Cool off beneath the canopy of ancient redwoods in this National Park on the outskirts of San Francisco.
Less than an hour from the metropolitan buzz of central San Francisco lies the tranquil park of Muir Woods. The giant redwoods in this popular National Park reach heights of around 80 metres and some of the oldest specimens are said to date back 1,200 years or more.Muir Woods was declared a national monument by US President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. Yet just a few years earlier it was in danger of being destroyed by logging – the fate of many similar areas of ancient woodland along the Northern California coast. Congressman William Kent and his wife stepped in to buy the land, which had been earmarked for a dam, and donated it to the federal government, thereby saving the native redwoods for posterity. The new National Park was named after the pioneering naturalist John Muir.The 223-hectare site contains around 10 kilometres of trails to explore. These vary in length and level of difficulty, although most are easily navigable by non-expert hikers. There are 2.4 kilometres of wheelchair-accessible paths and many of the trails are level and paved. Maps and other information can be obtained from the National Parks website or from the visitor centre at the entrance to the woods.The park is open every day and is situated around 27 kilometres from the centre of San Francisco. Picnicking is not allowed within the confines of the park, since it is feared that litter and remains of human foodstuffs will be detrimental to the wildlife. However, there is a well-stocked café near the entrance to ward off the hunger pangs. Because of its proximity to the city, the park can get crowded, especially at weekends in the high season, so try to pick a quieter time to visit if you want to really savour the awesome majesty of these ancient trees without distractions. Don’t forget to bring some extra clothing, as the shady environment can be cool and damp, even at the height of summer.
