Muir Woods, California

If you find yourself in the San Francisco Area then Muir Woods National Monument needs to make your "to see list".

Just 11 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge I think it's a great place to start 
or end 
your day in San Francisco.

The height!

it's the height with the redwoods.

When you stand at the base of one of these trees it's as if they reach up and touch heaven and somehow you get a little taste, a fresh breath of heaven here on earth.

As if God loved designing and growing these trees so much He allowed us to see a small glimmer of His Majestic Greatness in them!

Photos do the Muir Woods no justice, so you see, you must visit.

The main area of the Woods has a nice, flat boardwalk that circles through this beautiful grove.

There are 3 options for seeing the main grove 

a 1/2 mile (30 minute), 1 mile (1 hour) and 2 mile (1.5 hour) accessible loop makes viewing these beauties easy.

Steve and I visited in 2012 right before heading to the airport for a red-eye back east.

I told him we would just take a "little side trail through some baby groves", 4 miles, nothing big. 

Except the elevation gain. While it's minimal it was more height than we thought!

By the time we realized we were crazy in the cutting it short until our flight, time area, we were too far in and I gotta say even with a small (1/2 mile) "detour" we were glad we took the time to explore beyond the grove floor.

grove of baby redwoods

So, if your headed to the San Francisco/Oakland area, I say take time to visit.

I also think it's a doable day trip from the Sacramento area, Muir Woods in just under 2 hours from Sacramento, I say you're crazy if you don't take the time to visit.

I think John Muir himself said it best when he said this about the Muir Woods National Monument, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forest of the world"

happy trails

~m

Getting there:

1 Muir Woods Road

Mill Valley, CA 94941

Highway 101 North or South

Stinson Beach/Highway 1/Mill Valley exit

Follow signs to Highway 1

Follow signs to Muir Woods

Cost $7pp

Hike: the Fern Creek Trail to Lost Trail and then take a right down the mountain to Ocean View Trail. 4 miles, easy/moderate

NO CELL PHONE SERVICE

you read that correct, there is no cell service in Muir Woods

Turn off your cell phone or put it on airplane mode to conserve battery.

Combine Muir Woods with a trip to Stinson Beach for some time of relaxing, link coming soon!