Saturday, July 12, 2014

Skip Muir Woods, Check out Big Basin

Q: Where can you find really, really old redwoods with tons of hiking trails?
A: Big Basin

If you answered Muir Woods you'd be wrong. Muir Woods has *some* paths but they're full of tourists & they're pretty limited.

Big Basin on the other hand even has a trail all the way to the ocean several miles away. It has fewer tourists, more parking & more serenity.

Muir Woods - 6 miles
Big Basin - 80 miles! (winner, winner, chicken dinner)

Muir Woods *is* a bit closer to the city - it's about an hour's drive including traffic on a less-busy weekend. Once you get there expect hordes that make you think of The Walking Dead. And this after parking trauma - lots fill up, lines of cars snake at 5 MPH for the last few miles of road. Non-service dogs are not allowed.

Big Basin on the other hand is about 90 minutes from the city including traffic. Ample parking in the lots, plenty of space to loose yourself there. Non-service dogs are allowed on leash in part of the park.

Bottom line - Muir Woods feels like Disneyland, Big Basin feels like going for a hike
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BIG BASIN
3 Lindas
halfway between Half Moon Bay & Santa Cruz, easy parking


RELATED
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0 Lindas - the first rule of zero Lindas is we don't talk about 0 Lindas
? Lindas - Linda is interested but hasn't been yet
1 Linda - a solid option if you're nearby & need the service rated
2 Lindas - worth a little extra effort if you're within a mile or two
3 Lindas - make an effort if you're in the area at all but don't kill yourself
4 Lindas - really, you'd be a fool not to get thyself to this place if at all possible