Visitor Tips

Explore our expertly curated visitor tips and how-to guides to make the most of your trip to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Whether you're hiking, sightseeing, or enjoying the coastline, our helpful resources ensure an unforgettable experience.

What's New
Person in red jacket with a blue backpack talking down the pathway at Point Bonita Lighthouse.
How to plan and prepare for day hiking in the GGNRA

Getting out into nature should be fun, accessible, and affordable. That’s why we’re here to help with a guide on how to plan and prepare for the most popular activity in the parks: day hiking.  

Rodeo Valley Trail
Leave No Trace Seven Principles

Learn more about the "Leave No Trace Seven Principles" to help minimize our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems.

Ocean Beach visitors warm up beside a bonfire in the iconic fire pits as a golden sunset illuminates the sky.
Ocean Beach bonfires: How to snag a fire pit

Where else can you roast s'mores while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean? So bundle up and head out to these beaches for a memorable time out.

Golden Gate Bridge between two Cypress tree trunks.
How to Get the Shot: Golden Gate Bridge Between Two Trees

There are endless views in the Bay Area to frame the Golden Gate Bridge in a photograph. On Instagram, vantage points between cypress trees on the western edge of the Presidio are catching hearts and racking up “double taps.”  

Yellow wildflowers on hill at Mori Point
Tips for Viewing Wildflowers in the Golden Gate National Parks

Where can you enjoy the array of seasonal flora in the Golden Gate National Parks while minimizing your impact? Follow these tips.

Sunset at Milagra Ridge
Best Instagram-able photo spots in the Golden Gate National Parks

We collected a list of the most Instagram-able, “double tap”-worthy vistas in your coastal parklands for your posting pleasure. While you’re out exploring and documenting, tag us in your post (@parksconservancy) for a chance to be featured on our website!

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