After a dramatic post-to-park transformation, Fort Baker’s stately Colonial Revival-style homes now house Cavallo Point (the first national park lodge of the 21st century) and the Institute at the Golden Gate (a new environmental center). Come to this beautiful site in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, stay at Cavallo Point, and learn about the Institute.

The park’s revitalization, completed in 2008, has restored native habitat and opened new opportunities for recreation. 

VISIT FORT BAKER: TIPS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• It is often sunny at Fort Baker when western park areas are fogged in.
• On the eastern bayshore, you will find the brick fortifications of Battery Cavallo and the concrete gun emplacements of Battery Yates.
• The restored historic parade ground at the heart of the Fort Baker makes a great spot for a picnic.
• Hike the trails in and around Fort Baker—home to the endangered Mission blue butterfly—and take in spectacular vistas of the bay and the bridge.
• Enjoy a snack or have a world-class dining experience at Cavallo Point’s dining establishments. 
• The pier on Fort Baker’s shore is a popular location for fishing. Here anglers catch perch, flounder, smelt, and rock crabs.
• Kids love the hands-on art, science, and play activities at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, which focuses on bay history and ecology. In addition to museum learning and play zones, you will find a store, café, theater, and restrooms. Please note: The museum charges an admission fee.
• Trails and lands directly beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, and between the Highway 101 Vista Point and Fort Baker, may periodically be closed to public access.

The army handed the keys to Fort Baker over to the National Park Service (NPS) in 2002. Through a unique partnership among the NPS, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and private entity Fort Baker Retreat Group, Fort Baker was revitalized with meticulous care and under strict “green” guidelines. In addition to the establishment of an eco-friendly national park lodge, the conservation ethos also inspired the founding of the Institute at the Golden Gate, which convenes environmental meetings and develops programs aimed at global sustainability.

Future plans for Fort Baker call for a new waterfront center in the old boat shop, where you will be able to rent bikes, get trail maps and snacks, and learn about local park activities.