Muir Woods Vacations, Muir Woods Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Muir Woods Vacation Guide

Muir Woods National Monument is part of the National Park Service, and is located about 12 miles north of San Franciso. There are 554 acres of forested area populated by Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). One hundred fifty million years ago ancestors of Redwood and Sequoia trees grew throughout the United States. The Redwoods, known for their height, are the main attraction of the Muir Woods. Whilst Redwoods can grow to nearly 380 feet, the tallest tree in the Muir Woods is recorded to be 258 feet. Also, the average age of the Redwoods in the Monument are said to be between 500 and 800 years old, with the oldest being at least 1,100 years old.

On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the land a national monument, and it became the first to be created from land donated by a private individual. The origin of the name comes from naturalist John Muir, whose environmental campaigns helped establish the national park system. In terms of recreation, Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, catering to pedestrians, where hiking trails differ in the level of difficulty, as well as distance.

Source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_woods