A Guide to Muir Woods NationalMonument

AMANDA 

STARBUCK 

One of the most historic and well known historicforests in the continental U.S, Muir Woods NationalMonument is located off the Pacific coast, justoutside of San Francisco in Marin county, California.Protecting 554 acres of forest, John Muir Woods is abreathtaking nature preserve consisting of extensivebiodiversity with its rich ecosystem throughout theforest. In particular, the Muir Woods NationalMonument is known for its redwood forests, one ofa few remaining in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Muir Woods National Monument is an old-growth coastal redwood muir woods sunlightforest.Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the forestis regularly shrouded in a coastal marine layer fog,contributing to a wet environment that encouragesvigorous plant growth. The fog is also vital for thegrowth of the redwoods as they use moisture fromthe fog during drought seasons, in particular the drysummer.

With trees aging anywhere from four-hundredto eight-hundred years old, redwoods aregenerally incredibly tall, with their height soaringto around two-hundred fifty feet. Although it isprohibited to camp within the nationalmonument, visitors are allowed to hike or bikethe trails to fully experience the endless wonderof the redwood forest.

If you happen to be interested in hiking to the MuirWood National Monument as your final destination, besure to catch the Marin Stagecoach to the MountainHome Inn, which is close in proximity to the forest.

From the Mountain Home Inn it’s a two-mile or around aone hour hike to Muir Woods on the Panoramic andCanopy View trails. On this particular path, visitors havethe opportunity to see the gorgeous vistas of the oceanalongside the beautiful redwood trees that complementnature’s serenity.

While parking can be bothersome for many,one great tip to keep in mind when planningyour visit is to take the shuttle to the vastnature preserve. Even though the shuttle isquite convenient, please keep in mind that theMuir Woods Shuttle is only operational thespring and summer.

To avoid crowds, be sure to plan your visit to thepark either during the late winter or early spring.While it is ideal to plan your trip around the summer,also bear in mind that it is also equally important toavoid visiting the national monument during holidayweekends. During the springtime, visiting the parkafter a light drizzle or a wet day is the perfectopportunity to shoot some stunning nature shots tocapture the vibrant pale green leaves in and aroundthe forest.

While the Muir Wood National Monument is by farthe most famous of all redwood national parks, it isalso a great idea to visit other nature reserves in thearea if time permits. Visit the second-growthredwoods of Phleger Estate and enjoy one of themost peaceful sites in the Golden Gate NationalParks. To explore other redwood destinations in theBay Area, be sure to visit the Butano State Park andRedwood Regional Park.

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