Youth leaders at the Crissy Field Center are putting the finishing touches on their final project, a free, family-friendly event filled with physical challenges, educational exhibits, and prizes. Held at Crissy Field, the event shows how pollution affects our entire community.

A new report by the Institute at the Golden Gate examines how youth programs can make the national parks more relevant to diverse populations. The two case studies in the report? Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area—and our own Golden Gate National Parks

With cute baby animals out and about, now’s a great time to explore your Golden National Parks. Click to see a slideshow of some of the parks’ budding young stars, and then gather up your own little ones for an “awww”-some park adventure.

11:05 am: After a brief but intense climb, Price brings the caravan to a rest stop as he points out Angel Island in the Bay, and Mount Tamalpais looming before them.

2:03 pm: Stress release—and all other motivating factors—are waning. One hour into the afternoon session, the crew members are slowing considerably; some are leaning on their weed wrenches, some are sitting on the grass; some are declaring their need for naptime. “I’m having an existential crisis!…

We asked a panel of bike experts for their favorite rides in the Golden Gate National Parks. Read on for the full prescription from these cycle-ologists: directions, descriptions, tips, and more. Then put your mettle to the pedal and get out there!

If you’ve ever shared your park photos with friends, chances are you’ve caught yourself explaining how the pictures simply don’t do the beauty of the moment justice.

Are you ENTJ or INFP? What about FOFU or MUWO? Take this short quiz and discover your “park personality!” Learn if you’re adventurous and rugged like Fort Funston—or strong and silent like Muir Woods.

Through our completely unscientific (but totally fun!) system of 16 park-sonality types, you’ll find a whole new…

On October 27 of 2012, it will be 40 years since President Richard Nixon signed the legislation to create the 34,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Since then, the Golden Gate National Parks—as these parklands are popularly called—have grown to more than 80,000 breathtaking acres.

October 5–7 was one very busy weekend in San Francisco, with Fleet Week and America’s Cup headlining two of the many, many events going on in the City. Even so, folks involved with both spectacular events still found time to give some TLC to the Golden Gate National Parks.