Marin Headlands - Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Marin Headlands - Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Page Type Page Type: Area/Range
Location Lat/Lon: 37.83067°N / 122.507°W
Activities Activities: Hiking, Scrambling
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 1111 ft / 339 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Marin Headlands

Indian paintbrush, Marin HeadlandsIndian paintbrush looking north to Mt. Tamalpais
Marin Headlands coastlineCoastal cliffs looking south
The Marin Headlands consume the lions share of the GGNRA across the Golden Gate north of San Francisco. Marin County's southern most land mass is characterized by open rolling hills, valleys, steep rugged rocky coastal cliffs and coves, a lagoon, beaches, lots of wildlife and spring flowers, bathed in marvelous sunsets and often coastal fog in summer.
There are abandon Cold War military installations perched like relics on the hills above the Golden Gate channel.
Situated just across the Golden Gate Bridge this beautiful area offers drive through roads, hiking, biking, camping, historic sites and a Visitors Center. The Headlands are easily accessed from San Francisco as well as the north and eastbay.
The sweeping Headlands views of the Golden Gate, SF, and SF Bay Area are one of a kind.

Getting There

The Golden Gate from Marin Headlands A tanker leaving the Golden Gate
Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin HeadlandsGGB from the Headlands


From San Francisco:

Take Alexander Ave. (the 2nd Marin exit across the Golden Gate Bridge).
Stay right on exit ramp to get to Alexander.
Turn left on Bunker Rd. (at the brown visitor center sign).
Drive through the one way tunnel approximately 2 miles.
Turn left on Field Rd..
The visitor center is on the right.


From North Bay:
Take 101 south through the Waldo Tunnel.
Take the last Sausalito exit right before the Golden Gate Bridge.
Go right at end of exit ramp and pass under 101.
At the stop sign go straight onto Alexander Ave.
Turn left on Bunker Hill Rd. follow the rest of the directions highlighted above.

From the East Bay:
Take 580 west to the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge.
Take 2nd exit after the bridge.
go through Larkspur and get on 101 south.
Follow the rest of the directions from the North Bay.

National Park Service Map

Red Tape

Airborne  above the cliffs and seaCruising above the Pacific
Coming in for a rocky landingHawk landing
There are no access fees for regular daily use for Headlands/GGNRA.
Please observe off limits natural habitat areas.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 except Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Camping

Marin Headlands coastal sunsetCoastal cliffs sunset
Marin HeadlandsPacific marine fog layer
For camping and other activities click here.

People, places and military history

Lighthouse rock at Point BonitaLighthouse rock at Point Bonita
Sunset, Muir BeachSunset from Muir Beach
For people, places and military history click here.

Children

Children

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Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.