The Long Slow Road
Jutting ferns, spongy green moss, the rich smell of moist earth. A creek babbles as sunlight fights past branches from hundreds of feet above, creating dappled light on the ground. Redwood forests are magical, shady places. Muir Woods is a favorite, but its extreme popularity means timed reservations are required to visit from the official parking lot. For those of us with the ability to hike steep trails, hiking down into Muir Woods from a ridge high above has become a popular alternative. Most of the trail options for hiking in and out of Muir Woods from above are pretty steep in places. A less steep option is the Alice Eastwood Camp trail and road that cuts through a campground midway up the mountainside. I remembered the shallower grade climb from a previous hike, so revisited the Alice Eastwood Trail for the ascending leg of a Muir Woods hike to report on this “easier” hike option. Turns out that a lower grade incline doesn’t feel that much easier when it’s long. The old kids-in-the-car phrase, “Are we there yet?” ran through my head repeatedly as we made yet another turn on the slowly rising road to the ridge where we’d parked. “Maybe short and steep” next time, I thought to myself. We don’t always have the choice between a quick, steep chug up a hill and a long, slow winding climb. Life includes a mixture of both. Shifting gears according to our current challenges is a constantly evolving life skill. Keep putting one foot forward! This week’s Hike Notes, Alice Eastwood Camp Hike-Muir Woods, takes readers on a trail through a camp site between Muir Woods and the ridge above, offering a long, easy grade redwood hike. Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries. If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777 New this week: Hike Notes 210: Alice Eastwood Camp Hike-Muir Woods
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Lisa LouisSharing insights and hiking highlights (Hikes, Hike Search by Area) from the special needs caregiver front in San Francisco. Archives
February 2025
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