The elusive North American river otter is an adorable and fierce native otter species that resides in the coastal wetlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

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.

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Here’s the Dirt utilizes a student-centered learning approach. Lessons are organized so students can build on the knowledge they have already gained. Each activity, indoors and outside, is based on helping students achieve science education standards.

Pre-visit activities involve students in games and videos that develop an understanding of

Park improvement projects and weather-related events sometimes result in temporary closures and detours of trails around the parks.  Learn about current closures.

• More than $745 MILLION in park support
• $85 MILLION raised for Trails Forever
• $34.5 MILLION raised to transform Crissy Field
• More than 21 MILLION visitors served by Alcatraz audio tour
• More than 15 MILLION visitors to Crissy Field
• Over 7 MILLION hours of volunteer time; more than 357,000 volunteers
• More than 2.5 MILLION native plants