Signage on the main trail illustrates much of the ecology of the redwood forest. ![]() And they are masters at controlling their environment, nurturing fellow trees though a symbiotic subterranean fungi and suppressing the growth of competing plants. The trees have three modes of reproduction: seeds, sprouts from their base root system and gene-rich burls. Their fibrous bark is two to 12 inches thick and soaked in tannin, a natural fire-retardant and repellant against insects and fungi. Today, coast redwoods are found only on the rainy, fog-swept coastal mountain range of Northern California and extreme Southern Oregon.īecause they’ve been around so long and through so many environmental changes, redwoods have evolved a host of adaptations - a clever bag of tricks - that has allowed them to survive challenges ranging from atmospheric change to continental drift, prolonged periods of glaciation and drought. When they first appeared, this was a very wet, rainforest environment, and redwoods forests were much more common and widespread on several continents, including Europe and Asia. They evolved out of the Cypressįamily (Cupressaceae) nearly 240 million years ago, overlapping with the age of the dinosaurs. They are the tallest trees on the planet (the tallest is 379 feet) and can be very old (the oldest redwoods in Muir Woods are 800 to 1,000 years old, and they can live as long as 2,000 years.) Redwoods are fascinating survivors from an ancient time. Redwood Creek splashes its way among the redwoods at Muir Woods. ![]() Coho salmon and steelhead trout are seen seasonally, as they are born and spawn in this serene, shady stream. The wide boardwalk trail is lined with sword ferns and primitive horsetail, fairy-bells and redwood sorrel - the prolific, clover-like ground covering of the redwood forest understory. Or you can turn right to follow the Redwood Creek trail into the heart of Muir Woods. The Lost Trail makes a steep descent into Fern Creek Canyon and the upper reaches of Muir Woods, but it’s best to continue straight on the Canopy View Trail, meandering through the woods to the bottom of the canyon.Īt the junction of the Canopy View Trail and Redwood Creek trail, the park’s main thoroughfare, you can turn left to head to the Muir Woods visitors center, where restrooms, a cafe and a gift shop with a huge array of redwood-related knick-knacks await. Mount Tam’s Lost Trail makes a steep descent into Fern Creek Canyon and the upper reaches of the Muir Woods from the less populated side of the National Park. (Ben Davidson Photography)Ĭontinuing on, a quick descent brings you into shady groves of California bay laurel, oak and Douglas fir until the redwood forest appears suddenly at the junction of the Lost Trail. Continuing south, you’ll find a grassy slope covered in coastal scrub and stands of bay and oak, French broom, sticky monkey flower and sweet smelling fennel - with the seamless mosaic of the Muir Woods redwood canopy spreading out below you to the west.Īfter about a 1/4 mile, turn right, heading downhill on the Canopy View Trail, where a massive granite boulder makes an awesome perch for panoramic views of Muir Woods and, on fog-free days, the Pacific coast. Instead of falling down a rabbit hole, you walk south on the car-free Alice Eastwood access road to the easy-going Panoramic Trail, which parallels Mill Valley’s Panoramic Highway. Hiking the Canopy View trail from Mount Tam is sort of an Alice in Wonderland experience. ![]() ![]() (Ben Davidson Photography) (Ben Davidson Photography) Hikers are dwarfed by the majestic, ancient redwoods of Muir Woods. It’s a two to three hour, 5-mile hike in all and an amazing, almost magical journey back in time to a place where some of Northern California’s few remaining old growth coast redwoods (sequoia sempervirens) thrive. If you park high above the 554-acre preserve on Mount Tamalpais’ Panoramic Highway, just across the street from the scenic Mountain Home Inn, you can embark on a lightly trafficked footpath down into these famed redwood groves. There’s a secret back door to Muir Woods National Monument that most visitors don’t know about - and it’s guaranteed to delight hikers who discover it.
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