Giant Redwood Trees
tallest trees on earth!
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
If you’ve ever wanted to visit a place that makes you feel insignificant (in a good way), a place that feels like an ancient and magical landscape, a place that will take your breath away…look no further than the Redwood Forests of California.
For my mom’s 60th birthday, she wanted to cross off one of her lifelong bucket list items — a trip to the redwood forests to stand among the tallest trees in the world.
We surprised her with a trip to Muir Woods National Monument and did just that. I had a lot of questions while preparing for our trip, and discovered a few important tips that one should know when planning a visit.
Keep reading to find more, or pin this post and save for later!
what is the redwood forest and how do i get there?
The “Redwood Forest”, as most people call it, is actually a network of several state and national parks, located along the coast of Northern California.
We visited Muir Woods National Monument, home to the coastal redwoods. The tallest tree in this grove is 258 ft tall, and most trees are between 600-800 years old.
About 1 million people come here every year to trek in the footsteps of John Muir, stand in the great stillness of Cathedral Grove, and see the fairy ring trees.
Getting there:
The Muir Woods National Monument is only 17 miles from San Francisco, so it’s a great option for a half day or full day trip. You’ll drive over the iconc Golden Gate Bridge and up through the town of Mill Valley. You’ll need a reservation (which is something we didn’t know)- Make sure you have this printed or saved on your phone prior to driving into the area, or else you’ll find yourself driving all the way back up the mountain like we did!
useful tips:
Make a Reservation!!: I’ll say it again…Don’t get stuck at the bottom of the valley with no service and no reservation (like we did). If you do, you’ll have to waist precious time driving back up to the top! Make sure to check out the parking and shuttle reservation system before you go.
Consider Buying a Park Pass: Especially if you plan to visit other parks, and/or have 4+ people in your party. The U.S. Park Pass is good for one year and will definitely save you money in the long run. I highly recommend it!
Clothing: Even if it’s a hot day, make sure to bring some type of windbreaker or light jacket/flannel. It can get chilly down at the valley floor, especially in the shade of all the trees!
Hiking: You can literally spend hours hiking around in the area, so make sure to find a map or mark a trail (located at the entrance) before you begin. We ended up walking for about an hour with no end in sight (and no plan) so we turned around and went back to where we came from.
Food/Restrooms/Gift Shop: Yes! All of these are available shortly after entering the park, so don’t worry, you won’t starve or implode.
Is it worth the trip?
100% Yes!!
It is by far one of the coolest and most breathtaking areas in California, and Muir Woods contains some of the only coastal redwoods anywhere on Earth. This is truly a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Can’t get away anytime soon? Fear not! You can experience the redwoods from the comfort of your couch with these redwood virtual tours on YouTube.
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- Redwoods
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- Epic pathway into the woods
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- Views on the drive into the forest
fun facts:
- The redwood is the world’s tallest tree!
- The average age of a redwood in Muir Woods is 600-800 years old
- Redwoods can live up to 2,200 years!!
- Coastal redwoods grow in one place on Earth only — the Pacific coast of the United States
- They have teeny tiny pinecones
CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Why are the redwoods so important?
Redwoods are like superhero trees for our environment. They capture more CO2 from our cars, trucks, and power plant than any other tree on Earth. Once upon a time, 2 million acres of redwood forest extended along the West Coast of the United States. Today, about 97% of that land has been altered or damaged.
If you want to learn more during your visit, ranger talks and guided walks through the woods are available!
Thanks for spending your time on my blog!
I can’t wait for you to start planning your next nature adventure!
For any questions, comments, or to share your own redwood experience, leave a comment here or connect with me on Instagram!
Until Next Time,
