Park & nature
Marin Headlands
Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
The Marin Headlands, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a hilly peninsula with sweeping vistas that are among the most photographed in the world. Visitors can drive or hike to viewpoints like Hawk Hill and Battery Spencer for classic shots of the Golden Gate Bridge framed by the bay. The area also features abandoned military bunkers, a lighthouse at Point Bonita, and miles of trails through grasslands and coastal scrub. It's a prime spot for watching migrating raptors in fall and for sunset photography.
Don't miss
- Drive to Hawk Hill for a bird's-eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.
- Explore the abandoned Nike missile site and other Cold War-era military installations.
- Hike the Coastal Trail to Point Bonita Lighthouse for dramatic cliffside views and a hand-operated suspension bridge.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Marin Headlands
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inMuir Woods and Sausalito Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry)4.4★ · 5,182 travelers5–8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$80 per personSee dates →
Best full daySan Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito and Optional Alcatraz Tour4.8★ · 1,541 travelers~9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$119 per personSee dates →
Top ratedGolden Gate Bridge Muir Woods Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz4.9★ · 1,309 travelers~6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$119 per personSee dates →More attractions in Sausalito
