Golden Gate National Park Service National Recreation Area U.S. Department of the Interior Golden Gate California If we in the Congress do not act, the majestic area where sea and bay and land meet in a glorious symphony of nature will be doomed. —US Rep. Phillip Burton,1972 Muir Beach; below left: Alcatraz Native plant nursery Tennessee Valley; above: osprey with prey NPS / MARIN CATHOLIC HS NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE view from Marin Headlands BOTH PHOTOS NPS / KIRKE WRENCH toward city HORSE AND VOLUNTEER —NPS / ALISON TAGGART- BARONE; HEADLANDS—NPS / KIRKE WRENCH Petaluma Tomales 101 37 1 Vallejo For city dwellers, it’s not always easy to experience national human uses. The national recreation area’s role as the Bay Ar- GOLDEN GATE Tomales Bay Novato parks without traveling long distances. A new idea emerged in ea’s backyard continues to evolve in ways its early proponents BY THE NUMBERS Point Reyes SAN PABLO National Seashore Samuel P. Taylor BAY the early 1970s: Why not bring parks to the people? In 1972 never imagined. Renewable energy powers public buildings and 81,000 acres of parklands State Park San 80 Congress added two urban expanses to the National Park System: transportation. People of all abilities use accessible trails and Olema Valley Marin Municipal Rafael 36,000 park volunteers Water District Richmond Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the San Francisco Bay other facilities, engaging in activities that promote health and 1 Rosie the Riveter / Gulf of the Farallones See below WWII Home Front National Marine Sanctuary 29,000 yearly raptor sightings for detail 580 National Historical area and its eastern counterpart Gateway National Recreation wellness. Volunteers do everything from conducting tours to Park Bolinas Lagoon Muir Woods Area in New York and New Jersey. helping restore native habitat. 10,000 years of history Stinson Beach Angel Island Mount Tamalpais State Park 101 Berkeley 758 historic structures P Muir Beach State Park A Marin Headlands Alcatraz At nearly 81,000 acres, Golden Gate National Recreation Area Come here for the natural cathedral of coast redwoods at Muir C 80 140 miles of trails I Fort Point F San Francisco is the nation’s largest national park unit in an urban setting. Woods or to experience for yourself the harsh conditions on Maritime National I Cliff House Presidio Historical Park 78 shipwrecks C SAN It extends well north and south of San Francisco (see map at Alcatraz Island. But don’t overlook the out-of- Ocean Beach FRANCISCO Farallon National right). Along with other public lands and waters in the the-way places to savor the scents of bay lau- 35 threatened or endangered Wildlife Refuge Fort Funston 101 SAN species 280 region, it is recognized by the United Nations as Golden rel and sage, cool morning fog, waves crashing O See other side FRANCISCO Gate Biosphere Reserve. Offshore, Gulf of the on the headlands, or a tapestry of native spring wild- 12 sand beaches C for detail BAY E Milagra Ridge A Mori Point Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine flowers. Golden Gate National Recreation Area invites you to 3 lighthouses Pacifica N Sweeney Ridge sanctuaries protect ocean habitat and many enjoy, explore, and find your own way to experience the parks 1 1 Golden Gate San Francisco Peninsula threatened and endangered species, at the Golden Gate. Golden Gate NRA Watershed San legislative boundary Countless things to discover Rancho Corral Mateo 101 while allowing for compatible Golden Gate NRA water de Tierra legislative boundary 280 Other public land Half Moon Bay 35 Monterey Bay Phleger Estate North National Marine Sanctuary 0 10 Kilometers 1 0 10 Miles 1 Experience Your Parks Park volunteers contribute to just about every aspect of your experience at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY / EDDIE ARAUJO WHERE TO BEGIN Golden Gate National There are visitor informa­ Information and schedules Muir Woods National Mon- (www.bart.gov), Marin Recreation Area includes tion centers at Alcatraz, are available on site or at ument Reservations County (goldengate.org); Alcatraz, Fort Point National Fort Point National Historic www.nps.gov/goga. For a required! Visit early in the East Bay (www.actransit. Historic Site, Muir Woods Site, Golden Gate Bridge calendar of events and day for a more relaxed and org); and Peninsula (www. National Monument, and Pavilion, Land’s End, Marin interactive trip planning crowd-free time in the caltrain.com and www. dozens more natural and Head lands, Muir Woods Na ­ map, go to www.parks redwoods. Make parking or smctd.com) historic places (see maps on tional Monument, Pacifica, conservancy.org. shuttle reservations at: both sides of this brochure). and Presidio. GoMuirWoods.com or call Alcatraz Reservations 1-800-410-2419. highly recommended: 415­ 981­ROCK (415­981­7625) Getting Around MUNI bus­ or www.alcatrazcruises.com. es (www.sfmta.com) serve Ferries leave from Pier 33 most park sites in the city (see map at right). Be and the Marin Headlands. advised that America the MUNI lines connect to other Beautiful Pass does not systems in the Bay Area cover ferry ride. Left: Crissy Field, Alcatraz in background. NPS / KIRKE WRENCH HIGHLIGHTS FOR TWO HOURS OR LESS • Spot whales at Muir • Take a cell phone tour of • Explore the ruins of Sutro Beach Overlook during Fort Baker, an Endicott­ Baths and nearby Sutro their winter migration period army post from the Heights Gardens. (December–February). early 1900s. • Enjoy spectacular views • Tour the Cold War­era • Play with interactive of the Golden Gate at one Nike Missile Site in the exhibits at the Presidio of the many overlooks. Marin Headlands. Visitor Center. • Walk the Esplanade at • Scan the sky for migratory • Walk around restored Ocean Beach. birds of prey (raptors) soar­ wetlands at Crissy Field. ing above Marin Headlands • Take a history walking on Hawk Hill (in fall). • Learn about two centu­ tour of Fort Mason. ries of Presidio military life Above: Miles of roads and • Touch the historic 16­inch on a ranger­guided tour. • Take a wildflower walk at trails—ideal for hiking and gun at Battery Townsley in Fort Funston (in spring). biking—traverse the Marin Headlands. Marin Headlands. • Discover what makes Fort GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY / Point noteworthy and col­ • Look for red­legged frogs MICHAL VENERA • Watch the sun set over lect an NPS Civil War trad­ in ponds at Mori Point. the ocean at Cliff House. ing card. IF YOU HAVE A HALF DAY OR MORE • Hike from the ocean to Spencer—and panoramic • Hike, bike, or ride a horse the top of Montara Moun­ views of the city. to the ocean on the Ten­ tain (2,000 feet) at Rancho nessee Valley Trail. Corral de Tierra. • Catch fish at Fort Point, Baker Beach, or Ocean • Spend the day at Stinson • Find the Bay Discovery Beach. Beach, the park’s only life­ Site on Sweeney Ridge guarded beach. where Spanish explorer • Camp at Kirby Cove, with Gaspar de Portolà first saw a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay in 1769. Golden Gate. Left: Muir Woods board- walk. Below: Mission blue • Join in the Junior Ranger • Take the rocky trail out butterfly (actual size), an endangered species program at Alcatraz. Re­ to the Point Bonita Light­ native to the Bay Area. serve tickets ahead! house (limited hours). MUIR WOODS—NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE; BUTTERFLY—NPS / KIRKE WENCH • Bicycle along the water­ • Spot wrens, jays, spotted front from San Francisco owls, and other wild crea­ Maritime National Histori­ tures among the coast red­ cal Park across the Golden woods at Muir Woods Na­ Gate Bridge to Battery tional Monument. MORE THINGS TO KNOW For a Safe Visit Federal Kirby Cove accommodates More Information Golden laws protect all natural and larger groups. Call 415-331- Gate National Recreation cultural features in the park. 1540 for information. Area is one of over 400 Please enjoy things in their Reserve Kirby Cove and parks in the National Park natural habitat and leave Bicentennial at System. To learn more them undisturbed. • Dogs www.recreation.gov. about national parks visit are allowed in most areas Rob Hill in the Presidio is www.nps.gov. of the park; check the park reserved through the website for area­specific Presidio Trust at Golden Gate regulations. Clean up waste. www.presidio.gov. National Recreation Area • Be prepared and dress in Fort Mason, Bldg. 201 layers. Weather is unpre­ Volunteers In Parks Golden San Francisco, CA 94123 dictable. • For a full list of Gate National Recreation 415­561­4700 regulations, including fire­ Area has one of the largest www.nps.gov/goga arms information, check and most di verse Volunteers the park website. In Parks (VIP) communities Follow us on Facebook, in the nation. Call the VIP Twitter, and other social Accessibility We strive to Hotline, 415­561­4755, or media. make our facilities, services, visit www.nps.gov/goga/ and programs accessible to supportyourpark. Emergencies call 911 all. For additional informa­ tion ask a ranger, check at Park Partners The park Right: Fort Point National Historic Site a visitor center, visit the works closely with Golden NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE park website, or call 415­ Gate National Parks Con­ 561­4958. servancy and dozens of other park partners to en­ Camping The park has hance the experiences of four campgrounds, tents visitors and build communi­ only. Bicentennial, Hawk ty support. For a full list of Hill, and Haypress are small park partners, visit www. with limited services; nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/ partners. .