Perched above Pacifica, the windswept hillsides of this Golden Gate National Parks site give vista-hungry visitors a wide range of views around every corner while providing sensitive habitat for threatened and endangered species. For more tips, go to parksconservancy.org/explore-our-parks.

For Martine Glaros, it’s “like hiking and going on a treasure hunt at the same time.” Desmond Murray called it “needle in a haystack stuff.” 

Imagine finding a bloom in the park and going back weeks later when it’s no longer flowering, grasses and shrubs growing up around it, and…

While five international design teams work on conceptual ideas for the 12 new acres of national parkland atop the Presidio Parkway, YOU have an opportunity to share your own creative vision for this “Presidio Gateway.” Learn more about this project—and how to submit your ideas.

In May 2016, just outside the Golden Gate (and off the coast of our Golden Gate National Parks), humpback whales were gathering in record numbers—and blue whales were making extremely rare spring appearances. What explains this massing of these mammoth mammals?

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

Park Ranger Mia Monroe is the Marin Community Liaison for the NPS, and one of the longest serving employees in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

With the frequent and heavy rains, about a dozen coast redwoods have come down in recent months (winter of 2016-17) at Muir Woods. Learn what happens when a giant falls, how trail crews move a 10-ton redwood, and how the death of one tree gives life to so many other species.

As 2012 draws to a close, we want to give an enormous and heartfelt THANK YOU to all park volunteers! We are incredibly grateful that you choose to give the gift of your time and energy to these parklands. Read on to see your amazing year of accomplishments.

Bioblitz (March 28–29) offers the entire community a chance to appreciate the full biodiversity of our parks, all across life’s spectrum. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity to tally species—and take a colorful quiz to test your organism ID skills!

On September 27, 2012, on Hawk Hill, we counted 295 Broad-winged Hawk sightings, 10 times our previous one-day count for that species. We even exceeded our season-total record—248 sightings—in just that one day. Aside from these impressive numbers, why is this exciting?