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Attraction >Garden/Nature Spot
| Muir Woods |
Address:
| San Francisco |
Region:
San Francisco
Rating:
 
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Description and Basic Information ::
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Muir Woods National Monument, located just north of San Francisco, is an often-overlooked nature preserve which contains the much-lauded Redwood trees of the West Coast. The woods also afford unparalleled comfort and peace of mind and provide ample opportunity for reflecting and getting away from it all for a little while. We strongly recommend the area not only for the physical marvels of nature that you'll encounter, but also for the welcome break from life's troubles that you'll find there as well..
The Muir Woods area is one of the only remaining sites of redwood trees left in the country, due to the fact that lumberjacks view the impressive plants as gold mines. In fact, the main reason that Muir Woods was left untouched was that it was largely inaccessible to loggers and their equipment. In 1906,the vanishing forest came to the attention of Congressman William Kent, who lived only minutes from the area and felt a strong attachment to it. Before it could be reaped by the axe, Kent purchased almost three hundred acres of the woods and promptly handed it over to the Federal Government. Two years later, then-President Theodore Roosevelt declared Muir Woods a national monument. New land has since been acquired, and increased environmental awareness has cultivated a more healthy forest than ever before. In the early 1930s, the area became the base camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps, housing over two hundred bridgebuilders, road constructors, and architects. In 1949, the locale was renamed after Alice Eastwood, a biologist who identified many of the plants which reside in Muir.
Muir Woods boasts a wide variety of features that will ensure something for everyone. Its five hundred and sixty acres of pristine wilderness house the Sequoia sempervirens, which are the tallest species of redwood tree. In addition to the plant life, Muir also serves as home to many varieties of bats, deer, and owls, including some endangered species. The visitor center contains a very useful scale model of the entire forest, highlighting back trails and secluded coves, so you’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. There are also six miles of trials which branch off into over two hundred other routes, a self-guided nature tour, guided walks with rangers, picnicking facilities, and a gift shop. With all of these features, and the promise of a peaceful, inviting attraction, it is no wonder that Muir Woods National Monument is one of the most commonly overlooked but infinitely rewarding locations in the state of California. |
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