Discover the top Bay Area hiking trails to explore this holiday season, featuring scenic forest walks, coastal overlooks, family-friendly hikes, and iconic national park pathways.

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.

Gather your crew of folks and work together on a fun service project that makes a difference in your parks and community! Our volunteer programs are great team experiences for community organizations, corporate groups, youth groups, schools, and faith groups.

Docent positions and skills-based roles

With trailheads in San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties, the forests of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Mt. Tam are both accessible and timeless.

Stretching across the hills and shorelines of San Francisco and Marin, the forests of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) provide shade, habitat, and a living connection between people and nature.

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.  

‘Tis the season for a 3-hour outdoor adventure "Family HoliDAY" packed with fun, wow and discovery. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the San Francisco Bay Area is a perfect destination for multigenerational families looking to create unforgettable hikes and memories.

To date, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) has published 26 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, contributed to Master's and PhD candidates' research, and given more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences.