85. Muir Woods

Length:	6 miles round trip
Hiking time:	3 hours
High point:	950 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,050 feet
Difficulty:	easy to moderate
Season:	year-round
Water:	available from Redwood Creek (purify first) and visitor center faucet
Maps:	USGS 7.5' San Rafael
Information:	Muir Woods National Monument

This hike in Muir Woods begins with an informative self-guided interpretive nature trail displaying spectacular redwood trees, followed by quiet creekside walking, climaxed by bird's-eye views of some of the tallest redwoods in California.

Five miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101, go west on Highway 1 at the Stinson Beach exit. After 3.3 miles turn right on Muir Woods Road and go 2.5 miles to the visitor center parking lot (follow signs).

The paved, populated path (starting as the self-guided interpretive nature trail) begins through a level old-growth redwood forest. In this high-usage first 0.5 mile, posted signs provide interesting information about redwoods. Cross any of the four wooden bridges over Redwood Creek that lead to several redwood groves (all paths shortly rejoin the main trail). Wander into Cathedral Grove, highlighted by tall redwoods, then visit the William Kent Memorial.

Refreshing seclusion awaits at 0.9 mile as you take your first steps onto Bootjack Trail and leave the crowds behind. The quiet solitude is comforting: The steady splash of tumbling Redwood Creek is virtually the only sound you hear.

The path climbs past bigleaf maple and bracken, sword, and lady fern to reach a large wooden bridge across Redwood Creek, which originates near the top of Mount Tamalpais's west peak. The trail cuts a steep course up the hillside, reuniting with a bouldery section of Redwood Creek at 1.9 miles.

The climb persists 0.4 mile to small Van Wyck Meadow and its surrounding Douglas fir, coast live oak, and California laurel. From the meadow, bear left onto TCC Trail. It provides a 1.4-mile level excursion across a series of canyon sides in tranquil, shady woods. Teasing glimpses of Mount Tamalpais intermittently appear beyond the low-hanging limbs of majestic Douglas fir.

At 3.6 miles, reach a wooden bridge and bench, where you make two successive left turns on Stapelveldt Trail. This trail descends past two huge redwoods that form an archway at 4.1 miles. Reach a signed trail intersection 0.1 mile farther, and bear left onto Ben Johnson Trail.

Depart this gradually descending trail at 5.2 miles with a right turn onto the signed Hillside Trail. This scenic, level trail offers several vistas of Redwood Creek and its surrounding massive redwoods before reaching the parking lot.