Muir Woods National Monument is a small plot of public land that protects some of the oldest and largest trees in the Bay Area. The famous residents are coastal redwoods, which grow to be taller than any other tree on Earth. Many trees in Muir Woods reach higher than 200 feet and are nearly 1,000 years old. They are protected here even though similar forests have been cut down in much of California. Therefore, Muir Woods is one of the best places in the state to see an intact old-growth forest.

Big Basin has the “largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco,” according to the state park’s website. Many trees here are nearly 300 feet tall and more than 1,000 years old. It’s hard to even appreciate their full scale from the ground, but you’ll certainly feel dwarfed when you stand next to a trunk that’s 60 feet in circumference. On the Redwood Loop, you can do just that. You can even walk inside one that’s been hollowed out by fire, though it still survives.

Sam McDonald Park, though not so well known, is home to some of the largest redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. According to RedwoodHikes.com, the stand called Heritage Grove is where you’ll find the biggest ones, along with a particularly lush understory and a babbling stream. The caveat is that the old-growth grove is quite small in number of trees. It’s surrounded by large and attractive second-growth forest, though, and the whole hike to get there is enjoyable.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of the best places to see huge trees. This natural area is near Santa Cruz, but remains a reasonable drive from most part of the Bay Area. The little bit of extra distance makes it far less crowded than Muir Woods National Monument, and you can drive your own car right in, rather than taking a shuttle like at Muir Woods. This park also has a nice campground if you want to spend the weekend.

Redwoods are a natural staple of the Bay Area. Waterfalls, on the other hand, are not so common, especially big ones. This loop in Big Basin Redwoods State Park happens to have both big trees and big waterfalls, making it one of the best hikes in the area for lovers of either. And who doesn’t love them?