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.

Trees. Lots of trees. Muir Woods itself is a well protected redwood forest, but more exciting is the trip out of the city getting there. It's scenic and winding, up and down cliffs and valleys. Pass up the camera in Muir Woods--it's almost impossible to get any photograph to come out clear in the foggy darkness of the forest. Its one of those things best appreciated in person.

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.

Muir Woods is beautiful. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to get there, and were so happy that we did not let the opportunity to see this national monument go by. Established as a nature preserve in 1908, Muir Woods was a gift to the US government. It was named after John Muir, a famous conservationist who increased US awareness of the importance of preserving nature. A Redwood can live for 3,000 years, and many of the towering giants have been in place in Muir woods for centuries. There are a variety of hiking trails available to use depending on how much time and effort you want to expend in the woods. The main loop is a very leisurely hike that takes about a half an hour. There are other hikes, however, that would take most of the day. Admission to the woods is only $2/adult. Buy a trail guide as well so that you can map out where you are going. Wear good shoes.

For another out-of-this-world experience, take a trip about 12 miles north of San Francisco to the Muir Woods. It is a marvelous place to get away from it all. The towering redwoods really make a person feel totally insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Many of them have been standing for over 1000 years, and they stand over 250 feet high. Weather in the woods is usually cool because of the lack of sunlight. This also prevents vegetation from growing under the redwoods, which means the animal life population is limited. Enjoy the tranquility of the area. There are plenty of trails for your enjoyment and relaxation. Tours are available from San Francisco. The road system to the Muir Woods is steep and windy. Entrance fee is $3.00. Pets are prohibited, as well as bicycles, portable radios, picnicking, camping, and smoking. There is a cafe for dining. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset. The park was named after naturalist John Muir. Get away from it all!! Enjoy the great, great outdoors.