Muir Woods National Monument stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of conservationist John Muir. Established in 1908, it was named after Muir, who was instrumental in the establishment of the National Park System. Situated within California's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods harbors one of the last remaining stands of old-growth coastal redwoods, some towering over 250 feet tall and perhaps 1,200 years old. Its creation marked an early recognition of the need to protect these majestic giants from the encroachment of logging and development. Its towering redwoods stand as silent sentinels, reminding us of the importance of stewardship and the enduring beauty of the natural world.
However, describing the redwoods as I have above
does not come close to capturing the experience of standing on the forest floor
amid these giant trees. Walking through Muir Woods, you feel as though you are
inside a great, upright cathedral constructed of all that is life itself. The
trees seem to be the very timbers holding the sky aloft. And yet, sounds within
this temple remain soft and without a discernible edge. Where full sunlight
reaches something in the understory, be it a drop of water or a flower, that
something stands bold and precious.
I have posted a few images from deep in Muir Woods.
—Mitchell Hegman
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