The Marin Headlands are a large section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which encompasses most of the northwestern San Francisco Bay Area. The Headlands begin at the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, extend west to the Pacific Ocean and from there north to the Mount Tamalpais State Park boundary. Nature lovers, history buffs, hikers, bikers, photographers, families... All can have a great time at the Marin Headlands.
Must see and must do at The Marin Headlands
The scenic drive on Conzelman Road along the Golden Gate with spectacular views is the key Marin Headlands experience, but most people just go to one of the first two turnouts and then get back onto the highway. The further along the fewer the crowds and the more spectacular the sights. The extremely-kid friendly Marine Mammal Center is at Fort Cronkhite, one of many former military installations. For many years most of the land was used by the military and public use was heavily restricted, so there are many old structures in addition to the well-preserved Cronkhite and Fort Barry. For hikers and bikers, there are more than 100 miles of trails.
Best and worst time to go to The Marin Headlands
The weekends are very busy for good reason, but there are still spots where you can find quiet. The earlier you can go- to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day- the better off you'll be. On weekdays things are quieter, but many popular places, like Point Bonita Lighthouse and the Nike Missile Site, only offer tours or are open on weekends. Morning and evening are also great times for photography.
Admission to The Marin Headlands
Fees vary depending on what you want to do at the Headlands. Day-use parking no matter where you are is free. Reservations are required for fee camping at Kirby Cove and Bicentennial Campground. There is also a Hostel in the former hospital at Fort Cronkhite.
Wildlife at The Marin Headlands
Harbor seals have staked out territory near Point Bonita Lighthouse and can often be seen lounging around. Lizards skitter about in the underbrush wherever you walk. Bird Island on the western edge of the Headlands is a sanctuary for hundreds of birds and dozens of different species. The state flower, the California Golden Poppy, is seemingly all around. While bigger predators like bobcats and coyotes usually stay away from humans, they can occasionally be seen on a far-away hill.
Cellphone service at The Marin Headlands
Cell service is pretty widespread around the Headlands because of an innovative cell phone audio tour. At designated signs, visitors can call a number, punch in a code and listen to that part of the tour. Of course there are dead spots, but those are usually rather spectacular areas and you shouldn't be on your phone there anyway.
Insider tip for The Marin Headlands
While Conzelman Road, the main Golden Gate scenic route, has spectacular views of the Bay and San Francisco, it is also the way to access the most thought-provoking structure in the Park, called Battery Construction 129. It was built in the early days of World War II with the intent of being the most powerful military installation around, capable of wiping out any enemy navy heading into the Golden Gate. It was never completed or named, but being in the huge concrete chambers and imagining an enemy fleet steaming towards San Francisco is still a chilling thought. It's a big reminder of how on edge the whole west coast was during both World Wars.
Author's bio: Alex Drude is a Bay Area native. He is sure all the gun turrets have the best views in the Headlands. Follow his sports and travel musings on Twitter @Alex_Drude and on Facebook.