It’s a damp, foggy Saturday morning in the Bay Area, and you’ve got a hankering to immerse yourself in the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument.
And then … you realize that reservations for Muir Woods parking spots are all sold out, as frequently happens.
What now?
We’ve compiled a list of next-best options to Muir Woods for Bay Area residents seeking respite in the towering redwood forests that make California stand out.
They may be all around us here in the Bay Area, but redwoods are remarkable, said Dave Hall, field operations manager at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County. They only grow in a few areas in the world, including the coast of California, and people come to Armstrong “ from all over the world specifically to see the redwoods,” Hall said.
Read on for our top suggestions for getting lost in the state’s most iconic forests, without the hassle of crowds and reservations. And if you want to save money on entry to these state parks, try renting out a parks pass at your local library. (And if you’re still looking for other cold-weather hiking options, check out this list of hikes best done in the gloom.)
Jump straight to:
With 15 miles of trails and no reservations required, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains has 40 acres of ancient redwoods to explore.
In just around a mile-long loop from your car and back, the main Redwood Grove Loop Trail takes you through the oldest part of the forest, whose towering trees were spared from logging all the way back in the 1800s.
“It’s big giant tree after big giant tree,” Park Aide Ted Lodge said.
From the trail, you can even reach the famous Fremont Tree, whose open trunk is big enough to fit you (and five other friends) inside. Legend has it that when exploring the area before the Civil War, Union Army Major General John Frémont slept in this tree — but Lodge said that part’s probably just a legend.
The loop trail is flat, and it never gets too hot, Lodge said, but if you are feeling toasty, you can always jump in the San Lorenzo River.
If you’re looking for a longer trek, the dog and bike-friendly Pipeline Road Trail, runs past the redwood grove and parallels the river for several miles. Or, take the 5-mile loop hike to the redwoods observation deck, so you can view the canopy from above.
Cost: There is a $10 fee to park your car at the state park. Dogs are allowed on many trails, but not on the old-growth loop trail.
So hidden in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it’s hard to believe that Portola Redwoods State Park is just over a dozen miles from the heart of Silicon Valley.
With its dense canopy, large campsites and a number of trails, waterfalls and creeks to explore, this park is perfect for a quick overnight camping getaway within the Bay Area.
Thick huckleberry bushes produce fruit in late summer and banana slugs are plentiful on the forest floor — plus, you can explore several easy and moderate hikes straight from your campsite.
While this park is secluded, it can get popular, so make a reservation for overnight camping or try to snag one of its walk-in sites. Or, come for the day, and adventure through the park’s 18 miles of trails, including the Iverson Trail to Tiptoe Falls.
Cost: There is a $10 fee to park your car at the state park. Dogs are allowed only in campsites, picnic areas and on paved roads.
At 200-acre Hendy Woods State Park in Mendocino County, Bay Area visitors are frequent, especially in the peak summer months when school is out, Senior Park Aide Laurie Cooper said.
“It’s close enough [to the Bay Area] where it feels like you went somewhere, but you’re not spending your whole day driving,” Cooper said. But as soon as fall rolls around, “you can walk for an hour and not see anybody.”
The park’s main attractions are its two untouched redwood groves — Big Hendy and Little Hendy — and its Discovery Trail, a fully wheelchair-accessible way to take in the thousand-year-old trees. And don’t miss the Hermit Hut Trail, which leads hikers to an area of the forest where Russian immigrant Petro Zailenko lived alone deep in the woods and away from civilization for almost two decades in the 1960s and 70s.
Less cold than other redwood forests, Hendy Woods is ideal for picnicking on the banks of the Navarro River or swimming under the Greenwood Road bridge.
“We’re very lucky,” Cooper said. “We’re just far enough inland where there are certain days where you smell the ocean, but the fog burns off quickly here.”
Cost: It’s $8 to access the park for the day. Dogs are allowed in the park but cannot go on trails.
Beloved by locals and visitors alike, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, just north of Guerneville and the Russian River, has something for everyone, Hall said, including an entire area dedicated to hugging an old-growth redwood. A ramp and wooden decking lead visitors up next to the “hugging tree,” where you can take a moment and give this iconic species a big embrace.
The main trails through the old-growth grove are flat and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and where you can check out the park’s tallest tree, Parson Jones. You’ll also find its oldest tree, a 1,400-year-old Colonel Armstrong, and the “Icicle tree,” which is dripping with large knots called burls.
And if you’re looking for a full day of hiking, there are also more strenuous trails that take you up and over the ridge to the backside of the park and into other state parks.
While the reserve can get busy between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays, Hall said it tends to be quiet outside of those peak times.
As for what first-time visitors to the park should know: “Don’t be in a hurry,” Hall said. “Come and enjoy the walk.”
Cost: Pay $10 to park or get in for free on foot or via bike. Dogs are allowed in the park but cannot go on trails and must stay on paved roads only.
If zooming through tall trees is on your to-do list, try bringing a bike (or renting in nearby Fairfax) and taking a scenic ride through Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County.
For a relaxed and flat ride, head to the Cross Marin Trail, which follows the old North Pacific Coast Railroad for 5 miles along Lagunitas Creek. Three of these miles are through the park, where you can take in the full biodiversity of the redwood forest located just outside of Point Reyes.
If hiking is more your speed, head to the short Pioneer Tree Trail loop, whose 2.5-mile route showcases the park’s small but mighty old-growth forest. Or, check out the steep 6-mile loop trek to the top of Barnabe Peak for sweeping views of nearby peaks and the rolling hills and small towns of the Marin valley below.
Cost: It costs $8 to park in the lot. Dogs are allowed only in picnic areas and on the Cross Marin Trail.
If none of these strike your fancy, and you’re still hoping to head to Muir Woods, try taking the shuttle instead. The tickets don’t sell out nearly as quickly as the parking ones do (although they do still sell out), and there are options on both weekends and weekdays.
On weekends and holidays, the shuttle goes to and from the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal, so you can park there for free or take the ferry to another destination. Shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Weekday shuttles go to and from the Sausalito Ferry Terminal, where paid parking is available, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
In addition to the shuttle tickets, which cost $3.75 each way, you’ll have to purchase your $15 entrance ticket to the park unless you have an annual national parks pass.
Be sure to book your shuttle in both directions, and remember: There is no cell phone service in the park, so be sure to download your tickets ahead of time.
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