Stories

Historic image of giant ranger flat hat at SF Pride Parade.
The larger-than-life story behind the giant National Park Service ranger hat

Hold on to your hats! A giant park ranger hat has caused quite the stir around the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)—have you spotted it?

Discovering local flora at Rancho.
Nature Quest: Explore, Engage, and Discover the Coastside Parks!
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Come learn about your local parks and libraries!

Registration Required
Seal Rocks seen in the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco's Lands End.
Date Ideas in the Parks

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.

A woman stands amidst towering redwood trees in a forest.
"Giants Rising" Film Screening
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Join us for a screening of the film, "Giants Rising" in Marin City.

Registration Required
Alcatraz staff member Edwin Sera stands in the Alcatraz Cellhouse.
A 'special' spot: Here's what it's like to work on Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island is one of the most unique places to work in the Bay Area, and many Parks Conservancy team members keep coming back year after year. 

A river otter pops up from the water as its swimming in Rodeo Lagoon
Where to find river otters in the Marin Headlands

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.

Veteran Jack Carter Fisher at Lands End in San Francisco.
Veteran's journey: How Jack found recovery through science in the GGNRA

Veteran Jack Carter Fisher has found connection and healing in GGNRA parks, thanks to the W.A.R.I.O.R. Program through the San Francisco VA Health Care System, the National Park Service, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

Eloy Martinez, third from right, at an event on Alcatraz.
Indigenous Peoples

These are the stories of the people who were the original stewards of the lands that are now the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Find videos and stories highlighting that history and its connections to today.

Ranger Jace is holding up a a branch with redwood needles and pointing to it in their uniform.
Meet the Park Ranger: Turning to the trees with Ranger Jace 

Jace Ritchey never dreamed of becoming a park ranger, but today you'll find Ranger Jace greeting visitors and starring in social media posts from Muir Woods National Monument.

An American dog tick on someone's hand.
Tick guide: How to identify, remove ticks

Expert tips for how to identify, remove ticks while exploring the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

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