| Muir Woods, California |
 Trail Name:Bootjack-Ben Johnson Summary: |
| Trail Description |
| Coast redwoods can be found along a 500-mile stretch of the Pacific coast up to southern Oregon. Most of the old-growth trees have been felled, but the redwoods of Muir Woods have never been cut. Redwood Creek, which originates higher up the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, provides much-needed water to the giant trees.
From the visitor center, follow the main trail for 0.75 mile along the right side of Redwood Creek. Just beyond bridge 3 is Cathedral Grove, containing some of the largest redwoods in Muir Woods. Continue on, leaving the paved trail at bridge 4 to follow the Bootjack Trail. Continue following Redwood Creek through the forest for around 1 mile, until the forest opens at Van Wyck Meadow. At the four-way trail junction, take the level TCC Trail (built by the Tamalpais Conservation Club during WW1) to the left. You will reach the next trail junction after another 0.75 mile or so – a ranger station is close by. Turn left, and a short distance later take the left fork onto the Stapelveldt Trail. Descend via switchbacks to reach the Ben Johnson Trail. The trail descends gradually towards the main Muir Woods trail for about 1 mile. At the junction close to Redwood Creek and bridge 4, take the right-hand Hillside Trail. This climbs slightly to follow the creek for 0.5 mile away from the paved trail, offering a different perspective of the giant trees on the floor of Redwood Canyon. Descend to join the main trail at bridge 2, pass through Bohemian Grove, and cross bridge 1 to return to the visitor center. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Muir Woods National Monument, 17 miles north of San Francisco. Entrance fee charged for adults.
Directions: Directions: From San Francisco, take US 101 north over the Golden Gate Bridge, then Hwy 1. Vehicles over 35 ft are not allowed on the steep access roads to Muir Woods. Trailhead: Muir Woods visitor center. Length: 5 miles / 8.0 km Trail Type: Loop Elevation Change: N/A Duration: 3 hours Trail Condition: Well marked. The first part of the trail along the floor of Redwood Canyon is paved and busy. Features: Redwoods and other flora. Climate: Cool year round, warmest in early fall (70 F). Fog in summer. Accommodation: Nearest lodging in Mill Valley, Corte Madera and Sausalito. Camping also nearby, although not allowed in Muir Woods. Trail Notes: Muir Woods National Monument is open 8am-sunset. This and the adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park get very busy due to their proximity to San Francisco – arrive early and avoid weekends. |
Popularity: 20% [?]
November 6th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
This map is way wrong for this hike
November 6th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your message. i just fixed the map.