RAINY DAY PLAN: How to Hike Muir Woods Without the Crowds (Feb. 1-2)
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Muir Woods National Monument | 1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA
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Submitted by the Event Organizer
Here’s a great weekend hike idea from SFGATE’s Eric Brooks, perfect for wet weather to help avoid usual crowds.
Muir Woods tourists often come in bunches, and the crowds can dilute the experience. However, just off the main trail is a much quieter hike — free of crowds — with promises of a rushing creek, wildflowers and a narrow bridge built over a fallen redwood tree. Much of this better hike is within the unmarked boundaries of Mount Tamalpais State Park.
This less-trotted 3-mile loop includes the Fern Creek, Plevin Cut and Alice Eastwood trails. The sound of Fern Creek can be heard almost the entire way up the canyon and back down.
Getting There:
Fern Creek Trail, Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley. Open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset;
Parking / Entry info: $15 park entrance fee for adults (16+) plus parking ($9.50 per car) reservations required. See fee and pass info. Please note the shuttle option is closed for the season and resumes in March.
The star of the show is the catwalk bridge supported by a moss-covered redwood log. No wider than a couple of feet, the bridge employs wooden railings over a grated metal walkway. At 103 feet long, the largest bridge in Mount Tamalpais State Park leads hikers to descending steps that spit them out to either carefully walk on another redwood log or hop into Fern Creek for a wet walk back onto the trail.
It’s very hard to find fault in getting off the beaten path and onto something less journeyed. “This trail is a hidden gem of adventure with that rugged bridge,” Hillary Colyer, Mount Tamalpais State Park interpreter, told SFGATE.
For more hikes in the Bay Area and around California, check out SFGATE Outdoors.
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: $15*