Marin Headlands
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Road Closures and Construction

Due to a massive road improvement project, Upper Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands is closed to all traffic, bikes, and pedestrians through October 2010. East Road is also closed. Other roads will experience traffic delays of up to 30 minutes and may be closed completely to bikers. There will be no public access to Hawk Hill until the road re-opens in the fall.

- Road delays and closures
- Bike delays and closures
- Trail delays and closures
- Transit delays and closures
- Destinations & parking information

Visit the Project Headlands web site for more information about the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan which presents proposed improvements to 11 miles of historic roads in the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker. 

Marin Headlands 

There's only one place on the Pacific coast where you can be at eye level with the soaring tower of a world-famous bridge: the Marin Headlands. Discover San Francisco Bay's narrow entrance channel by taking a drive along cliff-hugging Conzelman Road from the northern foot of the Golden Gate Bridge and out to Point Bonita. This 5-mile road climbs high above the level of the bridge towers and offers breathtaking views of San Francisco and the ocean. Vista points along Conzelman Road include Battery Spencer at the crest of the first hill; several road turnouts; and Hawk Hill (Hill 129), 1.8 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge.  

Hiker in the Marin Headlands Where the road narrows to one lane and plunges dramatically down toward the coastline, park and walk up the fire road to the top of Hawk Hill. On an autumn day, you may see raptors (birds of prey) soaring overhead. Unlike other birds, raptors have talons for grasping prey, hooked beaks for tearing flesh, and tremendous eyesight. Nineteen different raptor species can be seen above the narrow Marin peninsula during their autumn journey south down the coastal flyway. Each year, more than 20,000 raptors fly over the Headlands during the five-month migration season. Volunteers with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory have counted as many as 2,800 raptors on a peak day.

While in the Marin Headlands you can also:

 

Tips for Visitors
  • Bring your own snacks; there are no food vendors in the Headlands.
  • The far end of Conzelman Road closes every night around sunset and opens again at 7:30 a.m.
  • Accessible restroom facilities are available at the Fort Cronkhite parking lot by Rodeo Beach, and the visitor center in Fort Barry.
  • Don't plan on swimming (the ocean water is cold and dangerous).


Rocky coast in the Marin Headlands

Nature

Seafloor Rocks
The sea cliffs and road cuts of the Marin Headlands have some of the finest exposures of pillow basalt and radiolarian chert to be found anywhere. Millions of years ago, these rocks formed around mid-ocean ridges several thousand miles from the West Coast at the bottom of the sea. The black pillow basalt was created when volcanic vents spewed lava onto the seafloor; upon contact with the cold water, the lava solidified into pillow-shaped deposits. The red-brown radiolarian chert formed as layer upon sedimentary layer of skeletal radiolarian remains (microscopic protozoans) collected on the seafloor. As the seafloor moves slowly east (at about the rate a fingernail grows), it slides under the North American continent and leaves behind scrapings of radiolarian chert and pillow basalt.

Maps and Information

For a map, driving directions and satellite views of this park from Google™ Maps, click here.

Address: Fort Barry, Building 948, Sausalito, CA 94965

Phone: (415) 331-1540

The following links to the Golden Gate National Recreational Area’s website provide more information about:

If you enjoy Marin Headlands

  • Explore Sweeney Ridge for more hilltop vistas and fascinating history and wildlife
  • Discover Rocky Point for more dramatic views of the Pacific coast
  • Volunteer in our native plant nurseries in the Marin Headlands
  • Get involved with Site Stewardship of sensitive habitat areas