The Redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument is the ideal day trip from San Francisco, to genuinely connect with the trees and forest-bathing. The coastal conditions of northern California are ideal for Redwood growth. It provides a unique sanctuary of pristine nature. Just 12 miles north of San Francisco, this old-growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest covers 240 acres (97 ha). Today, there are just 72 Redwood groves worldwide, existing only in northern California and southern Oregon.
The Coast Redwoods are the tallest living beings on Mother Earth. The world’s tallest tree, “Hyperion” stands at 379 feet in Redwoods National Park. Due to the coastal micro-climate, a marine fog often shrouds the forests, supporting a damp environment for prolific plant growth. Because of this, their roots are relatively shallow. As a slow growing evergreen tree, they grow to great heights and age, living over 2000 years. Think about that, 2 millenniums! Also, their thick, tannin rich-red bark protects them from insects and forest fires.
Besides Muir Woods in California, there are the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP). This comprises Redwood National Park and California’s Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. The combined RNSP contains 139,000 acres, protecting 45% of all remaining Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) old-growth forests.
California Redwoods balance climate change by absorbing more CO2 than any tree on Earth.
Most importantly, the redwood forests are paramount in helping to fight climate change. Studies show that coast redwoods capture more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other tree on Earth. Through photosynthesis, the redwoods transform CO2 (cause of climate change) into the oxygen we breathe. Also, as these trees are destroyed, they release much of their stored CO2 into the environment. To put in perspective. a redwood forest absorbs 7 times more carbon as biomass than a tropical rainforest.
By early 20th century, most of these redwood forests were cut down. Their wood was popular for its lightness and beauty. However, the Redwood Canyon of Muir Woods remained uncut, due to its inaccessible location. After offsetting proposals to flood the canyon, its owner, a wealthy politician donated the land to the government. President Theodore Roosevelt declared the land a national monument and named it after the renowned Naturalist, John Muir.
Redwoods of Muir Woods: Flora & Fauna
Most of the Redwoods in the Muir Woods National Monument are between 500 and 800 years old. The oldest is at least 1,200 years old. Furthermore, other tree species grow in the understory of the redwood groves. Three of the most common, for example, are the California Bay Laurel, the Big Leaf Maple and the Tanoak. Also, the understory grows huckleberry, blackberry and salmonberry, that provide food for the animals. Common flowering shrubs thrive here, such as, California rhododendrons and azaleas, along with the sword ferns throughout the forest.
Muir Woods is home to over 50 species of birds. This relatively low number is due to the lack of insects. Furthermore, the tannin in the trees repels the insects and the volume of flowers and fruits produced by plants below the canopy is limited by the shade of the redwoods. Occasionally, you can see a northern spotted owl or pileated woodpeckers in the woods. Redwood Creek provides a crucial spawning habitat for coho or silver salmon and steelheads. Overall, the monument is home to a variety of mammals, such as, the American Shrew Mole and deer. Also, most of the mammals are not seen, as they are nocturnal or burrowing animals living under the ground.
Forest-Bathing in Muir Woods National Monument
Approaching Muir Woods, our driver tells us, that there’s no WIFI in the forest. Perfect, this is what I need, a digital detox, while forest-bathing in the Redwoods. Because we are wine-tasting later, we only have an hour in the woods. But, as I would soon find out, an hour in the Redwoods goes a long way. I enter under the wooden sign, engraved Muir Woods National Monument, into the green corridor. Then, I feel the refreshing, clean air allure me inside this calm sanctuary.
My pace slows down to the stillness of the trees and the past fades away into the here and now. Thus, I attune to the forest and the quiet enchantment… then notice the sun’s iridescent rays through the branches, sparking my intuition. Alone, I follow the creek, absorbing the forest-bathing like a sponge. Forest-bathing or Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese concept for cleansing our energies by spending time in the trees.
Digital Detox in the Redwoods without WIFI
Amidst our modern WIFI world, everyone starves for connection. We unconsciously reach for this alliance through the digital world. However, most will find a much stronger connection in the forest. Being in the forest allows me to engage with the symbiosis with the trees: receiving their oxygen and offering my carbon dioxide. This reciprocity is a focus for true meditation.
I walk by Cathedral Grove and revel in my vulnerable sense of humility, awkwardly bending my neck back to look high into the forest canopy. These majestic giants rise like cathedral spires with their branches emerging high from the ground. The massive trunks are 8-20 feet in diameter. It’s intriguing to watch the small people walk by these giant trees, having a Jurassic Park moment. The barks’ reddish-brown, burnt sienna hues are exquisite with a richness that warms the heart. The forest soliloquy is a language of longevity and peace. Ecologists say trees communicate with each other. I believe they also communicate with us. Here, we come to realize the essence of nature’s healing majesty. This is where I let my ego’s shadow go, into the evergreen shade…
After an hour in the pristine Redwoods, my stress is less. There’s a wise, unconditional love that their branches wrap around us. This holds us in a place where insight reflects in the elements of nature and the hologram of life. This green vortex puts life into a Taoist balance of yin and yang. The sense of renewal is the essence of “Forest Bathing,” giving me the rich oxygen and connection with the ancient, wise trees. I envision the tall trees like antenna’s transmitting spiritual truths, for all living beings to receive.
Volunteer or Donate to Preserve the Redwoods
On a final note, Save the Redwoods League has significantly contributed to protecting the Redwoods. There are many ways to volunteer or donate for the preservation of these natural wonderlands. Volunteer positions vary widely, from building and maintain trails to handling educational items in the parks’ bookstores. This reminds us, that there is always something we can individually do in our global struggles to save our pristine old-growth forests. Entrance fees to enjoy these old-growth forests are also a form of Ecotourism. In the end, economies benefit more by preserving precious ecosystems, than destroying them. Most importantly, these forests help to fight climate change and keep everyone healthier and connected to a sustainable future.
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