Muir Woods, A Walk Among the Giants

Meet giants of the natural world, The Redwood tree. My dream for over a decade has been to witness the grandness of these trees. Their thick, rugged, red bark. Their looming height and circumference. And the habitat in which these enormous trees dwell. I’ve climbed waterfalls of Costa Rica and hiked the mountains of the Appalachians, but nothing has compared to what I witnessed at Muir Woods. A testament to God’s incredible creation!

It was ever so peaceful. My husband, Matt, and I went this month and the trail we hiked was a path less traveled. It was so quiet that we took moments and just stood still to hear the calls of various birds. The trail we hiked took us through bare meadows and up the mountainside that held these giant trees. As soon as you enter the forest, there is an immediate change of temperature. It is cool, breezy, and moist. It is peaceful and tranquil. In less than 5 minutes, we went from short sleeves and getting sunburned, to jackets and chilly weather. How good it did feel! It is cool and moist year round with an average temperature of between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall is heavy during winter, while summer is almost completely dry. It is the proximity to the Pacific Ocean that leaves a coastal fog that carries the trees though droughty seasons. This climate is vital to the  growth of these amazing trees.

Let’s look at the facts. The tallest tree in Muir Woods is 258 feet (79 m). The average age of the trees here are between 500 and 800. The oldest tree is a whopping 1,200 years old! Now that is something to brag about.

Most of these amazing trees unfortunately succumbed to the logging industry. Tree by tree fell until an estimated 96% of the redwoods were logged. It is also estimated that there were 2 million acres of old growth forest that contained redwoods which grew along a strip along the coast. What a sight it must have been. I wish more had been preserved for us to enjoy today.

President Theodore Roosevelt announced that Muir Woods be a national monument on January 9, 1908. The land was purchased from the Tamalapias Land and Water Company in an effort to protect the redwoods and mountains on which they reside. If you plan on visiting, make sure to reserve a parking spot way in advance. Parking is very limited and reservations are required. Also, make sure to have it up and ready because there is no access to internet in the park. We printed ours as a precaution. We also could not get the gps to work so it took extra time. Make sure to leave early!

I hoped you enjoyed these pictures from our trip. I also hope you get to go one day!