Marin Headlands

I live in the Bay Area but each time I leave the city and cross the Golden Gate Bridge, I always stop and drive up the hill to take a photo. You never know what type of photo you will get because it can be clear one minute, then the fog rolls in and your view is gone in a split second!
I was blessed yesterday with a beautiful and clear day! Be prepared as it can be crazy windy up there and cold!
There are various viewpoints and turn offs where you basically just park your car, take some selfies then off you go. It’s spectacular and a must do while in SF!

Historic sites
The first time we were here, about 4 months ago, we only drove up Conzelman Road to see the magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean and stopped at Hawk Hill to capture more stunning views. This second time around, the hubby and I had more time to visit the sites and points of interests here at the Marin Headlands… apparently, there was more to it than bridge views, a lot more! When we arrived at the park we headed straight to the Visitor Center to get our map and our customary magnet for our fridge. We have quite a collection of magnets that brings back memories each time we glance at them :)
The weather was a brisk 63° degrees during our visit. It was a nice shift from our hot weather in the Valley. We were prepared with warm jackets, though, which came in handy. Our visit was in early June this month. TIP: Bring your own snack; there are no food vendors in the Marin Headlands.
Points of interest we visited (in this order):
Rodeo Beach — we preceded to do the short hike until we got to the beach but the tide was strong. This area is dog friendly so bring your 4-​legged furry friend when you hike the trails :)
Battery Mendell — the remnants that was built to keep the enemy warships away from our San Francisco harbor. It used to have the ‘disappearing guns’ that rose up for firing and then dropped back down behind the protective barrier. Cool stuff!
Bird Island — from Battery Mendell there is a short trail that led to views of the Bird Island. It is called Bird Island because «The basalt greenstone rock is layered with seabird droppings» and it is noticeably seen from where we were viewing it from.
Point Bonita — separate review:
Nike Missile Site — separate review:
The Marine Mammal Center — this center was open to the public but we were not allowed to go inside the area where they feed the sea lions and other mammals. This center is used for rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing, marine mammals who are injured, ill, or abandoned.
Fort Cronkhite — cool former World War II military post and one of the few examples these WW II «mobilization posts» remaining in the country. It was complete with a preserved fort’s barracks, mess halls, and other structures. Currently, it is being used as offices and housing for the park rangers and staff.
Fort Baker — by this time I was already too tired to walk around enjoy the cell-​phone tour. It is a former 1905 U.S. Army post with 25 historic army buildings clustered around a main ground and located immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Must come back a third time to finish exploring the Marin Headlands because there are still a few sites we missed exploring.

Remember that part in Ant-​Man when they leave the prison and are driving down the mountain to the Golden Gate Bridge? This is the place.
The views are to die for, but it does get a bit packed with a ton of people who also want to see the views. Still, they are amazing. I don’t want to say much beyond what I’ve just said, but take my word for it. Head here and check it out. It’s amazing.

Heaven in Norcal. This area just north of the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most beautiful places in the country. No exaggeration. Here you will find amazing land and seascapes, which include cypress and redwood trees, gorgeous rocky or sandy beaches, some calm bays, some roaring white waves, miles and miles of trails that show off the most incredible views of the area. Wildlife is abundant, on land and in the water. Seals, sea lions, otters, pelagic birds, and all manner of little furry creatures abound. There are remnants of a military installation scattered throughout, but the place is re dedicated to a more peaceful purpose now. There is a fantastic facility for rehabbing injured, orphaned or otherwise distressed marine mammals right on Rodeo Beach as well, a great place to visit and support.

A friend bought me a book that is called 60 Hikes within 60 Miles (San Francisco). While looking up new trails to hike, I found the Marin Headlands in the book and realized that it had been over a year since I hiked out there. Since the weather was so great on Tuesday, my hiking buddy and I decided to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and spend half the day at the Marin Headlands. We started at the SCA Trail, which is clearly marked (right off Conzelman Road). If you stay to the right, which is the coastal trail, you will end up on the Wolfsridge Trail. You can see perfect views of the GG Bridge, the Sausalito side and Angel Island, especially on a non-​foggy day. Since we are in the thick of spring, all the flowers have bloomed including the California poppy. There are also tower of jewels along the SCA Trail.
For the first time, I ventured to the left side of the trail head which lead to the Upper Rodeo Vally Trails. These trails lead inland away from the coast. We were in the grassy green hills which was also nice scenery. On a weekday, the trail is pretty quiet, which is nice but not scary. After all, we did still have cell phone reception the whole time so we weren’t completely out in the middle of nowhere. I’d say that the difficulty level is moderate for these trails. There is definitely some incline where you can get your heart rate up real good. I always bring a hiking pole to the SCA trail because there’s one part that is pretty steep if you want to go see the alignment of the GG Bridge. The gravel is slippery, so keep that in mind as well. The trail is not a loop; it’s an out and back hike. That day, we went for 6.8 miles, but you can go for as long or short in distance as you wish. Still one of my favorite hikes on the Marin side and you don’t have to drive far from SF.

What a lovely hiking trail with a beautiful scene of the Golden Gate Bridge and view of the city’s landscape!
Got my 20,000 steps in for the day while pleasantly taking in the scenery, sounds of beach waves when you reach that bottom point and at the cliff’s edge, lies a lighthouse to be explored.
It was a fulfilling day and a nice place to be when the weather is cool by the bay and yet warm.

It is a great hiking place.
Today I hiked from SF, crossing Golden Gate Bridge by foot, then climbed the hills in Marin Headlands. Then we went down to Rodeo Beach through Hill88, then came back to the city.
If it is sunny and clear, you can see all blue Pacific Ocean over the green hills. You can see GGB, Bay Bridge, Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, and SF tall buildings.
I am very lucky that I live only 1 hour from here.
Two drawbacks
1. Too many people (I usually hike very remote in the deep wilderness)
2. A lot of poison oak (I am supersensitive to it)

One of the most beautiful places on earth. An amazing blend or the beauty of man and nature.
Hawk Hill and Kirby Cove have the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco possible.
From Point Bonita and the lighthouse, you can look one way and see the Bridge and look over the vast Pacific in the other.
Many beaches each with different styles and accessibility… Black Sands, Rodeo, Tennessee Cove, Pirates Cove, Muir Beach.
Lots of military history… Battery Spencer, Battery Wallace, Battery Mendell, Battery Townsley, Hill 88, Nike Missile Site.
But best of all the many mile of hiking trails with amazing views. (Many people love cycling here too, both on and off road.)
Make sure to bring your own water. The only fresh water is at the Visitors Center and The Marine Mammal Center. Parking can be challenging on nice days.

Beautiful views of the city and beyond. I came here on a Saturday afternoon, so there was definitely a large amount of people trying to walk, drive, bike and park all over the place. I passed the first few turnouts and opted to park farther up the road and walk back to the trail I wanted to take me to Kirby Cove.
I live locally in the East Bay and love to plan a day to come here and explore, and then hit up some of my favorite spots in Sausalito.

Amazing views of the city. Parking is ample since most folks seem to just come here for a bit of sightseeing and photo ops, then get out of there as quickly as they can.
For us, we parked and found a few trails that go along the coast. If you drive further down towards the lighthouse, there are several trails further from the crowds with equally spectacular views.

This is a definite stop if you’re visiting San Francisco!
Not only does this place have a grand view of the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s also explorable with hidden spots in the area!
Although, getting here can be hectic, I suggest leaving before or after rush hour during the day time. It’s also a hit and miss if you want to take a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge because the fog may roll in and ruin the view.
What’s great here is that apart from the great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, you could drive further in Marin Headlands and discover other places to explore. There are hiking trails, bike paths, and some limited parking.
If you drive further, I suggest checking out Point Bonita Lighthouse. When I discovered this place, I thought it was one of the coolest places ever. Unfortunately, both times I came here, 1 year apart, it was closed… But you could still walk here and take some cool pictures.
Another place you should consider going to is Rodeo Beach. It’s like a land bridge separating the Pacific Ocean and Rodeo Lagoon.
You may also find some wildlife around here so be aware of that and drive carefully.
I would definitely recommend going here and would love to come back again!

Most breathtaking views of the city that every one dreams about. Ever since I discovered this place, I believe there is no other place that can compare in terms of GGB views.
It’s hectic! Tons of tourist and even locals… limited parking and trouble just getting up here, but don’t let that stop you. No one regrets having stopped at Marin Headlands. Bring something warm, it gets extremely windy up here… even on the clearest of days… the wind will not be tamed. I recommend a good camera for some crisp snapshots.
I definitely recommend dropping by before noon, business starts picking up around noon and you can get stuck here for a long time. Whether you park closest to the bridge or further out, there is a trail you can follow along the road (away from traffic), that will lead you to the main view. It’s also a great leg workout with a steady incline… so wear comfy shoes. Happy sightseeing!

One of my many fond memories was going to the Marin Headlands to explore the area where you are able to view the Golden Gate Bridge from high above it. The first time, we all went as a group during the day. It was a sight to behold, and I strongly recommend you see it at least once in your life.
Did you know that the Golden Gate Bridge is being painted ²⁴⁄₇? Well, now you know why it’s color is kept up. Painters are always on the bridge. I’m not sure how someone could do this job (no fear, I imagine), since San Francisco’s GGB is chilly and very windy, being so high up. Certainly, you can’t have vertigo!
The view here is tremendously different in that there is so much more to see than just the bridge. It’s so high up that you literally can se

The views from the Marin Headlands is just breathtaking. This is by far the most impressive spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge.
We went directly from Vista Point to this location to take some photos. Parking was limited so we drove further up the hill to find a spot. The day was clear, and the views were stunningly beautiful. I’ve been coming to this spot since I was a kid, and there’s a certain nostalgia here. I’ll always love coming here when I’m visiting the city.
For spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands will always be my favorite go-​to spot for taking pictures. I’ll never get tired of seeing those amazing views of the bridge from here!

I had a chance to stop in the Marin Headlands on the way back from Muir Woods on a Wednesday afternoon and it was well worth the trip.
If you have a car, definitely make a stop at the Marin Headlands for the most beautiful views of the city, the San Francisco Bridge and the bay. There are vantage points every mile or so, and a bike trail to get to the top, but the hills are so steep and are for more advanced bikers. I would recommend driving, but if you are adventurous and have time to explore the area, there are plenty of hills to climb and trails to do. We walked along the edges from the bottom parking lot to the top to get different views.
Remember to check the weather for a reasonably clear day in order to get fantastic views of the entire SF area of the bay. Even if the fog rolls in, there would still be beautiful pictures to take of the Golden Gate and the fog due to the contrast in colors.
Bring a sweater or jacket — it can get very chilly! Pack a lunch or some snacks because there aren’t many places to eat after you go up.
The Marin Headlands provide the most amazing views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Although its busy and touristy, its FREE! Highly recommend.

I’ve grew up in the Bay Area and not once did I head up this way. I remember we use to come to SF every weekend to go to Fishermans wharf, downtown, twin peak, and ocean beach but never across the Golden Gate. Probably due to the fact that you have to pay to get back into the city.
Marin headlands is across the bridge and up the mountains. It has many lookout spots from the high high top to the famous low bottom shot of the bridge. If you’re lucky and it’s not foggy, the top one has a good view. The bottom most one is very packed with tourist and there are a few spots, so you have many cars blocking the road waiting for a spot. We got lucky as someone was leaving. The lookout was cool but they should maintain it a bit more. There were graffiti and trash scattered everywhere.
Cool picture perfect spots of the bridge, city and the bay.

I am in love with the Marin Headlands — what a peaceful, gorgeous place, and all such a short drive away from San Francisco! This is a great place for a weekend day trip or even for just an afternoon getaway. I was expecting huge crowds (I went over Memorial Day weekend), so I went in the morning. Even so, parking was sometimes tricky, particularly around the Point Bonita lighthouse area. It was slightly cool, windy, and misty/​foggy, but I really didn’t mind at all — pack a jacket though! If you’re coming for view of the bridge, perhaps I would go here in the afternoon to avoid the clouds.
There’s plenty for everyone to do, but you never feel rushed. The Marine Visitor Center is pretty cool — it’s like a vet hospital /​conservation center for sea lions and seals mostly, which was pretty cool to see. I didn’t do this, but I imagine the hiking/​running would be excellent here. There were a few bikers here as well, and I would love to come back and bike the Marin Headlands trail sometime in the future! The Marin Headlands is absolutely beautiful, one of the highlights of my time in SF, and I can’t wait to be back.

7000% Steigung sind es wert!
Bevor wir an den Piers unsere Räder ausliehen, wussten wir in etwa schon, was uns erwarten würde.
Der nette Mann am Counter lächelte nur und zeichnete uns auf der Karte die beste Strecke ein. Dabei erwähnte er bestimmt 5 mal die Steigungen, auf die wir uns einstellen sollten, auf dem Weg zu den Marin Headlands.
Also, ab auf’s Rad und los gings.
Alleine schon der Weg über die Brücke ist atemberaubend.
Hinter der Brücke geht es dann nach einem Parkplatz links hoch und mit hoch meine ich hoch.
Mussten locker 3 mal absteigen und schieben, aber oben angekommen…
Seht einfach selbst anhand der Bilder. Unfassbare Sicht auf die Brücke und San Francisco. Das war jede Schweißperle und jeden Muskelkater ein paar Stunden danach wert! Und sehr angenehm war es auch, dass es überhaupt nicht überfüllt war, was aber auch vielleicht daran lag, dass wir schon gegen 11 Uhr Ortszeit dort waren.
Pflichtbesuch, wenn man in dieser wunderschönen Stadt ist.
P. S.: Freut euch auf den Rückweg und checkt dabei, dass die Bremsen eurer Räder (natürlich kann man auch mit dem Auto hoch) bestens funktionieren. ;-)

Man oh man!!!
you get a marvelous view from here.
There are about 4 different viewpoints where you can get good pictures from.
All the points are so packed all the time. Parking is limited at some points. So be prepared to walk and leave your car farther than where you would take pictures at.
Its better to go in the middle of the day or in the afternoon because in the morning it tends to get foggy.

The Marin Headlands is one of the best viewpoints in the whole bay area! Thoughts from my first visit:
— There are a bunch of cool hikes here that I want to try! Adding these to my list of things.
— Bring a coat because it can get a little chilly from the sea breeze.
— Parking can be a pain so try to be patient. People usually circulate frequently.
— The weekend warrior cyclists hit the Headlands in packs so just be careful driving on the twisty roads.
— Without a doubt, the best view of the Golden Gate.
Happy travels and enjoy the scenery!

This place is a must to see if you’re visiting or living in San Francisco.
You must see it during the day AND during the night.
If you are lucky with a nice weather, a clear sky and a full moon you probably can film one of the best movies of your life on the top of the Marin Headlands with a background of jazz looking at the GGB/​downtown SF from one angle and on the Pacific ocean on the other side.