Over one million people visit Over one million people visit Muir Woods National Monument each year. Since the monument is only about 550 acres, selecting the best hike in Muir Woods commonly involves finding one that allows you to get away from the crowds. Whatever your situation, you want to plan out your time well ahead of your trip to Muir Woods, or risk not getting what you want when visiting this amazing natural land just north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. each year. Since the monument is only about 550 acres, selecting the best hike in Muir Woods commonly involves finding one that allows you to get away from the crowds. Whatever your situation, you want to plan out your time well ahead of your trip to Muir Woods, or risk not getting what you want when visiting this amazing natural land just north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Parkis a 10-acre stand of the unique teddybear cholla cactus. You really have to see this place to believe it. This easy boardwalk trail is an amazing place to visit anytime of year, but it is especially impressive to see during the cholla cactus bloom (see below for details).
Born of erosion from a volcano on the San Andreas fault, Pinnacles National Park is an imposing rock formation in California. The high peaks of the park rise over 3,000 feet from the surrounding landscape in a way that could only happen through thousands of years of tectonic movement.
What was created from movement along the San Andreas Fault attracts hikers and rock climbers from all over the world.
Of all the “must-do” activities in the Marin Headlands, the Point Bonita Lighthouse hike is an excellent choice while you are visiting this part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The highlight of this short trail is heading across the suspension bridge that leads to the Point Bonita Lighthouse, but the entire trip has great views, including views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay.
It’s hard to find a quiet spot in one of the United States’ most attended natural attractions, but the Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is likely your best bet if you plan on visiting Yosemite. Though closed in the winter (and frequently in the early spring and late fall, depending on snowfall), the Tuolumne Meadows area is truly a special place where you’ll find great hiking, wildflower-filled fields, peaceful streams, secluded lakes and maybe even a bit of quiet in this otherwise densely populated park.
