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Absolutely stunning. The Marin Headlands offer some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco. The hiking trails are beautiful and well worth exploring, whether you're going for a short walk or a longer hike. It's peaceful, scenic, and feels like a total escape from the city even though it's so close. Bring a camera -- every overlook feels postcard-worthy. A must-visit if you're in the Bay Area. Magical!
The Marin Headlands is one of the most beautiful places in California. The views of the ocean, cliffs, and Golden Gate Bridge are absolutely breathtaking. Every turn on the trail feels like a postcard. We stopped at several lookout points and spent time just listening to the waves and the wind. The trees here are some of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen in my life. They're tall, twisted, and full of character. It was so amazing to walk among them and feel the calm of the forest all around. There's so much history here too, from the old bunkers to the hidden structures tucked into the hills. You can really feel the mix of nature and time standing still. Bring water, good shoes, and a camera because you'll want to remember every moment. It's peaceful, wild, and completely worth the visit.
Quite a few memories dating back to elementary school. Probably the only memories I have of this place because there isn't much else here. Turns out, way back when, we were able to stay for at least a few days (OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIP!!!) at Fort Cronkhite. Somehow my elementary school worked it out so that we could stay in the barracks from WWII. Marine Mammal Center (https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/what-we-do) was at the "top" and they didn't allow dogs inside so we brought out food made at home and ate lunch outside on the deck. Great views. The walk around the lagoon is a flat mile and change (1.2?) and the dog came with us. Still need to check out the Nike.
This is one of the perfect places to watch the sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge, SF cityline, Pacific Ocean, Bay Bridge, and even Alcatraz Island! Embracing the breathtaking views, crisp air, and nature serves as a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of SF. The winds can be piercingly cold, so bring extra thick layers. Before heading out, check the weather to make sure Karl the fog doesn't obstruct too much visibility!
We love hiking the trails around here. The views are absolutely spectacular, amazing, and beautiful! I'm always in awe with the ocean. The air is clean and crisp around here. It's always best to come really early in the morning especially if you want to find parking. The one setback is, you have to be careful leaving any belongings in your car because the street parking areas are hot spots for "smash and grab" activity. There were a lot of people sightseeing over this past weekend. It was a really nice day because of the perfect weather and clear blue skies. People were enjoying being outside after all the rain we've had. We will definitely come back to hike the other trails that we haven't conquered yet.
The Marin Headlands occupies a large beautiful landscape for visitors, including natives and tourists alike. The beautiful aerial views of the San Francisco Bay area from a top of the many hillsides can be seen from various trails and landmarks. Parking can be tricky due to the large amount of visitors on any given day, but especially the weekends. On our most recent trip, there was some construction and we couldn't easily find a parking space. Additionally, if you're visiting with children, you may want to bring some snacks as there aren't any food options in the immediate area, but if you travel farther into the city, you will find many culinary options. The Marin Headlands is certainly worth a visit and I highly recommend you add this as a stop on your bucket list of Bay Area destinations.
First time in this trail. We went with our group of friends and started at 9 am and done by 12 noon. What can I say... this was one of the beautiful and amazing hike I've gone to here in the bay. On the way there, we took the scenic route where we passed the golden gate bridge, and the Presidio area. - a good start already for great views. For almost 4 miles, it took us 3 hrs which is not bad. Parking is good but beware of theft warning. It is on their website to warn people. When we came at 9 the parking are almost half full so it's always better to start early. There are a couple of public restrooms that we encountered but you know how they smell lol So it's up to you if you want to go or hold it until the end lol The park was clean and well-maintained too. The route we took was kind of steep and rough but the route back was smoother. Overall, the intensity level for me was a medium. I thought it was gonna be harder because when we were just starting, I was already catching my breath lol woooh! Halfway, we got closer to the GG bridge and the view was awesome! You can see the Alcatraz, Sausalito side, City of whole San Francisco. Definitely no picture-taking can be missed. Lol! We even saw a group of people taking professional photos(prenuptial) and another group where a young lady celebrates her quinciñera wearing her nice beautiful gown like a princess. Id love to come back here again! Definitely recommended!!!
I mean... what's NOT to love about the Marin Headlands?! It's practically a playground for hikers, bikers, and sightseers alike. The numerous amount of hiking trails will keep you coming back to explore more. The radiant views of the SF and Marin coastline, Gerbode Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge seem to be endless. The drive alone can also be quite an adventure as you scale up windy one way roads that will expose you to breathtaking views of the city. I mainly come to the headlands to hike, but there have been a few times where I've merely stopped off on my way back from the beach to check out some of the beautiful scenery. As far as hiking goes, this place is an absolute gold mine. You will get a good mix of practically everything here. Coastal views, inclines, rolling hills, cityscapes, and even some urban groves can all be found along these trails. Some of my favorite hiking trails within the Headlands include Pirate's Cove, Tennessee Valley, Hill 88, and Hawk Hill. I love that most of the trails are are interconnectable and many of them will lead you right down to a beach and/or cove. There are also a few popular vista points in the Headlands, one of the most notable being of the Golden Gate Bridge. While this vista is stunning, it's often super packed with tourist and extremely cold and windy since it sits on the edge of the coast facing the bridge. In fact, the Marin Headlands is a very touristy spot in general. It makes total sense as many historical landmarks can be found here. There are several old war batteries that can be found along a few of the vista points and hiking trails. The Marin Headlands is also apart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is recognized as part of California's National Park System. You can find some great information about the Miwok Native Americans who have lived in this area for thousands of years. The Miwok Trail was named after these Native Americans and is just one of many routes that they hiked regularly over the years. This is a very popular area, so starting your hiking and sightseeing is always advisable to get ahead of the crowds. Very blessed to be able to say that I live near this amazing place.
This is the ideal place to take your family of kids or even a group of tourist that appreciate the outdoors. Lots of fresh air, wild life to see, and lots of hiking. It is a National park, so you pay for it with your taxes.
Located north of San Francisco. I've visited in the past by vehicle until last week. In the last seven days I've come twice by ebike. Those spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the City of San Francisco? Yep taken from the Marin Headlands which is part of the GGNRA. We biked up using the dedicated bike lane to the top of Hawk Hill. We passed many road bikers but many of them eventually made it to the top - I'm assuming it's their daily exercise. Once at the top we took in the wondrous views of the City by the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean. Doesn't get better than that. To get down to the Nike Missile area from Hawk Hill, we had to bike down the one way road with a sign declaring a 18 degree grade. Yikes! Very scary. Needless to say I took my time. What used to serve as a military base is now an haven for hikers, bikers, and dog walkers. There are still military batteries you can explore. The Marine Mammal Center is here. As is the Bay Area Discovery Center as is the Nike Missile as is Point Bonita lighthouse as the Pt Bonita YMCA as is a visitor center. It's a great day trip. Later we looped around and left the Marin Headlands using the one way tunnel. There's a dedicated bike lane each way sharing a tunnel with vehicles. That was intimidating due to the speed. Will I be back? Off season like now. Yesterday there were so many walkers and bikers on the Golden Gate Bridge as we crossed north out of the City and our return south back to the City. High season it'll be even more traffic.
What a wonderful short hike and view from the Marin Headlands Golden Gate vista area! From the H. Dana Bower rest area/vista on the Sausalito side of the Golden Gate Bridge, we took the walking/bicycling path that runs from the rest area, under the highway, to this vista area. Distance was about 0.5 miles with about 300' elevation change. Trail is packed dirt/some gravel, or you can walk in bike lane along paved road. You can also park closer to this vista point if you don't want the exercise. There's one bench with excellent views as you approach the top. Bring a jacket and protect your cap. It's very windy.
"SCA Trail: Foggy, Cold, Muddy. Otherwise, Perfect." I had heard great things about the SCA Trail, so I decided to give it a try. There's a couple of different ways to get to the trail, but I decided to try an easy option right off the 101 freeway. There was easy parking on Spencer Avenue on a Wednesday morning.I I bet the parking is tougher on the weekend however. To navigate to the SCA Trail you have to first climb up a million steps. Okay okay, it's not a million but it seems a lot. If you've run the Dipsea trail, this will bring back fond memories. The day that I visited SCA, it was pretty foggy. Probably anAugust afternoon would be a better choice. SCA is only about two miles long. Even counting the distance to get to and from the trail it's only about 2.65 miles. There's several muddy places, and a lot of slippery, rocky places. If you're a runner, you can't really run the entire trail. So overall, a mixed experience. I can imagine how this trail would be really fantastic, but if the fog is in, it's really not that great.
My cousin and his wife were visiting from New Jersey so one of the first places we took then to was the Marin Headlands. On a nice sunny day I would argue that this is the best view in the entire SF Bay Area. It's been awhile since we were last there. Now there is a separate way up and down from the peak which makes for a much more safe and enjoyable ride. If you have limited time just soak in the beautiful views. If you have the time, read up on the history of the area or even better hike one of the many trails. It's a great way to explore and enjoy the area. My preference is to go in the afternoon when the western sun is behind you making for the best photos. There are lot's of places in the Bay Area that have gorgeous views. The Marin Headlands is at the top of the list!
Marin Headlands is one of the best regional parks in Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). It is one of the best places to not only hike but to take pictures. This is also great for photographers. Pretty much the hills, grass, trails, rocks, and trails are amazing! This is also a great place for photographers. There are other places like those Battery ones and Hill 88, but my friend and I didn't really get a chance to go there since we pretty much missed the path and we didn't want to turn around. Honestly, it's really hot here and thank goodness that I bring water and snacks in case I'm thirsty or hungry. Most importantly, bring water! You'll need it if you're ever going to hike here. The trip is short in my opinion since I'm used to hiking for a long time. In the future, I am planning to come back here to revisit scenic spots that we missed. The hike might be longer since I enjoy hiking at regional parks. read more
My buddy and I love doing challenging long hikes and today we did 31 miles at Marin Headlands. It was an amazing hike full of different terrain and sightseeing opportunities. It was overcast when we hiked, but I like it this way only because it was very cool and the exposure to the sun was limited. We saw so many unique historical sites also, which I did not expect. The route we took had a lot of elevation gain and I had to put on some gloves for rock scrambling, but there are so many easy trails also. We also crossed the Golden Gate Bridge also, which is a first for me! Please come and create your own adventure. read more
1 year ago
The most relaxing sound in the world, from our 3 year wedding anniversary day trip! It was our toddler's first time at Rodeo Beach and she loved playing in the sand and looking for sticks! Our goldendoodle enjoyed running through the lagoon and sniffing everything in sight lol. My husband and I enjoyed the perfect 64° weather and learning about different species of birds from a ranger at the information booth! We also had a little picnic at their picnic benches before wasps chased us lol! I would definitely recommend this beach located in Sausalito! They have a restroom, a nearby Lighthouse and offer tours to learn about the area! We'll definitely be returning to explore more! read more
Absolutely stunning. The Marin Headlands offer some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco. The hiking trails are beautiful and well worth exploring, whether you're going for a short walk or a longer hike. It's peaceful, scenic, and feels like a total escape from the city even though it's so close. Bring a camera -- every overlook feels postcard-worthy. A must-visit if you're in the Bay Area. Magical! read more
1 year ago
The Marin Headlands is one of the most beautiful places in California. The views of the ocean, cliffs, and Golden Gate Bridge are absolutely breathtaking. Every turn on the trail feels like a postcard. We stopped at several lookout points and spent time just listening to the waves and the wind. The trees here are some of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen in my life. They're tall, twisted, and full of character. It was so amazing to walk among them and feel the calm of the forest all around. There's so much history here too, from the old bunkers to the hidden structures tucked into the hills. You can really feel the mix of nature and time standing still. Bring water, good shoes, and a camera because you'll want to remember every moment. It's peaceful, wild, and completely worth the visit. read more
Quite a few memories dating back to elementary school. Probably the only memories I have of this place because there isn't much else here. Turns out, way back when, we were able to stay for at least a few days (OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIP!!!) at Fort Cronkhite. Somehow my elementary school worked it out so that we could stay in the barracks from WWII. Marine Mammal Center (https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/what-we-do) was at the "top" and they didn't allow dogs inside so we brought out food made at home and ate lunch outside on the deck. Great views. The walk around the lagoon is a flat mile and change (1.2?) and the dog came with us. Still need to check out the Nike. read more
2 years ago
This is one of the perfect places to watch the sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge, SF cityline, Pacific Ocean, Bay Bridge, and even Alcatraz Island! Embracing the breathtaking views, crisp air, and nature serves as a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of SF. The winds can be piercingly cold, so bring extra thick layers. Before heading out, check the weather to make sure Karl the fog doesn't obstruct too much visibility! read more
We love hiking the trails around here. The views are absolutely spectacular, amazing, and beautiful! I'm always in awe with the ocean. The air is clean and crisp around here. It's always best to come really early in the morning especially if you want to find parking. The one setback is, you have to be careful leaving any belongings in your car because the street parking areas are hot spots for "smash and grab" activity. There were a lot of people sightseeing over this past weekend. It was a really nice day because of the perfect weather and clear blue skies. People were enjoying being outside after all the rain we've had. We will definitely come back to hike the other trails that we haven't conquered yet. read more
2 years ago
The Marin Headlands occupies a large beautiful landscape for visitors, including natives and tourists alike. The beautiful aerial views of the San Francisco Bay area from a top of the many hillsides can be seen from various trails and landmarks. Parking can be tricky due to the large amount of visitors on any given day, but especially the weekends. On our most recent trip, there was some construction and we couldn't easily find a parking space. Additionally, if you're visiting with children, you may want to bring some snacks as there aren't any food options in the immediate area, but if you travel farther into the city, you will find many culinary options. The Marin Headlands is certainly worth a visit and I highly recommend you add this as a stop on your bucket list of Bay Area destinations. read more
1 year ago
First time in this trail. We went with our group of friends and started at 9 am and done by 12 noon. What can I say... this was one of the beautiful and amazing hike I've gone to here in the bay. On the way there, we took the scenic route where we passed the golden gate bridge, and the Presidio area. - a good start already for great views. For almost 4 miles, it took us 3 hrs which is not bad. Parking is good but beware of theft warning. It is on their website to warn people. When we came at 9 the parking are almost half full so it's always better to start early. There are a couple of public restrooms that we encountered but you know how they smell lol So it's up to you if you want to go or hold it until the end lol The park was clean and well-maintained too. The route we took was kind of steep and rough but the route back was smoother. Overall, the intensity level for me was a medium. I thought it was gonna be harder because when we were just starting, I was already catching my breath lol woooh! Halfway, we got closer to the GG bridge and the view was awesome! You can see the Alcatraz, Sausalito side, City of whole San Francisco. Definitely no picture-taking can be missed. Lol! We even saw a group of people taking professional photos(prenuptial) and another group where a young lady celebrates her quinciñera wearing her nice beautiful gown like a princess. Id love to come back here again! Definitely recommended!!! read more
I mean... what's NOT to love about the Marin Headlands?! It's practically a playground for hikers, bikers, and sightseers alike. The numerous amount of hiking trails will keep you coming back to explore more. The radiant views of the SF and Marin coastline, Gerbode Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge seem to be endless. The drive alone can also be quite an adventure as you scale up windy one way roads that will expose you to breathtaking views of the city. I mainly come to the headlands to hike, but there have been a few times where I've merely stopped off on my way back from the beach to check out some of the beautiful scenery. As far as hiking goes, this place is an absolute gold mine. You will get a good mix of practically everything here. Coastal views, inclines, rolling hills, cityscapes, and even some urban groves can all be found along these trails. Some of my favorite hiking trails within the Headlands include Pirate's Cove, Tennessee Valley, Hill 88, and Hawk Hill. I love that most of the trails are are interconnectable and many of them will lead you right down to a beach and/or cove. There are also a few popular vista points in the Headlands, one of the most notable being of the Golden Gate Bridge. While this vista is stunning, it's often super packed with tourist and extremely cold and windy since it sits on the edge of the coast facing the bridge. In fact, the Marin Headlands is a very touristy spot in general. It makes total sense as many historical landmarks can be found here. There are several old war batteries that can be found along a few of the vista points and hiking trails. The Marin Headlands is also apart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is recognized as part of California's National Park System. You can find some great information about the Miwok Native Americans who have lived in this area for thousands of years. The Miwok Trail was named after these Native Americans and is just one of many routes that they hiked regularly over the years. This is a very popular area, so starting your hiking and sightseeing is always advisable to get ahead of the crowds. Very blessed to be able to say that I live near this amazing place. read more
This is the ideal place to take your family of kids or even a group of tourist that appreciate the outdoors. Lots of fresh air, wild life to see, and lots of hiking. It is a National park, so you pay for it with your taxes. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
Located north of San Francisco. I've visited in the past by vehicle until last week. In the last seven days I've come twice by ebike. Those spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the City of San Francisco? Yep taken from the Marin Headlands which is part of the GGNRA. We biked up using the dedicated bike lane to the top of Hawk Hill. We passed many road bikers but many of them eventually made it to the top - I'm assuming it's their daily exercise. Once at the top we took in the wondrous views of the City by the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean. Doesn't get better than that. To get down to the Nike Missile area from Hawk Hill, we had to bike down the one way road with a sign declaring a 18 degree grade. Yikes! Very scary. Needless to say I took my time. What used to serve as a military base is now an haven for hikers, bikers, and dog walkers. There are still military batteries you can explore. The Marine Mammal Center is here. As is the Bay Area Discovery Center as is the Nike Missile as is Point Bonita lighthouse as the Pt Bonita YMCA as is a visitor center. It's a great day trip. Later we looped around and left the Marin Headlands using the one way tunnel. There's a dedicated bike lane each way sharing a tunnel with vehicles. That was intimidating due to the speed. Will I be back? Off season like now. Yesterday there were so many walkers and bikers on the Golden Gate Bridge as we crossed north out of the City and our return south back to the City. High season it'll be even more traffic. read more
What a wonderful short hike and view from the Marin Headlands Golden Gate vista area! From the H. Dana Bower rest area/vista on the Sausalito side of the Golden Gate Bridge, we took the walking/bicycling path that runs from the rest area, under the highway, to this vista area. Distance was about 0.5 miles with about 300' elevation change. Trail is packed dirt/some gravel, or you can walk in bike lane along paved road. You can also park closer to this vista point if you don't want the exercise. There's one bench with excellent views as you approach the top. Bring a jacket and protect your cap. It's very windy. read more
"SCA Trail: Foggy, Cold, Muddy. Otherwise, Perfect." I had heard great things about the SCA Trail, so I decided to give it a try. There's a couple of different ways to get to the trail, but I decided to try an easy option right off the 101 freeway. There was easy parking on Spencer Avenue on a Wednesday morning.I I bet the parking is tougher on the weekend however. To navigate to the SCA Trail you have to first climb up a million steps. Okay okay, it's not a million but it seems a lot. If you've run the Dipsea trail, this will bring back fond memories. The day that I visited SCA, it was pretty foggy. Probably anAugust afternoon would be a better choice. SCA is only about two miles long. Even counting the distance to get to and from the trail it's only about 2.65 miles. There's several muddy places, and a lot of slippery, rocky places. If you're a runner, you can't really run the entire trail. So overall, a mixed experience. I can imagine how this trail would be really fantastic, but if the fog is in, it's really not that great. read more
My cousin and his wife were visiting from New Jersey so one of the first places we took then to was the Marin Headlands. On a nice sunny day I would argue that this is the best view in the entire SF Bay Area. It's been awhile since we were last there. Now there is a separate way up and down from the peak which makes for a much more safe and enjoyable ride. If you have limited time just soak in the beautiful views. If you have the time, read up on the history of the area or even better hike one of the many trails. It's a great way to explore and enjoy the area. My preference is to go in the afternoon when the western sun is behind you making for the best photos. There are lot's of places in the Bay Area that have gorgeous views. The Marin Headlands is at the top of the list! read more
2 years ago
To see the beauty of San Francisco, you have to come to Marin Headlands! Whether it's cloudy or sunny, the view is breathtaking. There are 3 corners where you can park your car and take a picture on the edge. It's pretty safe and families and tourists came to this spot all the time. I would recommend to come early morning preferably. If not, it will be hard to find parking since it gets packed pretty fast after 12 pm. read more
4 years ago
We've been to San Francisco many times but this is the first time to take pictures at Marin Headlands. If you want to take great pictures like those post cards selling at the gift store, you will like this place for sure. You can see Golden Gate Bridge and beautiful scenery up there. We got there in the late afternoon before dinner and it was worth to visit. read more
2 years ago
I used to come here during college days, we stay at the campsites and it was some of the best memories of my college days. Coming here again with my child bringing back those memories. It's gonna be windy, layer your clothes is important! When you enter, there is a one way tunnel which you take turns to enter/leave, which can add 5-10 mins wait, be aware of that so you don't need to rush on time. It's beautiful and a few different trails so you can spend the full day there if you wish. We also spotted a Whale corpse on the beach, smell was awful but a great learning opportunity for my child. read more
This is a gorgeous park with really fantastic views of San Francisco and the bay area. So many trails to explore and so many sites to stop and enjoy the spectacular views. The Bonita light house is a another great site to see if you have the time. read more
4 years ago
Arrived here early morning to hike with a friend. He had been here before and knew where to go and park. No cars in the lot when we arrived early in the morning. So worth it to arrive early! The hike was challenging yet gorgeous views. Although there was a lot of people hiking here it felt wide open and spacious. Not sure exactly of the name of the trail that day but the hike ended up being around eight miles round trip. Of course there is also a beach to go to and sit if hiking isn't your thing. Not sure when or if I will be back here as it is far from my home in Monterey but I highly recommend it to anyone who visits San Francisco. Happy Hiking everyone. read more
6 years ago
SF VIEWS : one of my all time favorite views is from here ! A beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the city and also San Francisco . I absolutely love coming here and it's always breathtakingly beautiful when there is no fog! It used to be a dual lane but now you have to go through the Bunker Road tunnel and all the way round to get to Marin headlands. They have done this for safety reasons especially for cyclists and to increase the amount of parking! So am definitely for it .. come here for the best views of the bridge and city read more
If you want beautiful pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and a backdrop of the City, head on here. Lot's of tours that take you here or take your own vehicle. There is ample parking in front. Its a short hike up the lookout point, take your time since there are so much places you can just stop and take in the view. Best vantage point of the Golden Gate from here. read more
Marin Headlands is always one of my go to places when I want to go outside for a breath of fresh air. With vast, sweeping views and the salty ocean air everything just screams comfort. There are many different trails, some more challenging then others, which makes it perfect no matter whether you're a beginner or a seasoned hiker. Parking is abundant but imo it's easiest to just park at the visitor's center and then walk to the trails. There are bathrooms located at the center and also a water fountain if you want to rehydrate yourself. read more
Wow, so beautiful here! I would recommend parking your car. Coming here around maybe 4pm and walking around to all the lookout points, there's at least 4 we went to. And going to one of the points that face the ocean and sun and watching the sunset. Then finish it off by heading towards the golden bridge look out point and be amazed at its vastness and how close you are to it! It's where those love locks are. There are a lot of hikes and trails here as well. Gotta check those out soon. Oh I also like how it's protected by the government and there's no houses around to obscure the views or ruin the beauty of nature itself. read more
Can I give this place 10 stars? I give it 10 stars. Every single time I find myself in the SF area I make it a point to go hiking at the Marin Headlands. It's that gorgeous. This absolutely magnificent park is #1 gigantic and #2 one of the most beautiful coastal parks I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot of them. The hills are covered in chaparral, the ocean breeze is clean and fresh, the views are spectacular, you can hike all day long and never run out of trails, there are old army ruins that are more than a hundred years old and then there's the wildlife. Did I mention my wild life encounter yet? No? Oh it is epic! Just last week I was quietly sauntering down a path and BAM! a bobcat popped out of the bushes in front of me, turned, looked me up and down, found me wanting (obviously) and calmly turned it's back and walked down the path in front of me for a few seconds before disappearing into the bushes on the opposite side of the path. I was breathless! It is a gorgeous creature! It walks like it's light as air, it fairly glides on it's feet. And it's a ghost! I swear it! We looked and looked in the bush (peering from the trail) but it literally vanished into the bushes like it was never there. It is perfectly camouflaged. You know, sometimes I'm sitting at my desk up here in dank, dreary, damp Seattle and all I'll be thinking of is hiking in the Marin Headlands. I truly love this place. If you go, please leave it as you found it, it's a treasure. read more
Great place for hikes and breathtaking views of Goldie and our beautiful blanket of marine layer aka fog . There are 3 parking areas for scenic shots but key thing is arriving early... the areas get packed pretty quickly and parking is limited. The locket of love is at the last most iconic stops ... its a small hike but so worth the pictures read more
There's ample parking and a dog friendly beach. Tons of trails which can lead you through the Golden Gate Bridge down to Chrissy Park. I ran this during Fleet Weekend and was able to view the show from different vantage points. Pretty amazing experience. Double whammy. read more
If there is one region that gives you a better view of the bay and city of San Francisco while still getting a good number of steps in while hiking, then I dare anyone to deny that it isn't a trail or outlooks within the confines that make the area known as the Marin Headlands. The Headlands covers such a vast area of land that it literally stretches from one side of the southern tip of Marin County that faces the Pacific Ocean to the other side of Marin County that faces the inside of San Francisco Bay. I have driven around the recreational area, hiked on the various trails and came close to recreational area's regional coastline via various mode of aquatic transportation that would intrigue me so much with what I saw that I always know that I have to see more. The entire area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and what makes the Headlands so famous is that it serves as the lookout for the multitude of views of the Bay Area and the Pacific Ocean, but most especially it is known for its view of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Although I have been many times, one of my most favorite trips that I have to share took place a few months ago this past summer when a group of friends and I carpooled up to the headlands intending to take part in some intensive hiking and got our money's worth with great views, a good amount of steps while taking in unique terrain, and some variant weather, which is all in a good days work for the Bay Area. The key to visiting the Marin Headlands is knowing where you are going when traveling by car. When heading from San Francisco, once you exit at the Sausalito exit off of Highway 101 follow the signs and other travelers who intend to make Battery Spencer otherwise known as the closest lookout point above Golden Gate Bridge. You'll turn left on Bunker Road and then go wait at a stoplight to go through the Baker-Barry Tunnel which is a single lane tunnel that leads you through the backside of the Headlands. Continue to follow traffic by turning left onto McCullough Road and then you'll hit the roundabout where many drivers stop for a restroom break and think this is the best view of the Golden Gate (hint: it's not) and you're going to continue veering left onto Conzelman Road which overlooks the straight that makes up the Golden Gate and keep on driving through the single lane winding road, while being cognizant of the speeding bikers who are literally zooming by you. We originally wanted to check the Point Bonita Lighthouse and when we approached the trail that leads to it we learned that it was closed on weekends, which was odd. So decided to drive around some more and did a full circle drive since Conzelman Road is one way traffic only and eventually found ourselves off at the Hawk Hill parking lot and realized this is place to start our hike. Hawk Hill is the home of Battery 129 which is an abandoned military outpost used during the war that was never torn down and now serves as a nice bird watching outpost with stunning views of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay. They also have amazing walking trails around here that were beautifully landscaped by the hard working crew at the National Park service. We decided to keep walking all the way down Conzelman Road by foot this time, watching for traffic, eventually making our way down to the Headlands Lookout, which serves as the entryway to the Black Sands Beach, which is about another mile all the way down the cliffs below. There you will find the most beautiful touched beach with a silky smooth black sand. It was cold and windy the day we went, but it didn't ruin our time with plenty of people watching with dogs, beachgoers and drone flyers abound as we enjoyed a brief lunch sitting on the jagged rocks. Then it was a long hike back to our car, up the hills, trails and roads where we once came from making for some tiring work but amazing steps. The Marin Headlands is untouched parkland for all to enjoy from the trails to the views to the beaches to the landmarks, this is an area that cannot be beat and for those who love views with their walks or bike rides is a must visit for locals and tourists alike, and I for one am thankful that it exists for us all to take in and enjoy. read more
8 years ago
Hiking and abandoned military structures high up on a cliff with that ocean breeze all around you oh yeah that's what's good! Basically I parked and walked along trails upon trails that lead me along the mountain up and down with some paved roads and some dirt roads with lots of different stops along the way it was a fun day all the way! To be honest I really didn't expect to find as much as I found here besides the amazing view that's pretty much everywhere but the places from the past were definitely worth hiking around for. One of the areas I found which I started in was this super dark and kinda crazy tunnel that lead me right to the outside and then to another tunnel that had a big old bowl like thing in the ground as you can tell it was a big gun or something back in it's day! Roaming around more I found even more gun mounts and old closed up buildings from the military past every so often I would find a random bench to with a view and a breeze that's always what's in need. Overall I hiked around then drove around found all these super cool creepy structures from the past and had that great view basically everywhere so what this turned out to be was just totally awesome and fun to me so hike on my friends! read more
6 years ago
I've always put off exploring here, cuz it just always seemed like a tourist trap. Well my instincts were right on, lots of people swarm here. And given the tight roads in this corner, the traffic literally gets trapped. I mean who wants to experience bumper to bumper traffic, whilst just trying to get a good whiff of nature. Not this old curmudgeon. But the beauty here will even get this grouch to lighten up. Did a long hike here on the northwestern side. Started with a long 40 minute gradual climb overlooking the scenic Gerbode Valley, where the higher you got up, then the grander the view. Then the loop drops down on the pacific ocean where it enters our bay. A barrage of killer views with the circulating sea air just takes away all the stresses of getting here. Trust. Historically a very protected stretch of coastline, military wise. Lots of abandoned batteries from the World War 2 era, and lots of abandoned radar/missile sites from the Cold War. Hill 88 is at the top of one of the hills. Abandoned and stripped down buildings from this radar site, gives you a glimpse on the Cold War tension from the end of World War 2 to the mid 70's. Graffiti'd and vacant gives it a hip ghost town look. And it all overlooks the Headlands, with the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge peeking in view and the SF skyline just beyond that. I loved snapping pics here! Just down the hill a bit is Battery Townsley. It is a monster battery imbedded into the cliffs, used to house a monster gun, that took a dozen men to load and fire. As I stood outside of it, I just imagined a 30 foot barrel rotating about ready to shoot something 10 miles away. This was obsolete and dismantled by the end of World War 2. The trail then leads to Rodeo Beach and Fort Cronkhite, where the military personnel were stationed to outfit these historic post. The beach is now public and quite popular. I had not really heard of it, but I can see why it is a popular attraction. There are many other hikes here, and even though I knocked out a 9 miler one morning, I still haven't even scratched the surface. To that another visit is in order, hopefully in a less crowded time. I'm sure the crowd will thin from the height of summer to the depths of autumn. read more
We did a sunset hike on a Saturday in March. I love the city and ocean views once you're on the water! This was our route: Marin Headlands Visitor Center East on Coastal Trail (all inland!) West along Conzelman Road toward Point Bonita North along the coast on Mendell Trail East on South Rodeo Beach Trail North on Mendell Trail North on Field Road back to Visitor Center Overall according to Strava, our hike was: 4.8 mi, 770 ft, 3hr (1:46 moving) I was aiming for ocean views and have hiked on the Coastal Trail further north near Tennessee Valley/Mt. Tam (where it goes parallel along the ocean), but from the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, if you head east on the Coastal Trail, it is all inland! And at 4pm on a Saturday in March, quite warm as you're blocked from the ocean winds. However, as soon as we got to the crest, we were able to walk along Conzelman Road. This was a little sketchy at time with barely a shoulder, but cars always drive slow on this single-lane road. And there are lots of spots with view points, old batteries, etc that you can explore. Some of the trail maps are a tad inconsistent. Going north on Mendell Trail, you can get right across the water from Bird Island. One trail map at the park showed going north from there, it connects to South Rodeo Beach Trail. However, this connection did NOT exist! We did some sketchy off-trailing in thick undergrowth for about 50 feet - it was quite steep, slippery, and dangerous. See my photo of the trail map - this section is circled in red. (And on the official government website map, this connection does not exist.) read more
Beautiful morning with beautiful clear sunny views. We were able to see San Francisco through the Golden Gate bridge all the way to the bay bridge and Alcatraz. Lots of parking, even a police car manning the lot. The signs clearly mark the trails. Restrooms were pretty sad. Friendly people. read more
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More info about Marin Headlands
948 Fort Barry
Sausalito, CA 94965
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(415) 331-1540
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Ask the Community - Marin Headlands
Want to go with the family but can anyone answer if it's difficult to walk here if you don't usually hike and is it easy to get lost?
Easy family friendly trails along the coast. Walk as much or little as u want. Parking available everywhere and restrooms at the beach area
Where can you park when visiting?
There is generally ample parking at Rodeo Beach, Smith Road parking lot, and at the Visitor Center and Battery Alexander parking lots as well as other smaller lots along the roads. Weekends can be busy though and lots with a view do fill up.
Is it open to the public right now?
Please check here for detailed information: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/temporary-facilities-closure-advisory.htm
Review Highlights - Marin Headlands
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