Muir Woods Audio Guide

Muir Woods National Monument: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Muir Woods

   Welcome to Muir Woods National Monument, a sanctuary of ancient coastal redwoods located just 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, California. As you stand at the entrance, you might notice a sudden drop in temperature and the presence of a cool, damp marine layer. This fog is the lifeblood of the forest, providing the moisture these giants need to survive the dry summer months. You are entering one of the last remaining old-growth coastal redwood forests in the San Francisco Bay Area, protecting over 550 acres of a landscape that once dominated the California coastline. Prepare to leave the chatter of the modern world behind as you step onto the boardwalks. Here, the scale of time is measured not in minutes, but in centuries. Look up and take a deep breath of the oxygen-rich air, filtered by a canopy that sits hundreds of feet above the forest floor.

2. 02

   The Tallest Living Beings

   You are walking among the Coast Redwoods, known scientifically as Sequoia sempervirens. These are the tallest living things on our planet. While their cousins, the Giant Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada, are more massive in volume, the coastal redwoods win the race for height. Within this very monument, the tallest specimen reaches approximately 258 feet into the sky. The trees you see around you are, on average, between six hundred and eight hundred years old, with the most ancient residents exceeding 1,200 years of age. One surprising fact about these giants is their shallow root system; their roots are only 6 to 12 feet deep but spread out up to 100 feet horizontally, intertwining with the roots of neighboring trees for stability against the coastal winds. They are also exceptional warriors against climate change, as coastal redwoods capture more carbon dioxide than any other tree species on Earth.

3. 03

   A Gift for the World

   Muir Woods exists today because of a remarkable act of philanthropy and political maneuvering. In the early 1900s, this canyon was one of the last stands of old-growth redwoods that had escaped the logging boom simply because it was hard to reach. In 1905, Congressman William Kent and his wife Elizabeth Thacher Kent purchased 295 acres for 45,000 dollars to save it from a local water company that planned to dam the creek and flood the valley. To ensure its permanent protection, the Kents donated the land to the federal government. On January ninth, 1,908, President Theodore Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to soul-declare it a national monument. Interestingly, Roosevelt wanted to name the park after Kent, but William Kent insisted it be named after his friend, the pioneering conservationist John Muir. It was the first national monument created from land donated by a private individual.

4. 04

   Cathedral Grove and the Temple of Peace

   As you travel deeper into the forest, you will find Cathedral Grove. This area holds a special place in global history. On May nineteenth, 1,945, more than 500 delegates from across the globe gathered here during the founding conference of the United Nations. They came to hold a memorial service for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had passed away just weeks earlier and was the chief architect of the United Nations. The organizers chose this grove because they believed the temple of peace provided by these ancient pillars would give the delegates a sense of perspective and time that no city building could offer. Today, Cathedral Grove remains the first permanent quiet zone in the entire national park system. Please observe the posted signs and lower your voice to a whisper. By doing so, you honor both the historical delegates who sought world peace and the natural silence that allows the sounds of Redwood Creek to take center stage.

5. 05

   Before You Head Off

   Before you finish your journey through these ancient groves, there are a few practical matters to ensure your visit stays peaceful. Because of the delicate nature of this ecosystem and the heavy volume of visitors, all vehicle parking and shuttle seats require a reservation made in advance through the Go Muir Woods website. Be aware that there is absolutely no cell phone service or Wi-Fi within the monument, so it is vital to have your reservation downloaded or printed before you arrive. As you move toward the exit, consider taking the 1.5 mile main loop which is largely flat and accessible, or explore the more rugged Fern Creek trail for a different perspective of the understory. Look closely at the forest floor for the redwood sorrel or the western sword fern, which thrive in the deep shade. How do you think this forest will look hundreds of years from now, and what part of its story will you carry back with you to the busy world beyond these gates?