Hey its Wes and Chanda and welcome to Dinklife. We were still exploring the San Francisco area, but this morning we drove out to Muir Woods National Monument to see the famous California redwoods for the very first time. We even got to cross the Golden Gate Bridge along the way before taking the winding drive into Muir Woods. One thing we quickly learned was that you really wanted to have your parking reservation before arriving. The parking area was small, and there were plenty of signs along the road reminding visitors that reservations were required.
It was also noticeably colder at Muir Woods than it had been when we left San Francisco. Once we got underneath the trees, the cool and damp forest air made us glad we had brought warm clothes. The trails could also get muddy, so good shoes or hiking boots were definitely helpful. Once we started walking, though, we immediately understood why so many people recommended this place. The redwoods were absolutely massive, and seeing them in person was completely different from seeing them in pictures or movies.
We stuck with one of the easier routes and walked a little over a mile. The main trail was mostly flat and easy, and we even saw visitors using wheelchairs along the accessible portions. There were also much more strenuous trails heading up into the hills if you wanted a real hike. We loved how peaceful it was inside the forest. Even with plenty of visitors around, most people were quiet and simply enjoying the incredible surroundings. At the end of our walk, we stopped at the gift shop, picked up a magnet and grabbed some coffee from the cafe to warm up.
Altogether, we spent about an hour and a half at Muir Woods, and that felt like a great amount of time for our first visit. You could easily spend much longer if you wanted to tackle the hiking trails, or make it a shorter visit if you simply wanted to experience the redwoods. Seeing these enormous trees for the first time was incredible, and we absolutely thought Muir Woods was worth the trip from San Francisco. Even the crazy winding drive couldn’t change our minds about that. Remember, as always, whatever you decide to do, just get out there and do it!
Website: https://gomuirwoods.com/
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