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Park Staff Picks

Plan your visit with expert tips, trail guides, and must-see spots in Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Discover top recommendations and insider favorites from Parks Conservancy and National Park Service to help you experience the Golden Gate National Recreation Area like a pro. From scenic trails to hidden gems along the coast, these hand-picked guides offer practical tips and inspiration for every kind of adventurer.

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Rainbow above the Golden Gate Bridge.
Seasonal Guides to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Discover the natural beauty, history, and hidden gems of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area all year long with our Seasonal Guides. 

Poppies at Black Point Historic Gardens at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Spring guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Spring is one superlative season that’ll be sure to delight all the senses.

Seal Rocks seen in the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco's Lands End.
Date Ideas in the Parks

The vast landscapes of the Golden Gate national parks in the San Francisco Bay Area offer countless breathtaking spots to impress a date, capture unforgettable photos, or even plan the perfect proposal.

Steep Ravine Trail after winter rains.
Winter guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Winter is a magical time to explore this stunning region, with its crisp air, fewer crowds, and breathtaking landscapes.

A night view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Kirby Cove. The lights from the bridge glow on the water and there are stars twinkling overhead.
Expert picks: Best Bay Area stargazing spots

When the sun sets, the skies above our parks illuminate with an ever-changing tapestry of planets, stars, constellations, and galaxies – many visible to the naked eye. If you know where to look, the GGNRA offers stargazers an endless well of magic to observe year-round.  

Pole covered in yarn with Fort Point and Golden Gate Bridge in background.
Colorful Immigrant Yarn Project dazzles at Fort Point: Our favorite Instagram posts

See our favorite photos of the multicolored and thought-provoking Immigrant Yarn Project at Fort Point (open now through May 19).