What can we help find?

4

Visitor Tips

Explore our expertly curated visitor tips and how-to guides to make the most of your trip to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Whether you're hiking, sightseeing, or enjoying the coastline, our helpful resources ensure an unforgettable experience.

Statue of Yoda at LucasArts in the Presidio.
Parks

A Star Wars Fan’s Guide to Exploring Golden Gate National Recreation Area

If you're a Star Wars fan visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) offers more than just breathtaking views — it’s a destination where nature and the galaxy far, far away meet.
Poppies at Black Point Historic Gardens at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Parks

Spring guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Spring is one superlative season that’ll be sure to delight all the senses.
Steep Ravine Trail after winter rains.
Parks

Winter guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Winter is a magical time to explore this stunning region, with its crisp air, fewer crowds, and breathtaking landscapes.
A Parks Conservancy staff member and a National Park Service staff member stand waving and smiling on East Beach next to a beach wheelchair.
Parks

Accessibility in the Parks: Beach Wheelchairs Video

Learn about the beach wheelchair program and beach wheelchair accessible shores...

Beach wheelchairs are available on-site at Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Rodeo Beach, and Baker Beach.
Sunrise Ceremony by the Indians of All Tribes on Alcatraz Island
Parks

Fall guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Fall is a favorite season in the national parks of the Bay Area: Sunny days, raptors overhead, and maybe even a yellow leaf or two.
A night view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Kirby Cove. The lights from the bridge glow on the water and there are stars twinkling overhead.
Parks

Expert picks: Best Bay Area stargazing spots

When the sun sets, the skies above our parks illuminate with an ever-changing tapestry of planets, stars, constellations, and galaxies – many visible to the naked eye. If you know where to look, the GGNRA offers stargazers an endless well of magic to observe year-round.
Person in red jacket with a blue backpack talking down the pathway at Point Bonita Lighthouse.
Parks

How to plan and prepare for day hiking in the GGNRA

Getting out into nature should be fun, accessible, and affordable. That’s why we’re here to help with a guide on how to plan and prepare for the most popular activity in the parks: day hiking.
Rodeo Valley Trail
Parks

Leave No Trace Seven Principles

Learn more about the "Leave No Trace Seven Principles" to help minimize our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems.
Ocean Beach visitors warm up beside a bonfire in the iconic fire pits as a golden sunset illuminates the sky.
Parks

Ocean Beach bonfires: How to snag a fire pit

Where else can you roast s'mores while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean? So bundle up and head out to these beaches for a memorable time out.
Golden Gate Bridge between two Cypress tree trunks.
Stories

How to Get the Shot: Golden Gate Bridge Between Two Trees

There are endless views in the Bay Area to frame the Golden Gate Bridge in a photograph. On Instagram, vantage points between cypress trees on the western edge of the Presidio are catching hearts and racking up “double taps.”
Yellow wildflowers on hill at Mori Point
Article

Tips for Viewing Wildflowers in the Golden Gate National Parks

Where can you enjoy the array of seasonal flora in the Golden Gate National Parks while minimizing your impact? Follow these tips.
Sunset at Milagra Ridge
Article

Best Instagram-able photo spots in the Golden Gate National Parks

We collected a list of the most Instagram-able, “double tap”-worthy vistas in your coastal parklands for your posting pleasure. While you’re out exploring and documenting, tag us in your post ( @parksconservancy ) for a chance to be featured on our website!