Muir Woods National Monument
My family went hiking every other weekend since I was little. The quietness and tranquility of forests provide great bonding time for us. Even though I do not go hiking with my parents as much as I used to, I still try to find time out of my busy schedule to go hike at least once every two months. One of my favorite national parks is Muir Woods, a 30 minute drive from San Francisco. Muir Woods provides a quick and weekend getaway from the busy city. I hope you could enjoy Muir Woods as much as I do.
In 1905, seeking to save the canyon from a dam and reservoir project, the wealthy Kent family donated 295 acres to the American people. The Kents insisted that the grove be named for their friend John Muir, champion of the nation’s environmental movement. Agreeing, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed it as national monument.
The redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument are a national treasure. The foliage growing in the big trees’ understory- bays, tan oak, thimbleberry, sword ferns, and green year-round. It is a quiet sanctuary and the only drawback is its popularity. To avoid the crowd and parking problem, early arrivals are recommended.
The is a short and easy excursion for anyone, a wide, flat wood-plank trail lined by old growth redwoods. The trail begins its interpretive portion section from the second bridge on the Main Loop. As the trail continues through giant coastal redwoods, take note of the surrounding flora. Primitive plants line the trail, creating a lush green forest floor and include horsetail, ferns, moss and lichens. , which follows the trail and flows through Muir Woods, provides a perennial water source for plants and animals alike. The creek is also a protected habitat for spawning Coho and Steelhead Salmon.
At .45 miles you’ll reach the . The Hillside Trail runs parallel to the Main Loop Trail but at a slightly higher elevation, providing an ‘aerial’ view of Muir Woods. Should you choose this spur, the Hillside Trail eventually returns you to Bridge #4 at the top of the Main Loop Trail.
Continue along the Main Loop Trail and at .6 miles, you reach , a ‘quiet area’ where visitors are asked to remain silent. The coastal redwoods in Cathedral Grove are some of the biggest in Muir Woods and the trail remains easy through this section for the next .5 miles.
At the end of Cathedral Grove, you can either turn back and complete the loop via the Main Loop Trail, or you can cross bridge #4 and take the Hillside Trail (mentioned above) back to the main trail. Please note that the Hillside trail cannot accommodate wheelchairs.
By now I bet you are ready to pack up and head to Muir Woods, right? Now I would like to invite you to visit my website at http://www.sftravelertips.com to learn more free tips about other fun actives and places to visit in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From Yvonne Lee- The San Francisco Traveler Tips Guru
Since San Francisco is one of the major tourist destinations, lots of my friends came and visited me after I moved to California. After making countless San Francisco trip plans for my friends, I realized that I have the passion for showing people what San Francisco is all about, and I would love to share my experience with everyone.
