Located in the Marin Headlands, Fort Cronkhite is nestled at the end of Rodeo Valley, just west of the Marin Headlands Visitor Center. The buildings at Fort Cronkhite currently house the Marine Mammal Center, Headlands Center for the Arts, the Headlands Institute, and other nonprofit organizations.

Once an army installation and part of the Presidio, this site is representative of the mobilization posts constructed by the Army from 1940–1941. Barracks #1059 is the only restored mobilization barracks in the West. Its interior has been restored to its original appearance, complete with furnishings that reflect its uses during World War II, the Korean War, and the 1960s.

Today, Fort Cronkhite continues to be a center for park activities: there is access to the beach, the lighthouse, and the visitor center; rich habitat for birds, butterflies, and bobcats; and access to miles of backcountry and coastal trails.

VISIT FORT CRONKHITE: TIPS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for the Marin Headlands Visitor Center’s red spire at Bunker and Field roads. Exhibits introduce you to the natural and historical splendor of Rodeo Valley and the Marin Headlands. Park rangers are on hand to advise visitors about trails and camping.
• Spend an afternoon relaxing on Rodeo Beach or surfing its waves.
• Visit the Marine Mammal Center to learn about the many fascinating mammalian species that reside in nearby waters.
• Explore the miles of backcountry trails that meander through coastal hills and offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Beaches and Basalt
Rodeo Beach at Fort Cronkhite is a great place to comb the beach or just to walk by the waves. Its pretty green and dark-red pebbles come from pillow basalts and chert, rocks formed on the seafloor and scraped off on the Headlands by plate tectonics.