Muir Woods National Monument

There is nothing better than walking amongst the ancient giant Coastal Redwood trees of California. There is something about these giants, 1,000 years old and more than 250 ft high, that puts life in perspective. Just 12 miles north of San Francisco, you’ll find the 240 acre Muir Woods National Monument, the last ancient old-growth forest of Coastal Redwood trees in the San Francisco area.

Famed naturalist and philosopher John Muir called this area “the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.”
There are a range of hikes in the area. The easy 1 mile Main Trail Loop takes you from the Muir Woods Visitors Centre to Cathedral Grove. A wide, paved path follows the stream up and back. For the more adventurous looking for a half day hike, the Bootjack Trail to Ben Johnson Trail Loop is 6 miles is rated moderate to hard, and should take around 5 hours.