Muir Woods
Muir Woods is one of the best-known National Parks in Northern California. Due to its importance, it was declared a National Monument in the year 1908.
Located in Marin County less than 10 miles (16 kilometres) from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods is a 295-hectare forest, full of giant sequoias covered by fantastic green scenery.
Muir Woods offers visitors the opportunity to wander forest paths and trails looking at the giant sequoias which are on average between 800 and 900 years old.
There are almost 4 miles (6 kilometres) of trails with different routes depending on the time you want to spend there. The most popular paths are the main trail, the Dipsea Trail, and the Ocean View Route.
For each of the routes you just need to follow the marked routes on the map which is given to you at the entrance.
If you're thinking of visiting Muir Woods, it's important to know that there is no public transport there, so you would need to rent a car or book a guided tour.
Giants in the Forest
The giant sequoias are amazing trees that can reach 330-500 feet in height (100-150 metres) with a trunk reaching a diameter between 16 and 23 feet (5 and 7 metres). The sequoias stand out not only for their size but also for their longevity, as they can live for up to 4000 years.
Something to Take Home
At the entrance to the park, there is a gift shop where you can buy maps, books and souvenirs, although the star exhibits are the small sequoias that are sold as souvenirs.
Nearby places
Sausalito (8.5 km) Golden Gate Bridge (11.1 km) Legion of Honor (12.6 km) Golden Gate Park (14.8 km) Alcatraz (14.9 km)