Last updated: September 12, 2024
Place
Muir Woods Bridge 2
Bridge 2 offers a unique vantage point to observe the interplay between the forest and the creek. From the bridge, pause to gaze into Redwood Creek below. Depending on the season, you might see a gentle trickle or a forceful surge of water. Notice the bay laurel trees stretching their branches over the water, a clever strategy in the competition for patches of sunlight. This scene offers a perfect photo opportunity, with the creek winding off into the forest, creating a captivating image of this unique ecosystem.
This creek plays a crucial role in the life cycle of coho salmon, which are vital to the ecosystem of Muir Woods National Monument. During periods of seasonal rain, typically between November and January, these fish undertake an extraordinary journey. Mature coho salmon swim from the Pacific Ocean, driven by an instinct to swim upstream, overcoming numerous obstacles to return to where they hatched.
Here, female salmon create nests called redds in the gravel streambed, laying their eggs. Once fertilized, the eggs hatch into tiny alevin, hidden in the gravel, feeding on their yolk sacs. As the alevin grow into fry, they emerge from the gravel, starting their lives by feeding on aquatic insects in the creek. These young salmon spend at least a year in Redwood Creek, transforming over time into smolts, preparing for life in the ocean.
This creek plays a crucial role in the life cycle of coho salmon, which are vital to the ecosystem of Muir Woods National Monument. During periods of seasonal rain, typically between November and January, these fish undertake an extraordinary journey. Mature coho salmon swim from the Pacific Ocean, driven by an instinct to swim upstream, overcoming numerous obstacles to return to where they hatched.
Here, female salmon create nests called redds in the gravel streambed, laying their eggs. Once fertilized, the eggs hatch into tiny alevin, hidden in the gravel, feeding on their yolk sacs. As the alevin grow into fry, they emerge from the gravel, starting their lives by feeding on aquatic insects in the creek. These young salmon spend at least a year in Redwood Creek, transforming over time into smolts, preparing for life in the ocean.