As one of the busiest and most popular Bay Area tourist attractions, Muir Woods National Monument is always crowded. But just like so many other local favorites, the famous redwood grove has been fairly peaceful amid the pandemic.
For park ranger Stephanie Weinstein, this has been a great time to appreciate her favorite spots as she roams the trails to do her job. She said one of the charms of the national monument is that it can look different depending on how the sun is streaming through the trees, how the breeze is drifting through the branches or how much rain the area has received lately.
“Every spot in the park is so special and unique,” she said. “Part of the joys of being in the woods is not a particular location, but the act of walking through the forest and experiencing the way it changes.”
We asked Weinstein what spots we shouldn’t miss next time we visit the park.
She said she loves to be near the water, so she tends to stick to the trails that have a view of the creek. “Early in the morning, the first bridge in the park is usually covered in the sun's glow, making the trees' red color especially vibrant,” Weinstein said. “Throughout the day, the boardwalked path just past Cathedral Grove will dance with sun rays streaming down from the canopy of the forest. I will often walk a little slower in that section, taking the time to look up and around me.”
Bohemian Grove has felt more important in recent years to Weinstein, especially as the area can teach us about forest fires. “Go inside the tree with the fire scar,” she said. “What’s wonderful is that it’s a conversation point about the role of fire in the forest. It goes back to Indigenous fire methods and cultural burns and engaging people about how that can keep the forest healthy and prevent widespread wildfires.”
Alice Eastwood Camp Trail is another recent favorite, as she said one of her colleagues has been doing more research on how women helped protect and preserve the redwood canyon in the early 1900s. The trail is named after Alice Eastwood, a prominent botanist and a pioneer in advocating for the conservation of Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais State Park. “She was a famous botanist and a really cool lady, and we’re thrilled one of our trails is named after her,” Weinstein said. “It’s given me a new perspective.”
While Weinstein declined to choose a favorite tree in the park, she said many of the trees' roots are interconnected, and thus they’re supporting each other, which makes the whole grove special. “Every redwood tree has its own personality and charm ...We also don’t say which is the tallest tree because it would make the other trees jealous,” she said with a laugh.
The Fern Creek Trail is generally more quiet than the main Redwood Creek Trail, she said, and it has some magnificent redwood trees and lush patches of horsetails and ferns. “When I’m walking on the trail between Catherdral Grove and Fern Creek, that’s where you feel really engrossed in the forest. And feel that sense of community. I feel most connected to the forest when I can see these interconnected places and how I’m part of that.”
The Bootjack Trail climbs above the creek and you can ascend with the trees. She said it’s a great place to get a view of the canopy, though it’s a steep hike.
“Whatever trail you choose to take, make sure you take your time to look around, look up and take a deep breath.”
