About Golden Gate
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history from California’s indigenous cultures, Spanish colonialism, the Mexican Republic, US military expansion and the growth of San Francisco. All of this and more awaits you, so get out and find your park.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- West
- State
- California
- Designation
- National Recreation Area
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Golden Gate.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Parking Lots
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Although this urban park is accessible 24 hours a day in most areas, most parking lots are open between sunrise to sunset.
Weather and when to go
Winter is characterized by sporadic rain and cool weather punctuated by brilliant sunshine. In winter the grass greens. Trees and flowers dormant through winter start blooming in late February or early March and last until May or June. By July, summer fog predominates in most coastal areas of the park. Grasses and plants have now turned to the golden brown and muted grays characteristic of California summer and fall. September and October skies are clear and sunshine is abundant everywhere in the park.
Getting there
Golden Gate National Recreation Area has many sites that span over 60 miles of mostly coastal areas north and south of San Francisco. Park areas can be reached by Highways 1, 101 and 280 from the north and south San Francisco Bay Area, and by Highway 80 from the East Bay. To access park headquarters at Fort Mason, please use the entrance at Franklin and Bay Streets in San Francisco.
Contact the park
- Address
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123
- Phone
- (415) 561-4700
- Official site
- nps.gov/goga
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Golden Gate
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Things to do in Golden Gate
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Hawk Hill Birdwatching
Birdwatching in the high hills of the Marin Headlands at Hawk Hill Overlook.
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Rodeo Lagoon Birdwatching
Birdwatching in Rodeo Lagoon
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Nike Missile Site in the Marin Headlands
Visit and explore a Nike Missile site and learn about the role of the military installations here in the Marin Headlands.
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Visit the New Industries Building
Visit the New Industries Building to see exhibits on Prison Labor and the commemorative exhibit, Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later. Red Power on Alcatraz tells th…
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Hike the Bolinas Ridge Trail
Admire redwood forests and expansive views of the Olema Valley on this dog-friendly, multi-use trail. This up-to-11-mile-long trail begins at either at the Bolinas Ridge Trailhead…
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Walk the Cross Marin Trail
The up-to-10.6-miles- roundtrip Cross Marin Trail is a relatively flat, easy trail that follows the historic North Pacific Coast Railroad right-of-way paralleling Lagunitas Creek.…
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Bike the Bolinas Ridge Trail
Enjoy open, grassy hillsides, redwood forests, decent climbs, and bumpy downhills on this multi-use trail. This trail begins at either at the Bolinas Ridge Trailhead along Sir Fra…
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Presidio Birdwatching
Birdwatching in the Presidio.
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Crissy Field Birdwatching
Birdwatching in Crissy Field
Campgrounds in Golden Gate
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Kirby Cove Campground
Kirby Cove is the most popular campground in the Marin Headlands, with spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. Enjoy a wooded setting, seclusio…
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Hawk Campground
Hawk Campground is the most remote campground and is located above Tennessee Valley and offers sweeping views of the Marin Headlands. The site is a 2.5 mile up…
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Haypress Campground
Haypress Campground is nestled within the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, near Mill Valley. The hike to this campground is 0.7 miles from the Tennessee Vall…
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Bicentennial Campground
Bicentennial Campground is the easiest to reach campground in Golden Gate, approximately 100 yards from the parking area near Battery Wallace. The campground i…
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Rob Hill Campground
Open for public tent camping from April 1 to October 31, Rob Hill offers 4 (2 are accessible) group campsites that each can welcome up to 30 people. Sites must…
What to pack for Golden Gate
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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