On a beautiful Saturday or Sunday when the traffic is backed up at the Stinson Beach exit at Highway 101, people assume that everyone is headed for the beach. Not necessarily so. At the foot of Mt. Tam State Park rests Muir Woods, the national monument consisting of 559 acres of old-growth redwood forest. Only 12 miles from San Francisco and close to the ocean, it is often shrouded in fog.

Muir Woods is awe inspiring not just for the giant redwoods but also the peace and quiet (go early or at off hours and have the valley to yourself). Salmon spawn in the creek, the birds are plentiful and the plant life green and lush. It is also inspirational to read the history of how its conservation came to be by the dedication of William Kent.

The “monument” is only open during the day; there is no camping. This is a magnificent day trip to hike on both paved and unpaved trails that wind around these magnificent trees. On busy weekends (aka full parking lots), parking is provided at the Highway 101 exit and shuttle buses will take you to the entrance.

If you are a local and haven’t seen this breathtaking forest of redwoods, don’t wait for out-of-town guests as an excuse to go. And if you are visiting the Bay Area, do yourself a favor and take this little detour to Muir Woods. You will never forget it.

If you’re traveling north and would like to experience the splendor of the redwoods in Sonoma County, check out the Armstong Woods post on our GuideMeHome2Sonoma blog.

Posted by:Judy LeMarr