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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.

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.
Sign saying "Smash and Grab Hotspot"
Parks

Safety in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Preparation is key when planning a safe and memorable visit to any park.
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!
Hiking with dog
Article

Eight Pawesome Park Sites to Take Your Pooch

Looking for a prime spot to take your pup? Check out our top picks for Rex-reation!
Coyotes
Conservation

Wildlife Encounter Tips

We want you to have a howlingly good time in the Golden Gate National Parks, but we also want to protect the wildlife that howl (and those that don’t).
Humpback Whale
Park E-Ventures Article

Expert Tips for Whale Watching in the Golden Gate National Parks

Thar she blows! Your coastal parklands are parallel to a marine passage for migrating humpback whales, gray whales, blue whales, orcas, and so many more leviathans. We talked to the experts about what you can do to enhance your chances of spotting a whale spout on your next visit.
Baker beach youth
Park E-Ventures Article

Nine Photography Tips from Our Park Photographers

A photo is the perfect keepsake from your adventure in the Golden Gate National Parks. Our staff photographers share their top tips for being a better shutterbug while out in your coastal parklands.
Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio
Park E-Ventures Article

Trail Etiquette 101: Ensure Our Parks’ Paths Are Safe and Fun for All

Here’s a handy primer—or a reminder—of some common-courtesy rules of trail etiquette.