California Redwoods?

[rockfan4]

We're thinking of attending RR7 this year. The wife would also like to visit a redwood forest. Is Muir woods still the place to go? Or does nobody go there, it's too crowded?

I haven't bought airline tickets yet. Tentative plan is to fly in Tuesday. We wouldn't land until 4:00, so by the time you get a car, etc, not much we can do on that day. Wednesday redwoods, Thursday head for Laguna Seca. Fly out on Sunday. We could fly in on Monday if someone comes up with something else we should do. This will be her third trip to San Francisco / Monterey, I've been there a lot more, I can't think of anything I want to see that I haven't seen already.

Somewhat off topic, but I was watching the MX5 Cup races from Laguna Seca last night, and IMSA announced the track in Salinas California. Did somebody's chamber of commerce drop a big check?

[gacook]

Timely...we're planning a short road trip to the Redwoods this summer. I haven't been since I was a kid (don't remember much) and I wanna take the wife/kids. Was about to start researching, so will be happy to hear the insights here.

[gregpark]

Muir woods is too crowded and the trees are dinky compared to Giant Sequoia Redwood groves. There are several in CA. The big trees grow at a much higher elevation than Muir woods

[JavaBrewer]

We had a really nice weekday trip to Muir woods a few years ago. Yes it is very crowded and you can expect to walk 20-30 minutes to entrance if you drive in. There are shuttles spread throughout the area that you can use but again the lines are long. There are some trails that take you up to the top of the ridge line that I highly recommend.

[ckissick]

Muir Woods has the most and biggest trees. However, as others have said, it's very crowded and you need to take a shuttle, etc. Lots of headaches just to get there.

If you want to see a very nice (but smaller) old-growth grove, try Heritage Grove in La Honda. You will probably be the only ones there. You can go there on the way to Laguna Seca. And plan on lunch at Duarte's in Pescadero.

Here's a link to a nice hike.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/heritage-grove-loop-trail

[70SATMan]

Closer to Laguna in my neck of the woods is Big Basin, Cowell and Niscene Marks. Big Basin was hit pretty hard by fires a couple of years ago. I think they are open again.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Closer to Laguna in my neck of the woods is Big Basin, Cowell and Niscene Marks. Big Basin was hit pretty hard by fires a couple of years ago. I think they are open again.

Big Basin is only partly open. And the trees look like giant used match sticks.

[rcooled]

If you're flying into SF and heading down to Laguna Seca, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park will be on the way. It's just a little north of Santa Cruz in the small mountain town of Felton, about 70 miles down the coast from SF.



https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

If you're not planning to do anything in SF, you might consider flying into San Jose instead. The airport's much easier to deal with and closer to Monterey as well. Still easy to stop at Henry Cowell Redwoods on the way to the track too.

Originally Posted by rockfan4

...and IMSA announced the track in Salinas California. Did somebody's chamber of commerce drop a big check?

The track is actually about half way between Monterey and Salinas, on property belonging to the former Fort Ord Army base. The facility has a Salinas address.

[wildthing]

Just go to Mystery Spot and be done with it.

Or some state park in Santa Cruz.

[70SATMan]

You can hike to the epicenter of the ‘89 Loma Prieta quake in Niscene Marks. It’s a 4-6 mile hike depending on where you park. The epicenter is About three to four miles from my place as the crow flies. Several nice trails.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Muir Woods has the most and biggest trees.

This pic is taken in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a couple of miles from my mountain property. These are Giant Sequoia Redwoods. Muir woods has Coastal Redwoods which grow quite tall but nowhere near as massive as the Giant Sequoias. I've walked through this park a hundred times and am awe inspired every time. You can walk on the 33' diameter stump of a tree cut down 150 years ago with a long steam auger drill bit. It would have been the biggest tree in the world had they let it be. Many of these trees are over 2,000 years old.

[Tobra]

Yosemite/Sequoia is where I would be heading, especially this year. Take rain gear for the mist trail, seriously. Good pair of leather work gloves if going up the back of Half Dome. Drink at least twice as much water as you think you should. Carry trail mix or something too. You want to se the biggest living thing you ever will, that is the place to go. They fixed the road too, should be nice on that high pass too. There is an alpine lake up there would give Ansel Adams wet dreams

If you have never been, it is 100 times better than Muir Woods. Plenty of big trees, and you can take the back way to SF and see Tahoe, and the old Ferrari club hill climb road if you have time WTF is the name of the place up there...how do I not remember, it was only 10 hours into a 12 hour drive 20 years ago


Yeah, San Jose all the way

SFO

[mocha07]

One of our daughters and family,are there now.

[rockfan4]

I think my wife wants to see the bigger diameter trees, but I'm not sure I want to drive 3 hours to a park, then drive another 3 or 4 to get closer to Laguna Seca.

I didn't know there were parks near Santa Cruz, that seems to be our best option given the time available.

I've flown into SJC before. There just aren't that many flights from an airport near me to SJC. I can take a direct flight from MSP to SFO. I hate layovers.

One other thing - neither of us are exactly in shape for much hiking, so the simpler the path the better, especially if we're going to be walking around Rennsport Reunion for 4 days. That climb back to the car at the end of the day can be a bear, especially if you've been in the sun all day.

[john70t]

fwiw, there is a wonderful small redwood enclave in SF Golden Gate Park. San Francisco Botanical Garden.
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest

Not the 'real' redwoods experience but local and a quick trip. Lots of various world vegetation.
Don't leave anything inside the car in view.

[gregpark]

Yosemite is a bucket list must for anyone. The most spectacular place on the planet (Giant Sequoia too) and it's open again after record snow fall. Bring rain gear to get anywhere near a waterfall, they're rippen

[mocha07]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Yosemite is a bucket list must for anyone. The most spectacular place on the planet (Giant Sequoia too) and it's open again after record snow fall. Bring rain gear to get anywhere near a waterfall, they're rippen

Next stop for Mary's family,am enjoying all her photos. Hope they get to see the firery water fall today.!

[juanbenae]

big basin will keep you south of the bay area, and it's traffic. nice ride up hwy 246, or hwy 9 from hwy 1 in santa cruz. if you continue north on skyline you can drop down into half moon bay, eat at a number of cool places and come back south on hwy 1.

if you go the wrong day (just about any day) and time a drive from the monterey peninsula to muir could be a nightmare, all day plus affair. should have flown into san francisco, rented a car went north to muir and then headed for monterey.,,

[ckissick]

Since you are limited for time and don't want to walk much, then my original recommendation for Heritage Grove is still the best. It's a very nice shady grove and you can experience it along the creek on a short, level trail.

[wildthing]

I don't think they're opening Yosemite anytime soon but I could be wrong.

Like I said, Mystery Spot. https://www.mysteryspot.com/

Henry Cowell. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

Nisene. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=666

About an hour from Monterey, and you get to drive through a nice stretch of CA-1.