August 4-Magic at Muir Woods

Cresting the rise over Panoramic Highway onto Muir Woods Road this morning with a thick blanket of fog blanketing the area and unable to see the asphalt ahead of me, I took a deep breath and drove forward into the wall of white, being careful to stay to the right and avoid tumbling over the edge of the pavement into the valley below.

Navigating a series of sharp switchbacks with no shoulders I descended to the Muir Woods National Monument reserved parking area, happy to score a spot near the entrance where I was greeted by a flock of wild turkeys foraging on the ground nearby.

The park itself was downright magical, featuring towering groves of ancient coast redwoods with deeply furrowed, rich reddish-brown bark, massive moss draped sweeping branches sporting flat sprays of delicate evergreen needles, and tops reaching up into the sky farther than the eye could see.

I breathed in the fresh, most air infused with the earthy scent of damp soil, decaying leaves, and bay laurel and admired the sun filtering through the thick canopy of emerald, green branches above onto the fern covered forest floor.

With my leg still recovering from the break this spring, I had intended to stick to the paved Main Trail. However, a long flight of wood reinforced earthen steps rising into the tree and foliage filled forest to the right of me caught my eye and I decided to venture forth with my walking poles and a healthy dose of caution.

My several miles hike up the Canopy View Trail, along the Lost Trail, and down the Fern Creek Trail was chock full of intricate root-covered red dirt walkways, rustic wooden bridges, moss covered logs and rocks, and babbling brooks. Douglas Fir, California Bay Laurel, and Coast Redwoods created enchanting archways and inviting openings in the path ahead. What a great day on the road!