Giant Redwoods

[Debbie118]

Hello,

We are traveling to San Francisco for a week in August. We would like to see giant redwoods while we are there. Based on current scheduling, we won't have the time to drive up to Eureka/Fortuna. What is the next best alternative to see giant trees nearer to San Francisco? I have talked to some friends, one suggested Mendocino, someone else suggested Monterey, yet another person said Muir Woods is fine for a day of trees. I am not sure what to do!

Thanks!

 

[GetawaysRus]

If you plan on spending most of your time in San Francisco, and a visit to an area with redwoods would be a short side trip, I'd vote for Muir Woods National Monument. It's close to SF (11 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge). The nature trail is an easy walk. You'll spend at most a few hours within the park and you are going to see some very impressive trees.

 

[artringwald]

I also vote for the breath taking beauty and serenity of Muir Woods. It's been over 11 years since we were there and we'd love to go back.

 

[vacationtime1]

We live about three miles from Muir Woods. The short trip from SF and the paved trails near the visitor center will give you a good feel of what a redwood forest feels like.

The larger forests with taller specimen further north are clearly superior, but the half day trip to Muir Woods will give you 90% of the benefit for 10% of the effort.

Go early in the day and do not go on a weekend if you can possibly avoid it.

Consider lunch at a waterfront restaurant in Sausalito on the way back to SF.

 

[amycurl]

We did Muir Woods as a side trip from San Francisco and had a great time. Stopped at a waterfront restaurant in Sausalito for breakfast on the way up; had lunch in the park; left in the mid-afternoon and had dinner at a great place on the edge of Golden Gate Park.

It was a fantastic day, and my then four-month old enjoyed herself, too. She practically did a back-flip out of my arms as we were leaving Muir Woods, because she kept wanting to look up into the trees.

 

[prickler]

Muir woods gets my vote for most beautiful place to hike in the Bay Area, although Big Basin in Santa Cruz is worth looking into as well. It's a little further away, but I lived in Santa Cruz for a few years and IMHO the mix of mountains, ocean, and eclectic town life is worth the drive.

 

[sfwilshire]

If you plan on spending most of your time in San Francisco, and a visit to an area with redwoods would be a short side trip, I'd vote for Muir Woods National Monument. It's close to SF (11 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge). The nature trail is an easy walk. You'll spend at most a few hours within the park and you are going to see some very impressive trees.

It is, indeed, very beautiful there. These are the coastal redwoods. Not the Giant Sequoias. Think tall and (relatively) skinny.

Sheila

 

[DaveNV]

It is, indeed, very beautiful there. These are the coastal redwoods. Not the Giant Sequoias. Think tall and (relatively) skinny.

Sheila

You just taught me something. I never knew there were two types of big redwoods. Not that I "didn't know it," I just never thought to ask if there were different types. Duh!

A quick Google search on "difference between coastal redwoods and giant sequoias" led me to this page: http://www.giant-sequoia.com/faqs/giant-sequoia-questions/ and a very informative answer to things.

Who said TUG was just about timesharing?

Thanks, Sheila!
Dave

 

[sfwilshire]

Dave,

There are actually three types of redwoods. There is also a Dawn Redwood. I have one in my yard that's about 40' tall. They survive the weather in my neighborhood better than the California varieties. I do also have a coastal redwood that a friend brought back for me. I planted it in the woods where it would get a lot of shelter and it has survived, but we haven't had a cold winter yet. Hope it makes it.

The Dawn Redwoods turn brown in the winter and are a bit odd looking. I also planted one in my parents yard. They grow like crazy.

I helped my daughter plan a trip to California recently and it was fun remembering all the great times I had there in the past. The Kings Canyon National Park mentioned in your link was well worth the trip. I've been there a couple of times. I haven't been to California in 10 years or more. Hope to get back soon.

Sheila

 

[DaveNV]

Three? I need to check deeper into these. I live in an area where a coast redwood would probably grow, and I'm looking to replant a few trees in my backyard. Not sure how long it'd take to be a sizeable tree, but that'd probably be the next homewoner's problem. Time to talk to a local nursery.

Thanks!
Dave

Dave,

There are actually three types of redwoods. There is also a Dawn Redwood. I have one in my yard that's about 40' tall. They survive the weather in my neighborhood better than the California varieties. I do also have a coastal redwood that a friend brought back for me. I planted it in the woods where it would get a lot of shelter and it has survived, but we haven't had a cold winter yet. Hope it makes it.

The Dawn Redwoods turn brown in the winter and are a bit odd looking. I also planted one in my parents yard. They grow like crazy.

I helped my daughter plan a trip to California recently and it was fun remembering all the great times I had there in the past. The Kings Canyon National Park mentioned in your link was well worth the trip. I've been there a couple of times. I haven't been to California in 10 years or more. Hope to get back soon.

Sheila

 

[sfwilshire]

Three? I need to check deeper into these. I live in an area where a coast redwood would probably grow, and I'm looking to replant a few trees in my backyard. Not sure how long it'd take to be a sizeable tree, but that'd probably be the next homewoner's problem. Time to talk to a local nursery.

Thanks!
Dave

The Dawn Redwoods grew really fast. A local garden center suggested them for our climate. I planted my first at my parent's house while I was building my own and it grew too big to transplant before I got ready to move it. Just guessing, they probably grew 30' or more every ten years.

I've planted Maples and Oaks, but nothing that grew this fast.

My little coastal redwood in the woods is only about 4' tall. It was one of those tiny ones that you buy in gift shops about three years ago.

Sheila

 

[Blues]

Three? I need to check deeper into these. I live in an area where a coast redwood would probably grow, and I'm looking to replant a few trees in my backyard. Not sure how long it'd take to be a sizeable tree, but that'd probably be the next homewoner's problem. Time to talk to a local nursery.

Thanks!
Dave

IIRC, coast redwoods (sequoia sempervirens) grow at a very fast rate for the first 20-40 years of their life. They'll grow faster than a typical pine for that period of time, and achieve a height higher than a pine of the same age. But then their growth slows way, way down. They can take thousands of years to get to 300' tall.

I've planted them in a previous house, and my neighbor planted a couple of them on his property about 10-15 years ago. They're very, very large already.

Depending on how long you plan to stay in your house, they very well could turn out to you your problem

-Bob

 

[Debbie118]

Thanks Everyone

Thanks to all of you for the interesting discussion, and lesson! Muir Woods will be included on our agenda!

Thanks again!

 

[swift]

If you have time about 1 hour North of San Francisco in Sonoma County is Armstrong Woods http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450 there you will find the Sequoia's. The hikes you can take through there are beautiful and you can stop by Korbel Champagne Cellars on the way.