Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods is a protected area of coast redwoods in Marin County, north of San Francisco, where dense foliage from trees several hundred years old shades the valleys. The trees rise more than 250 feet (76 meters) and form a closed canopy, while a shallow creek runs through the floor and keeps the forest ground moist.

A California congressman transferred the land to the federal government in 1908 after loggers had started clearing forests further north. President Roosevelt signed the proclamation and protected the valley as one of the first monuments of its kind in the early 20th century.

The site honors a Scottish immigrant and writer who walked through Yosemite Valley in the 19th century and later helped spread the idea of national parks across the United States. Visitors today follow narrow trails beneath the canopy, where muted light and the silence between the trees create a quiet and almost reverent mood.

The approach follows a winding mountain road, and travelers should reserve parking before arrival because capacity is limited. Wide wooden boardwalks lead through the main area and allow easy access, while steeper side trails climb higher into the slopes.

A waterway crosses the entire protected area and serves as spawning ground for migrating fish that travel up from the bay each winter. The temperature in the shade remains cool year-round, rarely climbing above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) even on hot summer days.