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Parks

Alert: Tunnel Closure to Restrict Headlands Access

The Baker-Barry Tunnel (aka the “Five-Minute Tunnel”), a main artery into the Marin Headlands, will be closed on January 2, 2017 for much-needed repairs and upgrades. Work is slated to last until early May, and visitors are strongly encouraged to make alternate plans.

Muir Woods Historic Redwoods
Serenity Wow: Top Spots to Get Away from It All

With the pressures of the holidays upon us (and the stress of everything else that’s going on in the world), parks can be a great place to escape, re-center, and refocus. Here are some of the most peaceful spots in the Golden Gate National Parks.

Cobweb Thistle
Eight Spookiest Plants in the Golden Gate National Parks

They’re green. They’re ghoulish. And they’re right here in the Golden Gate National Parks. Because of their name, their look, or their poison, these boo-tanical specimens are fit for a witch’s brew, a Halloween party, or a little shop of horror. Read on, if you dare….

Stinson Beach
Hot Tips for Cooling Off: The Best Beaches at Golden Gate

“Summer” is coming. Be prepared for when the temperature soars above the 60s this fall—discover the best beaches in your Golden Gate National Parks and learn important safety tips for any trip to the surf and shore.

Warming Hut
Best Places to Eat: Fort Mason to the Golden Gate Bridge

Make sure you stay hydrated and well-fueled at these excellent (and ’grammable) nosh spots between Fort Mason and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Muir Woods with ranger and kids
Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service!

One hundred years ago on this date (Aug. 25), President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act that created the National Park Service.

Humpback Whale
Baleen In: Record Number of Whales Spotted This Spring

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?

Barry Spitz
Q&A: Mt. Tam Secrets with Barry Spitz

Mount Tamalpais Trails is your one-stop, must-have resource for exploring Mt. Tam. In this exclusive interview, author Barry Spitz—one of the preeminent authorities on Tam—shares his favorite spot, his recommended hikes, and his greatest challenge in walking every single trail on the mountain.

Coho salmon release
Rescue Mission Proceeds: Captive-Raised Coho Begin Return to the Wild

With Redwood Creek coho salmon on the brink of disappearing, biologists launched a last-ditch attempt to save them: harvesting local fish, raising them to reproductive maturity at a hatchery, and then returning them to the wild. In December, the first captive-raised coho were released.

Western Snowy Plover
A Record-High Number of Plovers: What Does It Mean?

In January 2016, a record number of Western snowy plovers were spotted at Ocean Beach. What are some possible reasons for this sky-high count? Read the latest on park monitoring of these threatened species—and learn what you can do to help their chances of survival.