Posted on 19 September 2008
Tags: California, Muir Woods
| Muir Woods, California |
 Trail Name:
Ocean View-Fern Creek
Summary:
Hike through groves of coast redwood, the world’s tallest living thing, at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. |
| Trail Description |
| Although smaller in diameter than its close relation the giant sequoia, the redwood grows around 50 ft taller, and can reach heights in excess of 360 ft. The pristine redwoods found in the canyon of Muir Woods are up to 250 ft tall and some are over 1,000 years old. Other trees to be seen along the trail include Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple (with its beautiful yellow leaves in fall) and oak.
Follow the main trail from the visitor center, keeping Redwood Creek to your left. Pass the first bridge, and after less than 0.25 mile take the Ocean View Trail, which climbs away to the right. As you climb from the canyon floor away from the redwoods, you start to leave the crowds behind.
After about 1 mile, take the left turn-off from Ocean View onto the Lost Trail. A landslide in the 1930s covered this trail for 30 years, giving it its name. Enjoy this wonderful stretch of peaceful Douglas-fir forest as you make the short descent back down to the redwoods. The Lost Trail ends after 0.25 mile when it connects with Fern Creek Trail.
Turn left and follow Fern Creek through redwoods for just over 0.25 mile. You now re-join the main paved trail along Redwood Creek and, no doubt, the crowds. Turn left to follow the trail back to the visitor center, passing along the way Cathedral Grove and, on the other side of the creek, Bohemian Grove, accessed via bridge 2 or 3. These groves contain the biggest redwoods in Muir Woods. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Muir Woods National Monument, 17 miles north of San Francisco. Entrance fee charged for adults.
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: 2.5 miles / 4.0 km
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: Negligible
Duration: 1.5 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. |
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Posted on 18 September 2008
Tags: California, Muir Woods
| Muir Woods, California |
 Trail Name:
Bootjack-Ben Johnson
Summary:
Follow a creek through a canyon of old-growth redwoods, before climbing to a meadow and peaceful forests. |
| 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. |
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Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
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Popularity: 20% [?]
