Hiking in Golden Gate National Parks

Ideas for specific hikes

hiking at Muir Woods

For many of us, hiking the sprawling and spectacular trail system at Golden Gate is how we experience the parks and encounter their many wonders. More than just a line through the woods or a swath across a bluff, trails are where we can marvel at nature, learn about culture, and understand history.

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Spectacular views of Golden Gate from the Marin Headlands
Hiking
  • Hikes
This hike will take you to the top of one of the most famous lookout spots in the Marin Headlands , and is an easy jaunt from San Francisco. Get there by taking the twisty and scenic Conzelman Road, which offers many amazing lookout spots with ample parking. Pull over...
View over Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
Hiking
  • Birding
Ditch the summer fog in San Francisco for the sunny peaks of our Golden Gate National Parks in Marin County. Have some fun in the sun on this moderate eight-mile hike and finish it off with a frothy pint at the local "English" inn! Along the way, you'll see newly...
Scenic view of Mori Point Loop Trail, park visitors walk amongst wildflowers on a sunny day.
Parks
  • Hikes
Mori Point is a great place to enjoy a sunset, scan the waters for whale spouts, or simply enjoy the waves of the Pacific Coast washing up onto the shores.
West Point Inn
Hiking
  • Hikes
Difficulty: Moderate A wonderful loop hike on Mt. Tam with a stop at the historic West Point Inn for lemonade or a snack and a panoramic view.
Hikers pause to enjoy the beauty of the Bootjack Trail
Hiking
  • Hikes
This is one hike that will leave every hiker amazed at this natural wonder and grateful the environmental activists of the past stood up against the powerful forces of unchecked urbanization.
Panoramic Trail meets the Canopy View Trail at this rock
Hiking
  • Birding
Skip the crowds at Muir Woods , and explore the Redwood Creek watershed from Mount Tamalpais State Park. Begin the hike at the north end of the Mountain Home Inn parking lot and head down Camp Alice Eastwood fire road. A short distance down the road, take the Troop 80...
Warming Hut in front of the Golden Gate Bridge
Hikes
  • Hikes
Once a disheveled collection of worn military buildings and neglected rubbly asphalt, Crissy Field was restored to its marshy beginning, while paying homage to the military history prevalent here since 1776. Click here for the hiking route. Distance: 2.8 miles round-trip, or 3.6 miles round-trip with Fort Point included Time:...
Overlooking Stinson Beach
Hikes
  • Hikes
Enjoy the lush green hills and wildflowers of Spring on this fun one-way hike to Stinson Beach, with a Marin Stagecoach bus ride back. You can find a detailed map here . Distance: 4 miles one-way Time: 2 hours one-way, plus the time it takes for the Stagecoach bus to...
Bridge in Muir Woods Forest
Hikes
  • Hikes
Explore Muir Woods as a completely flat loop or venture up the hillside on to trails less traveled for more of a workout! See a map of all hiking trails in the Woods here. Distance: Varied Time: 1-3 hours Level: Easy to moderate, can either do a flat loop, or...
View of Rodeo Beach
Hikes
  • Hikes
Marvel at the beauty of the Marin Headlands on this moderate hike! There isn't any shade for the duration of the hike, so make sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. Print out the map or download on your phone as service is not reliable. Distance: 4.5 miles Time: 3...
Visitor Strolling Through MacArthur Meadow
Hikes
  • Hikes
The hike begins with a natural spring, which is eventually fed by two joining creeks. The waters then flow north to Crissy Marsh through a variety of habitats where native plants, birds, and other wildlife thrive, and ultimately join the bay and ocean. For centuries, people have used this creek...
Colors of sunset wash over Sutro Baths
Hiking
  • Biking
The most gorgeous view possible of this location occurs during sunset. The rocky shore is even more dramatic when the surf is rough against it and the sun a warm orange-pink. The short path, beginning in the parking lot of Lands Ends Lookout off Point Lobos Street, will lead you...

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