Ironically, the area that is now Muir Woods National Monument was saved from logging because in the 19th century it was just too hard to get there. Located just 12 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, this old-growth stand is now wonderfully accessible to anyone who wants to take a walk in the woods. If you’re looking for a backcountry experience, you’ll have to go elsewhere – around 1.5 million people visit the park each year. If you want a leisurely stroll in an ancient forest to see some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world, then Muir Woods is a great choice.
The 560-acre (226 hectare) park is 256 feet (78 metres) above sea level. It is surrounded by the 6300 acre (2400 hectare) Mt. Tamalpais State Park, and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which stretches from the Presidio in San Francisco to 28 miles north at Point Reyes.
The park is cool, shaded and moist year-round, due to summer coastal fog and winter storms. Daytime temperatures average between 40 and 70 degrees F (5–21 Celsius), with an annual rainfall of about 40 inches (1 metre). Most of the precipitation occurs during the winter and spring months.
