Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods National Monument

Cathedral Grove is located within Muir Woods National Monument in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This amazing grove is home to the tallest and oldest redwoods in the area! This peaceful area encourages quiet contemplation as visitors walk through it on a gentle loop trail. The coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) in Cathedral Grove can reach heights of 380 feet, making them the tallest living things on Earth. Despite their massive size, redwoods have shallow roots, extending only 10 to 13 feet deep, but they spread out 60 to 80 feet and interlace with the roots of neighboring trees. This interconnected root system provides the strength needed to withstand strong coastal winds.

We are very impressed by these huge trees. I couldn't capture the full size with my camera, so I'm adding a few cell phone photos as well. The largest specimen in Mui Woods is 78 m high, about the same height as a 23-story building.