Marin hike: A breathtaking journey to Muir Woods

Energetic summertime visitors may want to visit Muir Woods by hiking to it, or perhaps you do, too. Our vigorous 6-mile loop hike from Pantoll on Mount Tamalpais, down the Stapleveldt and Ben Johnson trails to Muir Woods and up the Dipsea, is stunningly beautiful and intriguing both ways. With iconic Muir Woods as its featured destination, the loop is spectacular throughout.

The trip down, often through precipitous, extensive redwood forest with switchbacks, feels wild and primeval. Muir...