Muir Woods Tours

About Muir Woods

The San Francisco Bay Area is a large section of Northern California that includes Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose. From the large number of fun activities and things to see in the Bay Area to the places within driving distance like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and Monterey, you won’t have a hard time finding things to do as there’s an almost limitless number of fun activities and events that you can enjoy all year long.

If you are visiting San Francisco for a vacation or business trip, you will want to make the most of your time and see some of the top attractions in the area. From recognizable landmarks like The Golden Gate Bridge to interesting historical attractions like Alcatraz, you will have a lot to choose from. You will hear a lot of different recommendations depending on who you ask, however there are definitely a few spots that should be at the top of your list. One of those attractions that you should try to see while you are in the area is Muir Woods National Monument. The attraction is a redwood forest located in Mill Valley, which is just north of San Francisco, which may not seem very interesting at first, but this is one of those attractions that you really need to experience to understand.

The Region

When it comes to plants, trees and basically any living thing growing out of the soil, location is everything. Perfect conditions lead to extraordinary growth for some types of crops and vegetation, so monthly temperatures, humidity, soil composition and more are very important. For instance, The reason why Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are known as one of the best wine regions in the world is due to the unique conditions of the area that make it perfect for growing grapes. For Muir Woods, the marine layer fog and proximity the the coast of the Pacific Ocean create an optimal, wet environment that is perfect for the trees growing in the region.

Old Coast Redwoods

So what is so special about the trees growing in Muir Woods? For one thing, the old-growth coastal redwoods that grow in the forest hold the title of the tallest living thing on the planet. These massive trees can grow to more than 350 feet, with the tallest tree in the world located in Redwood National Park in Northern California. Hyperion, the largest tree in the world, measures in at 379.7 feet and weighs an estimated 1.6 million pounds and would tower over the Statue of Liberty or Big Ben.

Visiting Muir Woods

A trip to Muir Woods gives you a chance to walk among these ancient redwood trees and really experience the wonder of nature. Since the attraction is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the parks service has created a small section of the 240 acres of forest that is perfect for the casual visitor who wants to see the redwoods in an easy setting. A series of trails has been built that provides several different options, depending on how much you would like to walk and how difficult you would like the hike to be. There are 3 main paths that you can follow, a 1/2 hour loop, a 1 hour loop and a 1.5 hour loop depending on how much time you would like to spend exploring. The degree of difficulty goes up with the long paths so if you have a stroller or are in a wheelchair, the 1/2 mile loop is set up to be an easy, beginner trail that anyone can handle. There are also some much longer options like the Dipsea Trail that will be a joy for any avid hikers who want to experience the redwood forest and enjoy some incredible views.

Getting to Muir Woods

Muir Woods is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area, so you will need to plan ahead and make reservations. You can sign up for a parking pass and Muir Woods pass on your own, but if you want a better experience, then signing up for one of the many Muir Woods bus tours is highly recommended. San Francisco Tour companies offer an easy way to visit the attraction without have to worry about reservations, driving, etc. and some of the options are combo tours, which will allow you to see some other great attractions as well.