Looking for a beach read, a park-bench book, a page turner to hold under a shade tree? Here are some of our favorite books about nature and conservation—guaranteed to spark your sense of adventure, whet your appetite to explore, and inspire your sense of stewardship.

As we enter 2013, the Institute at the Golden Gate is lining up a series of ground-breaking pilot programs, cutting-edge reports, and innovative partnerships in their core focus areas: public health, food, and climate change. See what we’ve got cooking!

The iconic span that bridges the Golden Gate Strait can be enjoyed from many points throughout San Francisco and Marin County.

As one of the few staff working in Tennessee Valley, Liz Ponzini (manager of our Tennessee Valley Nursery) is well-acquainted with the natural wonders of the area—including the local wildlife. Read on to get the inside scoop for your next hike in this remarkable valley.

As you stand in the new parking lot at Muir Beach, you may notice the expanse of tan fabric covering the restored floodplain. What is this strange, straw-looking material? The simple answer is jute fabric—but what exactly is it?

By the end of summer 2015, an exciting new trail feature will grace the southern end of the Golden Gate. Visitors will be able to connect directly to the Presidio Coastal Trail, via a striking new bike/pedestrian “bridge” over the historic batteries.

[[{"fid":"40896","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Close up of a purple summer lupine blossom.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Summer lupine blossoms","field_exif_title[und][0]":"","field_exif_subject[und][0]":"","field_exif_author[und][0]":"","field_gps_gpslatitude[und][0]":"","field_gps_gpslongitude[und][0]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"full","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Close up of a purple summer lupine blossom.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Summer lupine blossoms","field_exif_title[und][0]":"","field_exif_subject[und][0]":"","field_exif_author[und][0]":"","field_gps_gpslatitude[und][0]":"","field_gps_gpslongitude[und][0]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"Close up of a purple summer lupine blossom.","title":"Summer lupine blossoms","class":"media-element file-full media-wysiwyg-align-left","data-delta":"1"}}]]Silver lupine was the preferred host plant for endangered Mission blue butterflies in the Golden Gate National Parks, but the emergence of a devastating fungal pathogen has prompted scientists to seek out a new paths forward.  Discover the innovative solutions park biologists have developed in their efforts to establish resilient wild lupine populations and help mission blues recover from near extinction.

Create your own adventure in the parks with the help of the Leo Helzel Adventure Guides. Launching at the opening of Presidio Tunnel Tops in spring 2022.

NPS Landscape Architect Kirsten Holder and her planning team are working with the community on a vision for the future of Rancho Corral de Tierra in San Mateo County.

Music and song—like the Golden Gate National Parks—are wrapped around so many of our best memories. We asked park staff to share their favorite songs that evoke the landscape, the spirit, their adventures, and their work across the parklands. Check out these solid-gold hits at Golden Gate—then share your own!