Into Muir Woods
“This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world. You have done me a great honor, and I am proud of it.” ~ John Muir to William Kent of Muir Woods.
Just outside San Francisco you’ll find a magical oasis, home to towering redwood trees of all ages, the seniors of which are over 600 years old. This green oasis is an ancient coast red wood forest called Muir Woods. During my time in San Francisco I knew I had to explore the natural gems in and around the city, from Golden Gate Park to Yosemite and Muir Woods too!
In 1905 William Kent bought the land know now as Muir Woods to protect it and then donated it to the federal government. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the area a National Monument and named it Muir Woods in honour of naturalist John Muir. Now over 100 years later Muir Woods is also a National Park as well as part of the Golden Gate International Biosphere Reserve which is one of the richest as well as most threatened reservoirs of plants and animal life. The sheer beauty and grandeur of Muir Woods draws nearly a million visitors from around the world every year.
Muir Woods isn’t your typical open, airy forest where sunlight bounces off pretty flowers in bloom, it’s dark, damp and it feels like you’re walking through the forests of a Grimm’s fairy tale. It’s this as well as its intensely green state and massive redwood trees that make it a truly magical and awe-inspiring place to visit.
Because of its low light and damp environment, Muir Woods is home to plenty of ‘shade-loving’ plants like sword ferns, mosses, bay-laurels and big-leaf maples as well as glorious wildflowers like trillium, clintonia and redwood violet. But it’s the giant redwood trees that draw many for a chance to compare one’s tiny self to these monolithic trees. Redwood trees are the tallest living things, growing to heights of almost 400 feet and as wide as 22 feet, with life spans of 2000 years – imagine if these trees could talk, oh, the stories they’d tell. What surprised me the most about theses enormous trees was the minuet size of their cones that are no bigger than an olive.
I was completely enchanted with Muir Woods as soon as I set foot on its trails. Surrounded by rich greens, towering redwoods and an air of peace and tranquility, it was as though it was wrapping me in a warm embrace. I walked the loop trail that takes you deep into the woods and along Redwood Creek and through Cathedral Grove, and it was here that the strangest thing occurred.
As I made my way past a crowd of seemingly young students that had gathered on the bridge I paused for a moment to again crane my neck to look up at the grandeur of the ancient redwoods. I remember briefly closing me eyes to breathe it all in when the trees began to sing. Opening my eyes and turning back to the bridge I realized it wasn’t the trees of Cathedral Grove singing, it was the group of students who had lined up along the bridge. There in the peaceful and silent forest a glorious sound filled the cool air as the chorus sang Amazing Grace. I was in awe of their beautiful harmony and stunning voices as well as thankful to have stumbled upon such an amazing moment of grace there in Muir Woods. It still brings a chill to senses and a shiver to my being when I think of it now.
Muir Woods is a truly enchanting place, full of wonder and beauty, peace and history and an ever nagging feeling that magical elves and fairies might lurk amongst the ferns, fallen trees and giant redwoods that call it home.
