Skip to main content

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 Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Marine Mammal Center, Headlands Center for the Arts, and other organizations.

Once an army installation and part of the Presidio, Fort Cronkhite is now a center for park activities: there is access to the beach, the Point Bonita Light, the visitor center, and miles of beautiful trails.

Hours

Open 24/7
  • Location
  • Park
  • Activity
  • Service

Highlight on the map:

  • Look for the Marin Headlands Visitor Center’s red spire at Bunker and Field roads. Explore exhibits on the natural and historical resources of Rodeo Valley and the Marin Headlands. Ask park rangers about trails and camping.
  • Spend an afternoon relaxing on Rodeo Beach or surfing its waves.
  • Explore the miles of backcountry trails that meander through coastal hills, and observe birds, butterflies, and bobcats.
  • Visit the Marine Mammal Center to learn about the many fascinating mammalian species that reside in nearby waters.
  • Volunteer with the Conservancy’s Marin Headlands Native Plant Nursery and grow plants for vital park restoration projects.

Beaches and Basalt
Rodeo Beach at Fort Cronkhite is a great place to marvel at the pretty green and dark-red pebbles that come from pillow basalts and chert—rocks formed on the seafloor and scraped off on the Headlands by plate tectonics.

Fort Cronkhite is a prime 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.

Events

Find your passion through the many events available at the park.

Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands
Battery Townsley Open House
-
-
-
Great blue heron
Beginning Birding
-
-
Great blue heron
Beginning Birding
-
-
Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands
Battery Townsley Open House
-
-
-
Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands
Battery Townsley Open House
-
-
-
Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands
Battery Townsley Open House
-
-
-

Trails & Activities

Explore what kind of activities are available near the park.

Park Activities and Trails
A hiker looks out at scenic view of the pacific coastline from the Coastal Trail in Marin Headlands on a bright sunny day.
Coastal Trail
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Battery Townsley "pond" in a former gun emplacement
Coastal Trail Marin Hike
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Trail Length: 1.90 miles round trip
Visitors hike up the Coastal Trail from Rodeo Beach
Coastal Trail to Hill 88
Difficulty Level: Moderately Strenuous