Muir Woods National Monument

Gateway to the Redwoods

Clustered at the base of Mount Tamalpais, North of San Francisco, is a group of Coastal Redwoods known as the Muir Woods National Monument. Although close to the city of Mill Valley, it is a world apart. This forest makes up for its small area by reaching skyward to unbelievable heights.  Some trees boast incredible altitudes, the tallest of which is 280 feet tall. Most are 500 to 800 years old and the oldest is 1,200 years old.

Redwood Canopy

Getting to Muir Woods is as easy as crossing the Golden Gate from the South, or travelling down Highway 101 through Marin County from the North.  Parking near the entrance is limited but spillover spots along the road may be found. Admission costs $7.00 and once in, the first portion is wheelchair accessible. Boardwalks, and paved paths encourage a pleasant stroll.

The forest is magnificent with awe-inspiring canopies the way a cathedral vault is majestic, allowing ephemeral glimpses of half-perceived secrets.

Burly Growth Face

Each tree is a monument to sheer size.  Some trees have massive knobby wood growths near the top, while others feature face-like burls on their trunks. 

Silent Scream

There are surprised looking faces seemingly frozen in silent scream. 

Native American Shaman

The spirit of a Native American shaman appears to possess one burl with a stoic visage. 

Redwood Knob

Still another burl may be a more abstract redwood knob glinting in the sun.

Redwood Grove

Splendid trees are found imperceptibly sipping from Redwood Creek, which winds down the slope collecting into small pools and spreading out into tiny arteries. A palpable life force extends from the stream to the trees, out their needles, and into the air; unmistakably flowing even on dryer days.

Hollowed Redwoods

Redwoods group into natural groves, sometimes bunching together and bolstering each other on the long climb to the sun.  Their trunks form palisades for temporary shelters. Also, wild fires carve out massive redwood trunks, providing more substantial fauna protection.

50 Shades of Green

Dappled sunlight filters it's way from above, highlighting over fifty shades of green: from verdant mosses to reddish olive to leafy emeralds.

Mystic Log

Dead stumps give new life to moss and lichen which put on a mystic air in the shimmering light.

Fairy Forest

Dancing sun rays transform trees and ferns into a fairy forest.

Sylvan Bridge

Hiking further, taking the Ben Johnson trail over a sylvan bridge away from the visitor center and through the redwoods leads up to the Pantol ranger station high on Mount Tam. With the forest below and the rest of the mountain above comes the realization that parking at the station and hiking down could be an alternative option.

Gnarly Roots

Up, or down, the trail is not easy, but it is manageable - the gnarliest of roots are off to the side - and the exertion is full of nature's rewards.

Emerald Forest

Taking the Redwood Creek trail in the opposite direction away from the visitor center leads out of the emerald forest, through meadows and gentle foothills down to Muir Beach where the creek empties itself in the sand and joins the Pacific Ocean.

Muir Beach