Muir Woods National Monument

Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, located about 12 miles north of San Francisco, features a number of trails that wind among towering old-growth coastal redwood trees. The main trail, which is paved and boardwalked, is a two-mile loop that begins at the Visitor Center near the entrance plaza, where you can peruse exhibits about the redwoods and pick up a souvenir at the gift shop.