Golden Gate & Marin
Overview
Golden Gate and Marin Headlands, a part of the larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area, offer spectacular recreational opportunities to millions of visitors each year. The park is situated just north of San Francisco and is bound by both the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The park is rich in varied histories from the Military to the Miwok Indians, including both Fort Barry and Cronkhite, the NIKE Missile site and the 150-year-old Point Bonita lighthouse. There is also an array of other attractions including hundreds of miles of trails, scenic beaches, and incredible vistas of San Francisco. On top of all this, wildflowers abound in the spring, and raptors migrate through the park in the fall. Visitors will undoubtedly enjoy this beautifully preserved open space in the otherwise over-built Bay Area.
To learn more about Golden Gate and Marin, visit www.nps.gov.
Local Info
There are a variety of visitor centers, book stores, historic sites, and destinations located within the park. For more information on a specfic visitor center and to see current hours of operation, visit the park's website.
- Marin Headlands Visitor Center: Open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
- Point Bonita Lighthouse: Open 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
- SF-88 Nike Missile Site: Open 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, the first Saturday of every month.
- Battery Townsley: Open 12 pm to 4 pm, the first Sunday of every month.
- Presidio Visitor Center: Open 10 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Sunday.
- Presidio Officer's Club: Open 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
- Fort Point National Historic Site: Open 10 am to 5 pm, Friday through Sunday.
- Lands End Lookout: Open 9 am to 5 pm, daily.
Visiting Tips
Fees & Passes:
There is no entrance fee for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Sites, except for Muir Woods National Monument. Certain facilities may charge a reservation or use fee. To learn more about park fees, click here.
Camping & Lodging
Marin Headlands offers several campgrounds for those looking to extend their stay in the park. Sites are limited and reservations are required. To learn more about camping in the park, click here.
- Kirby Cove Campground: 5 sites. Open April 1 to October 31. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (877) 444-6777
- Haypress Campground: 5 sites. Groups may reserve the entire campground from November 1 to March 31. The remainder of the year, only three sites may be reserved.
- Hawk Camp Campground: 3 sites. Groups may reserve the entire campground from November 1 to March 31. The remainder of the year, only one site may be reserved.
- Bicentennial Campground: 3 sites. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Lodging:
While there are a host of lodging accommodations available in the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area, there are a couple options for lodging located in the park itself. The Inn at the Presidio is located in the Presidio and is a historic hotel that has been restored as a guest lodge. The Cavallo Point Lodge, located in Fort Baker, offers a unique history and contemporary lodging options. Another option for reasonably priced accomodation located in the park is the Marin Headlands Hostel.
Food & Drink
Options at Lands End include Sutro's at the Cliff House, an elegant restaurant with some of the most spectacular views in the park. Call (415) 386-3330 for reservations. Louis' Restaurant is another option at Lands End. Visitors to Fort Mason can choose between Greens, a famous vegetarian restaurant that is open for lunch and dinner and also serves beverages and pastries throughout the day, and Cooks which offers a variety of sandwiches and soups. There are no food vendors in the Marin Headlands. It is recommended that visitors bring food and snacks with them. There is also a wide variety of dining options outside of the park.
Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles
There is a free park shuttle that runs each weekend until September. Check this map for more information on shuttle stops. Addiitonally, the Presidio offers a free shuttle service. For more information on the PresidoGo Shuttle, click here.
Other Activities
Maps & Guidebooks
Recommended Routes in Golden Gate & Marin - 11
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Coastal Trail: Lands End
2.9 mi 4.6 km • 192' Up 58.44 m Up • 192' Down 58.4 m Down
Muir Beach Loop
5.8 mi 9.4 km • 1,164' Up 354.88 m Up • 1,164' Down 354.8 m Down
South Headlands Loop (Coast-Miwok-Alta)
7.8 mi 12.6 km • 1,243' Up 378.86 m Up • 1,239' Down 377.52 m Down
Tennessee Valley Lollipop
4.1 mi 6.7 km • 761' Up 231.89 m Up • 761' Down 232 m Down
Golden Gate Bridge Overlook Out-and-Back
5.3 mi 8.5 km • 1,000' Up 304.86 m Up • 999' Down 304.44 m Down
Tennessee Valley: Ridge Trail to Coast Loop
5.4 mi 8.7 km • 924' Up 281.5 m Up • 936' Down 285.36 m Down
Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon
12.7 mi 20.5 km • 2,112' Up 643.83 m Up • 2,108' Down 642.4 m Down
Golden Gate Headlands Marathon
25.3 mi 40.7 km • 4,142' Up 1262.39 m Up • 4,094' Down 1247.94 m Down
Golden Gate Headlands 10K
6.2 mi 9.9 km • 1,165' Up 355.09 m Up • 1,162' Down 354.07 m Down
Golden Gate & Marin Running
- 95 Miles 152 Kilometers of Trail
- 11 Recommended Routes
- 11 Gems
- 27 Easy Trails
- 47 Intermediate Trails
- 13 Difficult Trails
Areas Within Golden Gate & Marin
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Trails in Golden Gate & Marin - 76
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails
2.1
mi
3.3
km
#1SCA Trail
Sausalito, CA
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Sausalito, CA | 6 | ||
1.5
mi
2.4
km
#2Pirates Cove Trail
Tamalpais Valley, CA
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Tamalpais Valley, CA | 9 | ||
0.5
mi
0.9
km
#3Point Bonita Trail
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA
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Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 8 | ||
1.9
mi
3.1
km
#4Coastal Trail
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA
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Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 3 | ||
1.6
mi
2.7
km
#5California Coastal Trail: Presidio
San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA | 9 | ||
0.3
mi
0.4
km
#6Upper Fisherman's Trail
Marin City, CA
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Marin City, CA | 2 | ||
0.2
mi
0.4
km
#7Slacker Ridge Trail
Sausalito, CA
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Sausalito, CA | 7 | ||
1.9
mi
3.0
km
#8Tennessee Valley Trail
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA
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Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 10 | ||
0.3
mi
0.5
km
#9Sutro Baths Upper Trail
San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA | 6 | ||
3.1
mi
5.1
km
#10Dias Ridge Trail
Tamalpais Valley, CA
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Tamalpais Valley, CA | 3 |
Photos of Golden Gate & Marin - 228
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos