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Unfortunately didn't feel like a hawk, even once. We drove up here in hopes for great views. Yes, we did get those but gosh getting down the mountain was hard. As hilly as promised tho. The single lane downhill sucks and yet if it had been up hill and downhill, it could have been worse. If you see a parking place, don't try to find something better. Good Luck!
We started by taking the Embarcadero ferry to Sausalito. We decided to walk but can lyft or use their bus transportation. We stopped by the golden gate visitor to head to Conzelman road to start hiking to Hawk Hill. Can also drive from Conzelman road as it is a loop to stop at view Points, one if them being Batter Spencer. We walked the loop up to Hawk Hill.what amazing views! N there's also more trails to explore to the black sands. Def coming back.
BEAUTIFUL AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE PACIFIC AND GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. This must-visit location provides a wide-screen view of the ocean and the famous Golden Gate. I was surprised that the specific trail was not as busy, but it doesn't have as much recognition as other places, such as Battery Spencer. You will find limited parking before entering the trail. Enter through the first tunnel as you enter the parking lot. After you walk through the tunnel, you will see the stairway to heaven. :)
Stellar views on the top! It's so pretty and you can see so far. The walk from the parking lot isn't too far and you go through a tunnel and walk up to the top which is very serene, calm, and you can see for miles. There is another trail that veers off down a staircase and you can go to Black Sands Beach. It's best on a clear day because when the fog rolls in you might not get the picture perfect photos you see on social media.
Inspite of visiting golden gate several times over the past decade we only always crossed the bridge, took a few customary pictures, maybe walked along the bridge a few times. This time we visited hawk hill and I was left speechless. It's truly astonishing such an amazing place exists just a few minutes away, one side of the hill offers epic views of the bridge and the city and the other side has this coastal trail. We did a part of this trail called upper fisherman's trail to black sand beach which had several steps on the hillside leading down to the beach. The view of the steps leading down makes for some insta worthy shots. Reaching the trail head from the parking lot won't take more than a few minutes. The trail itself has a high elevation but is totally worth it.
Awesome views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a great connecting trail for a hike through the Marin Headlands! Hawk Hill not only offers some of the most scenic coastal views of the Bay, but it also allows you to get up close and personal with old war battery 129. Getting here might be a small challenge if you just want to drive up right to the vista point. If you're driving up from Bunker Road, the road is only one way on Conzelman Road. This is a very narrow and windy road that will lead you right to the vista point. You'll find a few parking spots and some benches that face the beautiful vista point aka that iconic Golden Gate Bridge. I decided to hike up to Hawk Hill from Black Sands Beach. If you're planning on doing this, the trail basically follows Conzelman Road for a bit until you reach a trail split where it continues across the road up some stairs. The stairs will lead you right up to the bunker where battery 129 is located, and through the tunnel sits Hawk Hill. This is a site for sore eyes. All of the glory of the Bay plus some of the most scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge will be right there before you. Bundle up because it can get quite windy up there! This seems to be a very popular stopping point for bicyclists too. Once you're there, you can actually follow the road down to several other connecting trailheads. Whether you're planning a nice little hike through the Marin Headlands or just coming for the views, Hawk Hill is an amazing place to visit.
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO VISIT - please leave it how you found it, or BETTER than you found it Hawk hill is one of those hiking spots that you can come back to over and over and have a different experience each time. I only did a third the first time and was sore for 4 days after!! To me, that is the indicator of a great hike. It's deceptively beautiful as you walk down the mountain and even as you decent you KNOW you're going to have to get back up the same way, you keep descending because it is absolutely breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL. From the mountain to the ocean to the bridge to the city just gorgeous views.
2 months ago
Easy hike, away from the crowds at the Golden Gate bridge vista point. Parking was easy and there were no crowds despite it being a clear, sunny day with temps in the 60s. They have signs about raptor migration patterns and such but at the time we visited, we didn't spot any. There are steps to climb and a short hike, so I wouldn't recommend this for those with mobility challenges. For others, if you are looking for panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden gate bridge come here! read more
Unfortunately didn't feel like a hawk, even once. We drove up here in hopes for great views. Yes, we did get those but gosh getting down the mountain was hard. As hilly as promised tho. The single lane downhill sucks and yet if it had been up hill and downhill, it could have been worse. If you see a parking place, don't try to find something better. Good Luck! read more
We started by taking the Embarcadero ferry to Sausalito. We decided to walk but can lyft or use their bus transportation. We stopped by the golden gate visitor to head to Conzelman road to start hiking to Hawk Hill. Can also drive from Conzelman road as it is a loop to stop at view Points, one if them being Batter Spencer. We walked the loop up to Hawk Hill.what amazing views! N there's also more trails to explore to the black sands. Def coming back. read more
Best to visit when it's clear or you won't have that instagram worthy photo of the stairs and ocean. Easy to get to and parking wasn't a problem. Combine this with black sand beach and Bonita lighthouse for a nice couple hours. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
BEAUTIFUL AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE PACIFIC AND GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. This must-visit location provides a wide-screen view of the ocean and the famous Golden Gate. I was surprised that the specific trail was not as busy, but it doesn't have as much recognition as other places, such as Battery Spencer. You will find limited parking before entering the trail. Enter through the first tunnel as you enter the parking lot. After you walk through the tunnel, you will see the stairway to heaven. :) read more
Stellar views on the top! It's so pretty and you can see so far. The walk from the parking lot isn't too far and you go through a tunnel and walk up to the top which is very serene, calm, and you can see for miles. There is another trail that veers off down a staircase and you can go to Black Sands Beach. It's best on a clear day because when the fog rolls in you might not get the picture perfect photos you see on social media. read more
8 months ago
Beautiful place and beautiful views. Definitely coming back. Be careful at the round about, if you go past it you will be stuck on a one way read more
2 years ago
Inspite of visiting golden gate several times over the past decade we only always crossed the bridge, took a few customary pictures, maybe walked along the bridge a few times. This time we visited hawk hill and I was left speechless. It's truly astonishing such an amazing place exists just a few minutes away, one side of the hill offers epic views of the bridge and the city and the other side has this coastal trail. We did a part of this trail called upper fisherman's trail to black sand beach which had several steps on the hillside leading down to the beach. The view of the steps leading down makes for some insta worthy shots. Reaching the trail head from the parking lot won't take more than a few minutes. The trail itself has a high elevation but is totally worth it. read more
1 year ago
Loved this view. Will definitely be going back on another hike at this location. You will get a good workout hiking this trail. read more
2 years ago
Stumbled upon this place on accident while visiting the headlands and was pleasantly surprised! Wouldn't really consider this a hike since it takes a fairly short time (~5 mins to get up), but rather a nice viewpoint. The entrance on the left side is way shorter, but has a steep incline. read more
Awesome views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a great connecting trail for a hike through the Marin Headlands! Hawk Hill not only offers some of the most scenic coastal views of the Bay, but it also allows you to get up close and personal with old war battery 129. Getting here might be a small challenge if you just want to drive up right to the vista point. If you're driving up from Bunker Road, the road is only one way on Conzelman Road. This is a very narrow and windy road that will lead you right to the vista point. You'll find a few parking spots and some benches that face the beautiful vista point aka that iconic Golden Gate Bridge. I decided to hike up to Hawk Hill from Black Sands Beach. If you're planning on doing this, the trail basically follows Conzelman Road for a bit until you reach a trail split where it continues across the road up some stairs. The stairs will lead you right up to the bunker where battery 129 is located, and through the tunnel sits Hawk Hill. This is a site for sore eyes. All of the glory of the Bay plus some of the most scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge will be right there before you. Bundle up because it can get quite windy up there! This seems to be a very popular stopping point for bicyclists too. Once you're there, you can actually follow the road down to several other connecting trailheads. Whether you're planning a nice little hike through the Marin Headlands or just coming for the views, Hawk Hill is an amazing place to visit. read more
2 years ago
SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO VISIT - please leave it how you found it, or BETTER than you found it Hawk hill is one of those hiking spots that you can come back to over and over and have a different experience each time. I only did a third the first time and was sore for 4 days after!! To me, that is the indicator of a great hike. It's deceptively beautiful as you walk down the mountain and even as you decent you KNOW you're going to have to get back up the same way, you keep descending because it is absolutely breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL. From the mountain to the ocean to the bridge to the city just gorgeous views. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The views are beautiful but its not a hike. Its a trail. Parking was close by. There are no bathrooms. read more
4 years ago
Great place to get a Birds Eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge and to get some good photos. I recommend going early to avoid the crowds. read more
Named for legendary middle school student Mike Hawk, who popped up in many classes with substitute teachers, it's the best place to view the Golden Gate. I'm sure the views are amazing from Kirby Cove, Fort Point, Baker Beach, Fort Baker, Crissy Field, Battery East Vista, Lands End, Mike Hunt, but this is the only place with a 360 degree view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Oakland, Bay Bridge, and SF from the piers to Lands End, and even Mt. Diablo if California is not consumed in wildfire smoke. The steep hill (923 feet) is very popular with cyclists with whom you must yield on the narrow ride up Conkleman Road. Named for legendary substitute teacher Mrs. Conkelman who never understood why everyone giggled when she called Mike Hawk absent. Google and GPS is a little glitchy. Search "Hawk Hill Conkleman Road" when getting directions, but it took some trial and error to determine the mileage. Form Bridgeway, it was 6-8 miles. Make sure you know how to drive a roundabout before your trip. According to the website, it is not only rich in military history it is also "the best place to witness the fall raptor migration and provides habitat for the mission blue butterfly," though all I saw were crows, begging for our picnic lunch. For the nerds, tens of thousands of raptors are funneled this direction because the bay doesn't have warm thermal layers that provide lift for more efficient flight AND there's an overabundance of squeaking food. In a given year you should expect to see 9400 red-tailed hawks, 9200 turkey vultures, 2400 Coopers hawks, 751 northern harriers, 500 kestrals, 460 red-shouldered hawks, 2 "I like turtles" written in graffiti, and 1 partridge in a pear tree. Even though there is a bit of graffiti, anything this awesome and free should be five stars. I will recommend the site for anyone visiting SF. read more
GORGEOUS spot! The sweeping views are stunning. Getting there can be slow on a busy evening (tunnel allows traffic only in one direction at a time) but it's really worth it. Recommend trying to get there in time for sunset and check out both sides of the view (through the walking tunnel). Parking was easy. read more
I can't believe it took me this long to check out Hawk Hill. It wasn't even on my radar to check out until my friend told me it was on her list. You drive on this curvy road on the highway - look left, the ocean views and the Golden Gate Bridge are fantastic! I followed the GPS and went as far as I could and found parking. I recommend parking as close as you can to the entrance like I did, or you will be walking for a while to get there. Save those steps for hiking at Hawk Hill! It's pretty busy on the weekends, so good luck finding parking! Hawk Hill is like the BEST HIDDEN GEM for all around great views of San Francisco! STUNNING! And when the weather is sunny and perfect like on the day I went, I just think to myself, DAMN. CALIFORNIA IS THE BEST STATE EVER!!! TRUTH. I love the stairs! And oh, the views!!! I would definitely bring my friends who are visiting here! Heck, I would bring anyone here! read more
The best things in life are free. Hawk Hill is appropriately named since not only you'll find hawks in their natural habitat, but you'll also see eagles, falcons, ospreys, vultures, harriers, kites and raptors migrating during the fall. I've been lucky to witness a few of these migrations and it's truly a wonderful scene watching these birds of prey gliding through the updrafts that the Marin Headlands produce. Whenever we have visitors and play tour guide, I take friends and family on this side of the Headlands to have the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Bay. On a clear day, you can see as far South to the Peninsula, East Bay and Marin County. Since you're also at a high vantage point, the best view is when the fog rolls in to cover the City and part of the bridge like a blanket of fluffy, floating marshmallow. If you're into history, this is also the site of Battery Construction 129 built during WWII fortifications along the coast. It featured two large guns designed to keep battleships within striking range. They were connected through tunnels that had ammo and storage rooms under tons of concrete and camouflaged with natural vegetation. Although the ammo and storage rooms are now sealed, you can still explore the tunnels and wander around like a kid opening gifts on Christmas day. Weather up here is different from Vista Point down below so bring extra clothing or jacket just in case. There a no restrooms up here so you best relieve yourself down below before venturing up here. If you plan on staying up here to explore the grounds, I recommend you bring some snacks and bottled water, but please don't litter and take your garbage with you. And definitely bring a camera since the views up here are priceless. Well, that was probably obvious since people nowadays are taking selfies galore like a Paris Hilton duck face. Aside from Twin Peaks, this is also one of the best locations to be during Fleet Week. Just watching the Blue Angels roaring from the sky is worth the price of admission alone. Tip: Parking is sparse but it takes some patience for a spot to become available. Or get here early to avoid the crowd. read more
2 years ago
HIDDEN GEM for the best views of not only the golden gate bridge but also some gorgeous sunsets. Take a drive on the days when sun is shining bright and you won't be disappointed. My favorite part is starting the evening seeing the golden gate and as the sun starts to set, go to the back side to see the beautiful colors that the sky puts up. Truly mesmerizing! There's also a little hike trail if you want to spend longer. This area gets pretty windy in the evenings (oh hello, SF!). Place often gets crowded in the evenings but there's ample space to be socially distant while taking in the views! read more
2 years ago
Unfortunately everyone seems to know about Hawk Hill these days! It's just not for a favored few anymore :-). It is a 923 foot Peak in the Marin Headlands just immediately south of the Golden Gate Bridge if you're coming from the North (Sacramento). As a matter of fact, the exit can almost be missed if you are not paying attention. It is literally the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge entrance. In addition to the most incredible, breathtaking and beautiful views of San Francisco, it is the major Pacific Flyway for all kinds of raptors. Which means in the fall, starting about the end of September, you can witness Hawks, Ospreys, Eagles and many other birds of that genius making their migration. They have official bird counters with their notepads and binoculars located at certain spots during this time doing the annual bird count. It is so much fun to go there when these people are around because they will talk to you and give you the scoop of the day's sightings and maybe even let you peek into their scopes. Being a long-time birder, this is just heaven for me. And during the migration there is so much less traffic going up to Hawk Hill. You practically have the area to yourself Monday through Thursday. I don't think weekends will ever be the same. Unless it's a totally foggy day and then you can have the place to yourself :-). You can walk just a few feet through tunnels and take in the views of the expansive Pacific Ocean on the other side. I mean does it get any better than that? One side with views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, the mouth of the bay opening up into the Pacific and then walking to the other side and being mesmerised by the beautiful Pacific Ocean. A picnic lunch is always in order. There are a few benches on each side... but don't count on them. Nothing wrong with making a table out of your car seat enjoying that Brie and prosciutto sandwich and a glass of champagne right out your car door :-) with an eye on everything San Francisco. I don't think you're supposed to have alcohol so you better keep it on the down-low :-). Please drink responsibly LOL. Oh and by the way the restroom situation on a busy day is really really really really horrible. They are only your standard out houses. All the money someone has put into repaving the road up to Hawk Hill.... please do something about that situation!!! It is amazing to see the bicyclists riding up and down this road. They must be in incredible shape. I am not sure how they enjoy that bottle of champagne and then get back on that bike :-) oh well! No Raptors were harmed while writing this review :-) read more
Amazing views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge & surrounding Marin Headlands. Just a beautiful scenic place to explore on clear days & even on foggy days. You have to go to Hawk Hill the next time you go to the Marin Side of the Golden Gate. It's a must. To get there you keep driving up the road past Battery Spencer. Continue to the left past the roundabout and once you plateau for a bit you will see parking spaces on the left, a pedestrian crosswalk and big tunnel to walk through on your right side. The views are epic especially on clear days. And you certainly see hawks circling above. It is definitely Hawk Hill. If you continue on Conzelman you will encounter a windy beautiful road that shows you the Marin coastline on your way to Black Sands beach, other vista points such as abandoned war era outposts/gun turret sites, a presidio looking military installation that is closed to the public and other stops before it circles back and takes you back to the roundabout. The ocean looks so beautiful from Hawk Hill and the drive down past it. You will know what I mean once you're on that road. It's a single lane, one way road, once you're on the curvy descent. I had to drive slow so I can film it. It was California coastline at its finest. Just breathtaking... And the view of the bridge and the city skyline in the distance alone is worth the drive up and the toll fee back. Just go. See for yourself. There is more to the Marin Headlands than just Battery Spencer... Nothing like going home again and playing tourist. read more
2 years ago
Had to visit this spot because of my bf's love for rom coms, a scene from the movie boys and girls was shot here, if you know what I'm talking about. Beautiful drive to get up to this point with many pull out spots with breathtaking views. The wind can be brisk so bring a jacket. Make sure you go on a day that there is no overcast and you will see the entire SF! read more
4 years ago
Simply amazing views to be had up here of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Some pointers - try to come Monday through Thursday, preferably outside the summer months when it is not so packed. The limited parking will be easier to find then too (note - we went in early January and so it was not too crowded, but freezing wind chill was a feature, so wrap up warm! Watch out for the many cyclists slowly winding their way up too). The first few vantage points on the way up were packed. Go right to the top for less of a crowd. My main recommendation is to come for the sunset (sunrise an option too but Google it as I believe you must walk further due to various gates not being open that early for parking higher up). We got there at about 4.15pm for a 5.03pm sunset. We brought our dog (and his coat), wrapped ourselves in layers, a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for my wife (both homemade), some popcorn and boom! An inexpensive and romantic date. We sat out on a bench and watched the sunset and lights flicker on in San Francisco. The people gawking from their cars stared on in bemusement at the windswept trio picnicing before them. Young love! read more
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Conzelman Rd
San Francisco, CA 94965
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Ask the Community - Hawk Hill
Hello ya'll! May I pls know the exact location of the stairs where the background or view will be the gorgeous coastal ? TIA
Drive to the TOP of the mountain to the very top. It's flat with a few parking slots. Many pull-off spots with parking spots also available on the way to the top. At Hawk Hill, access is fm parking lot via two different paths. One thru the tunnel…
Is this a difficult hike?
It depends on your starting point. You can drive all the way to the top and park there for a quick and easy hike to enjoy the views.
How far a walk/hike from closest parking to top of hawk hill to have a full panaromic view w nothing blocking?
It is a short 300 foot walk up a fairly steep road to reach the top of Hawk Hill from the parking lot below. Parking can be difficult to find in that lot, however.
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1 month ago
Hawk Hill - hiking - Updated July 2026
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