk you into a wide array of seemingly disparate ecosystems, from beach, to coastal, to mountainous, to freshwater, to marine, to grassland, and to temperate forest, Muir Woods and the surrounding regions are rich and exciting.
4) Blessedly few insects
I am a mosquito magnet. If there were a crowd of 20 with me in the center and one mosquito in the mix, you’d end up with 19 untouched people and me with 12 bites; it’s simply a fact. Thankfully, the tannin in the trees serves to repel insects, and the shade of the canopy ensures there are few flowers and fruits growing to attract them.
5) Can’t see these giants elsewhere
If you’ve never seen the world’s tallest living organisms, the coastal redwoods, then this is your chance. Once found in moist, temperate climates around the world, these magnificent trees now only grow on a narrow strip of the Pacific Coast, stretching from California to Washington.
6) The facilities are well-maintained
There are two sets of toilets, a gift shop, and a cafe in the park. Numerous water bottle fill stations dot the grounds. And, if you plan your hike well, you can even make a pit-stop at the Pantoll Campground, just off Panoramic Highway, up the hill in nearby Mt. Tamalpais State Park, for picnic tables, flushing toilets, and potable water halfway through your visit.
My suggestions on how to visit:
- Use AllTrails to plan your trip. I use it for all my hikes, and it is great for discovering new spots.
- Get a parking reservation for $8.50/car at www.gomuirwoods.com
- Download both your hiking maps and parking reservation before you get there. There is no cell service at the park, and you will not be able to pull them up otherwise. There is no need to print, as the parking attendants can scan the pass directly from your phone screen.
- Buy a $45 annual pass and bring 3 friends for free (it’s cheaper and then you can return as many times as you want for a year).
- Bring a water bottle. You can fill up at one of their many water stations. The water is normally cold and remarkably fresh.
- Carry a mask, at least until the pandemic is completely over. The park requires them to enter the park and anytime you cannot safely distance yourself from people outside your household.
- Don’t forget your camera.
- I like to bring a day pack with snacks and equipment, but if you get hungry, there is a decent cafe at base camp.
- Plan for multiple temperatures. The base of Muir Woods can get cold under the canopy, but add a little hiking and sun at higher parts of the park, and it can get quite warm.
- Have fun.
