Whilst staying in San Francisco it’s possible to visit Muir Woods National Park by public transport so we made an early start from our hotel to make the most of the day. Muir Woods lies 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge off Highway 101 north. From the downtown area we boarded Bus 130 to Larkspur taking 45 minutes, fare $8 (£6.40). This service is operated by Marin County Bus and not included in our 7 day Muni pass that we had purchased on arrival. The bus took us across the Golden Gate Bridge and it was then a 15 minute walk to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal from the nearest bus stop.
Shuttle buses operate between Larkspur and Muir Woods at 30 minute intervals at weekends with seasonal services also available from Sausalito connecting with ferries from San Francisco (more details here). Round trip transfers need to be pre-booked with passengers selecting an exact departure time. The return fare is only $3.50 (£2.80) with the journey taking approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic. Visitors to the park are then able to return on any service up until the last bus at 6.00 p.m. I would recommend aiming to return on an earlier service as there is no mobile phone service in the park to ring for a taxi if the last bus is full.
Entrance to Muir Woods National Monument is $15 (£12) with daily opening hours between 8.00 a.m. and sunset. The main activity of the park is hiking on one of the park’s trails.
Before setting off for a walk we called into the visitor centre to learn a little about the giant redwoods through a variety of exhibits. Giant redwoods and sequoias at one time grew all over the country but today only exist along a narrow strip between Monterey and Southern Oregon. As these forests lie in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean they are often shrouded in fog, enabling the redwoods to avoid drought by creating a damp environment and lush conditions.
There are six miles of marked trails consisting of an easy half hour long loop suitable for prams and wheelchairs to a more strenuous 90 minute hike. Some of the trails can be extended into the surrounding Mount Tamalpais State Park for visitors wishing to enjoy a longer walk.
We decided to take the 5km Canopy Trail which returns to the visitor centre along the Lost Trail. The Lost Trail is so named due to a landslide in the 1930’s. This route started along the main trail and follows the Redwood Creek, crossing bridges on both sides of the stream. Giant redwood trees line the trail which has a reasonably steep climb from the valley floor up to a ridge through the redwoods. We hadn’t come equipped with our hiking boots but apart from a few steep slopes that were quite muddy, we didn’t have too much difficulty in our shoes.
The trail offers some magnificent views and until you are up close to the trees, it’s difficult to appreciate just how tall they actually are. The redwoods in Muir Woods are not the tallest in Northern California but are still extremely tall, the tallest tree measuring 258ft. Most of the trees are between 600-800 years old with the oldest approximately 1,200 years old.
Our hike passed through Cathedral Grove on our return which is an area of quiet contemplation surrounded by some of the oldest and tallest redwoods. There are several benches on which to sit and take in the dramatic views and to enjoy the silence of the forest floor.
Before catching the shuttle bus back to Larkspur we looked in the gift shop and bought cups of coffee to drink out on the terrace. The cafe was undergoing renovation with minimal food available on site.
From Larkspur ferry terminal we needed to cross the highway to take a bus to Sausalito as we had planned to spend the remainder of the day there. It seemed to take quite awhile for a bus to appear but once on board, we reached the charming coastal town of Sausalito within 15 minutes. The town is located on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
We were feeling hungry and when we spotted a seafood restaurant overlooking the harbour, we popped in without hesitation. Called simply Fish, the restaurant has a large outdoor dining area with a smaller area indoors. It was a pleasant sunny afternoon and wearing our coats, it was warm enough to dine outdoors.
We both opted to have Alaskan cod and chips and it was just as well that we were ravenous as the portions were huge. The fish tasted very fresh and arrived served with sides of chips and coleslaw (no mushy peas in California, at least not there).
Feeling re-energised after our meal we followed the shoreline towards the town centre. A short distance further on we reached Richardson Bay which is home to a large number of floating homes. A houseboat community has been in existence in Sausalito for over a century with around 400 floating homes moored on five adjoining jetties in the marina.
Continuing further we wandered along Bridgeway Promenade where we enjoyed bay views looking out to San Francisco to one side and colourful homes nestled on the hillside to the other.
With numerous inviting cafes, restaurants, small independent shops, galleries and artisan chocolatiers it’s easy to understand why Sausalito is a popular tourist destination. I’d definitely recommend taking the ferry across the bay or driving over the Golden Gate Bridge by bus to spend some time there.
Near the ferry terminal there’s a small pier and close by stands the town’s plaza surrounded by well tended gardens, an ornate fountain and lots of benches ideal for people watching or enjoying an ice cream.
Combining a visit to both Muir Woods and Sausalito enabled us to enjoy a full day out in Marin County and with careful planning we managed it all using public transport.
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