John Muir Woods

John Muir has always been somewhat of a hero to me. Not only was he a minimalist and naturalist, he was easily the loudest voice in the creation of our National Park’s system in America. If it were not for John Muir, Yosemite would not exist today at all, and Yellowstone would have never become the Nation’s first National Park in 1872.

When I began traveling, I did my fair share of reading up on John Muir and was astounded to find out that he lived, literally, right down the street from me when I lived in California. I spent time living in Martinez, California, where the John Muir Historical Site (his farm) is. I promptly visited his farm the very next trip into California.

Once again, even though I lived in the Bay Area for 37 years, I had never visited the John Muir Woods National Monument Visitor’s Center or hike any of the trails. However, I can now say that I have visited yet another place that Muir held close to his heart (which is a long list of just about any place with trees) and connect just a little further with a man that I would have loved to hike with. Kerri and I hiked the 2 mile trail that follows the Redwood Creek while soaking in the forest as best we can in our short visit.

This is also my 73rd National Park visited.
(I have to say this every time to keep track of it myself. I have to catch up to Kerri who has been to more than 100).