“This is the best tree-lover’s monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.” – John Muir

Located 12 miles (19 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods National Monument is nestled in the Coast Range, a mountain range that runs down the length of California. The mild climate along the coastal mountains provides an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, and the redwoods are the most famous, dominating the entire ocean coast. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Monument protects 240 hectares of old growth coastal redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirens). This is one of the world’s last remaining ancient redwood forests, which is why it was designated a national monument in 1908, even before the National Park Service existed. The Kent family, who purchased the land in 1905 with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the nearby mountains, insisted on naming the park after naturalist John Muir, whose environmental campaigns helped establish the National Park system in the United States.

“After a whole day in the woods, we are already immortal.” – John of the Mountains

The morning we planned to visit Muir Woods didn’t look promising. The thick fog and the dark clouds looming almost everywhere weren’t my favourites. The disappointment was much greater than the expectation, and I finally understood why San Francisco is often called The Fog City. But there was nothing we could do about it, as we still had to make it to the park in time for our slot reservation.

“So we will say our prayers here and sleep with our Mother Earth, and the God of the mountains will never fail us.” –The Mountains of California, 1894

I’m still not quite sure if it was our little prayer, the Gods of the mountains or the Gods of these woods, but as soon as we arrived in the park, the heavy fog seemed to dissipate and my confidence definitely returned.

The incredible diversity of flora and fauna at Muir Woods can be daunting at times, and intimidating at others. Muir Woods is home to over 50 species of birds, and occasionally we could hear the sparrows’ songs accompanying us. But the redwoods themselves, which dominate the trails, offered us a show we have never seen before. We felt ourselves so small and insignificant in front of these towering giants. I suddenly felt so happy and grateful; sometimes you don’t really need a reason, do you? Life itself is a miracle!

“But in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – Steep Trails

Interesting facts:

*The proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes the forest being shrouded in a fog belt most of the time, which greatly contributes to the growth of the redwoods. They rely on fog for up to 50% of their water and have evolved to live in the fog belt climate, including rainy winters, foggy summers, and moderate temperatures year-round;

*Several panels along the main path of the park explain how the redwoods grow. If you see a “family circle”, with a group of trees circling around an old stump, it means they grew from the roots of the “mother”. If you see a lone tree, it means the tree grew from a seed. Redwood seeds are small – 100,000 to the pound. The small cones of a redwood are usually less than an inch long and they mature within a year.

*The tallest coast redwood at Muir Woods is about 258 feet, about the height of a six-foot person stacked head to toe 45 times. Further north, these trees can reach heights up to 379 feet (or 115 metres), which makes them the tallest of all living things on Earth. The average age of the coast redwoods at Muir Woods is between 600 to 800 years, with the oldest one being at least 1,200 years old. That’s still young for a redwood as they can live up to 2,200 years.

* John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) was known by many nicknames: “John of the Mountains”, “Wilderness Prophet “, “Citizen of the Universe”, “Father of the National Parks”. He was a Scottish-born American, naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. According to his Biography, he created a horse feeder, a table saw, a wooden thermometer and a twist on an alarm clock: a device that pushed him out of bed early in the morning. 

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – Letter to his sister, Sarah Muir Galloway, September 3, 1873

Tip(s) of the day:

* The entrance fee is US15 per person and you will need a reserved/paid parking ticket in advance if you choose to come by car. Shuttles are available if you choose not to drive. You can reserve your parking or ride here;

*Pets, bicycles, smoking, horseback riding and camping are not permitted within the park. Picnics are not permitted in the forest;

*There are several trails in the park, and you can loop them around if you choose to, check the trail map before you go in the woods. All trails start from the Visitor centre, unless you know the area and prefer to start a trail outside of the Natural Monument;

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike” – John Muir, 1912

~ visited in April 2025