Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Named after the conservationist, John Muir, this is a tree lover’s paradise. Only 20 minutes from downtown San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a must-see attraction. The park is open from 8:00am till dusk and the entrance fee is only $3 for adults and children 15 years and younger are free.
This park is filled with coastal Red Woods, some of the tallest trees in the world among a number of other plant life.

At the main gate you can purchase tickets and a map of the park. You can spend as little as one hour to all day, depending on how much walking or hiking you plan that day. The main trail, Cathedral Grove, is about a mile long and a very easy walk. This area has some of the tallest Red Woods in California towering over 250 feet and some were wide as 14 feet. We just happened to get there when a free tour was given by a volunteer. It lasted about one hour and it was a leisurely walk along a path and streams pointing out all the plant and tree life and even had a glimpse of salmon. Off of the main trail, the guide suggested taking The Ocean View Trail or the Panoramic Trail and you have magnificent vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding canyon. Because of a recent storm, we were unable to take the trail because it was closed.

Next we were headed back to highway one to visit Muir Beach. It is only a 10-minute drive from the main gate. This coastal area is what I expected the coastline would look like, very jagged rocks with the Pacific Ocean crashing in them. If you have time, you might want to head up to the next beach town, Stinson Beach but unfortunately for us, highway one was closed and we had to take the long route and did not have enough time. Our day is coming to an end as we head back to San Francisco as the sun sets over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tips: Weather can change rapidly so dress according, no camping at Muir Woods, there is a snack bar. I would not spend the money to take a tour. This place is very easy to get to and the cost of the entrance fee is only $3.

Since I’d visited San Francisco once before, I was excited to leave the city for awhile and drive north to Muir Woods. After the excursion, I think it’s an essential part of even a first-timer’s trip to San Francisco.

I get excited just thinking about the drive. As my friend Kate begrudgingly drove across the Golden Gate Bridge, the three of us passengers craned our necks in every conceivable way to take in the views. There is no way to describe the beauty of the scenes, and these panoramas continued for every one of the 12 miles up to Muir Woods. The cityscape, the island of Alcatraz, the bay, the mountains, the valleys… the beauty is overwhelming.

The drive took about 45 minutes because of the twists on the two-lane roads. Anything that prolonged the views was fine with me.

I’d never seen redwoods before. I’d sung about them (“From the redwood forests…”) and certainly read about them, but seeing them in person was still humbling. We paid the small entrance fee and walked around for a couple of hours absorbing the sheer size and beauty of these trees. The woods feel nicely isolated, and we could hear nature sounds through the crowds.

We didn’t expand on our trip with a more challenging hike through the forest, although you can. I would have liked to spend more time in the area, but we had to bring a friend straight to the airport. Still, every minute and mile to Muir Woods was well worth it.

Just a few short miles from the crowded city streets, you'll find one of the most peaceful and rejuvenating places I've ever visited. Muir Woods is so quiet and so natural, you'll be afraid to talk.

The roads leading to Muir Woods wind you through some fantastic scenery, over the Golden Gate Bridge and along valleys. The park is a mere $3 to get into, making it the best value in the San Francisco area. There is one small drawback to the park, in that parking can be difficult to find and quite a hike from the entrance. We had to park almost half a mile away from the entrance.

Even our parking woes could not deter from the wonderful majesty of the woods. Immediately upon entering the park, you are surrounded by 1000-year-old redwoods, reaching hundreds of feet tall. There is no comparison, and words cannot simply describe how neat this experience is.

There is some fire damage to some of the trees along the main trail, which shows the resiliency of these redwoods. They burn down and grow back, and even split and grow around other trees to adapt to their conditions.

The main trail tends to be crowded with visitors, so head along some of the longer trails, and at times, you'll find yourself alone. We headed along the Dipsea and Steep Ravine trails, but there are 5 or 6 other paths as well. The smaller trails are not good for children or for people with disabilities, since they narrow and have branches and rocks strewn along them.

You can easily spend all day in Muir Woods, and if you have the time, I would highly recommend at least 3 hours. Visit the Muir Woods website for directions, park hours, and other essential details.

We spent 1 day in San Francisco while driving up the Northern Coast. We took the drive the the infamous Stinson Beach, and it was well worth it! The beach is a classic with surfers and Great White Shark enthusiasts alike. Personally, I would never go swimming there, and the several signs warn against it. If the sharks don't get you, the rip tide will! I don't think anyone really surfs here anymore, but I'm not positive. It was a big spot in the 1950s. Anyhow, the drive is terrible if you have a fear of heights, but it provides a gorgeous view of the coast! There are hardly any guard rails, and the extremely windy road is perched right atop giant jutting cliffs!

After Stinson Beach, we continued our drive into Muir Woods. This National Park is famous for it's spectacular Redwood Trees. These trees are some of the tallest in the world, and grow up to 260 feet in the park. There are several paths for you to explore these great trees on, which I definitely recommend. Also, if you go in the winter, you can get a chance to see the trout swimming up the river- a spectacular sight in itself! This is a must see, especially for the family! It is a perfect spot for the afternoon picnic. Beware, though—make sure to bring a sweater along, even if it is a warm sunny day. Once you get in the shade of the forest, it is suddenly very chill and cool. A fun fact about Muir Woods—they shot several scenes from the movie “Return of the Jedi” here.

This was one of the best days of my trip. This little piece of heaven is just north of the city about 30 minutes or 12 miles. A wonderful place for singles, couples, or families. This national monument is open year around from 8am to sunset and for the small admission price of $2-3 it is worth the trip.

The park is large enough for hiking, but small enough that you don't feel exhausted at the end. A great place for kids. The paths are clean and well maintained. There are also numerous less travelled trails leading to beautiful areas all over the mountain. You will see many species of birds and other wildlife such as deer, chipmunks, and fish. There is a gift shop and a deli in the visitor's center. The restrooms have a little to be desired, but were clean enough.