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OCEAN VIEW, LOST TRAIL |
DISTANCE: 3.4 miles round-trip
HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours
SEASON: year-round
DIFFICULTY: moderate
This small national monument with its awesome redwoods and dense ferns sees more than one million visitors annually. Winter and early spring are the least crowded seasons, but an early start anytime should provide a few hours of peace.
Start from the visitor center. The wide path traversing the canyon bottom passes the most impressive redwoods. You’ll walk its length on your return; for now, bear right after 100 yards onto Ocean View Trail. Redwoods here are younger and smaller, interspersed with Douglas firs. The trail curves and climbs its way to a meeting with Lost Trail at 1.5 miles. Note this junction; but continue for 200 yards until Ocean View exits the forest below Panoramic Hwy. A hillside boulder between the trail and the road offers the trip’s sole long-distance view.
Return to the previously noted junction. Turn right onto Lost Trail, descending steeply on railroad-tie stairsteps. In 0.7 mile take Fern Creek Trail, which follows the creek for a half mile, crossing it twice. Near the end of the trail is the Kent Memorial, a large Douglas fir dedicated to Congressman William Kent, who donated this land. The loop ends back on the main trail.
From U.S. 101 north, take the Mill Valley/Stinson Beach/Hwy. 1 exit and continue straight 1.0 mile to Shoreline Hwy. (Hwy. 1). Turn left onto Shoreline Hwy. and drive 2.5 miles, then turn right onto Panoramic Hwy. Drive 0.9 mile and turn left onto Muir Woods Rd. Drive 1.5 miles to the parking area.
