Muirly Through the Woods

Muir Woods Hike Brunch at Mountain Home

Eggs, waffles, BLTs, mimosas, what could be better? How about pairing your brunch with a walk through 600-year-old redwood trees. Skip the crowds at Muir Woods' main entrance and start up on Panoramic Highway by the Mountain Home Inn (your brunch spot). You'll hike high on the ridge paralleling the road for a few minutes before descending into the canyon, which is covered by ancient redwoods. Morning light pierces through the canopy, landing on the sword ferns, the scatter of bay laurels, and bigleaf maples. It's a steady drop down to Fern and Redwood Creeks. At the bottom you'll be near the entrance to Muir Woods. Keep heading south along the Fern Creek Trail to enter the park. Soon you'll reach famed Cathedral Grove, home to the biggest trees in Muir Woods. Walk all the way along Redwood Creek before veering off on Canopy View Trail and ascending back to your starting place. If the weather's good, grab an outdoor table at the Mountain Home Inn. If it's chilly, sit by the fire inside. Either way, the breakfast sandwich, filled with three kinds of cheeses, sautéed onions, eggs, potatoes, peppers, and avocado, makes a tasty meal. Mountain Home run!

The hike is 4 miles. Try to get an early start as parking along Panoramic Hwy. (map) fills up fast on weekends. Start on the Trestle Trail, across the street from the Mountain Home Inn and just north of the parking lot. Go 150 feet and turn left on Alice Eastwood Rd. Go 0.2 mile to Panoramic Trail. Follow this to the Canopy View Trail, where you turn right. Then turn right on Lost Trail (note the continuation of Canopy View Trail, which is what you'll come back up on). Follow this to the bottom of the canyon and turn left on the Fern Creek Trail to enter Muir Woods. Follow the main trail through the park and come back up on the Canopy View Trail, starting from the visitor center. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa's Art of the Matter

    Downtown Napa uncorks more than just excellent wine. Art has firmly established itself along the walkways and parkways in the area, punctuated by an annual ArtWalk (year-round) and a temporary Lighted Art Festival.

    View
  2. Animal Encounters

    Located where Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge overlooks the Sacramento River, Turtle Bay Exploration Park is 300 acres of gardens, a museum and playground, aquarium, and unforgettable up-close animal encounters!

    View
  3. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts are onto a fresh perspective in getting a little more personal space for their panoramic viewings.

    View
  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Locals' Feature: Max Smith of Moment Skis

    Meet Max Smith, VP of Moment Skis in Reno, Nevada. Moment is the largest ski manufacturer in the US and you can see how their innovative and artistic skis are made by visiting Moment Skis headquarters in Reno. The Factory is where the magic happens, so drop in for a visit and say hi to the team, including employee dogs who are on quality control.

    View
  2. Sundialed

    Redding is home to one of the world’s most famous pedestrian-only bridges—the Sundial Bridge was created by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava (its sister bridges are in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Seville, Spain). The glass-deck bridge across the Sacramento River is a true sundial....

    View
  3. Mural Roll

    Redding’s bikeshare program encourages biking in and around the city, including downtown. It’s a fun way to see some of the city’s mural art while also stopping for lunch at one of the newest restaurants, Pipeline Craft Taps and Kitchen.

    View
  4. View from Keys View Joshua Tree

    Trio of Trails

    Get into Joshua Tree National Park Park early and hit the classic circuit of short trails before the crowds arrive. We also have some food and overnight recos.

    View