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The Marin Headlands is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area—the largest urban park in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. Point Bonita Lighthouse, several historic military sites, a Nike Missile site, museums, camp grounds, beaches and hiking trails can be visited and explored within the Marin Headlands.

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The Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate Recreation Area are administered by the National Park Service which has an informative website and Marin Headlands map (pdf).

Every day hundreds of visitors to the Marin Headlands to enjoy spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. North Vista Point is only accessible from US 101 northbound after crossing the bridge. You can park there for up to 4 hours and walk onto the bridge if you want.

You can also see Fort Baker and Horseshoe Bay just beyond the parking area. The Bay Area Discovery Museum—a nationally recognized indoor/outdoor children's museum is located in East Fort Baker.

For even more exciting GGB and SF views cross US 101 and venture along Conzelman Road which climbs high above the bridge. There are many small pull-outs with limited parking along the way, especially as you near the top where you'll find a turnaround. You've almost certainly seen dramatic photos taken from this route in advertisements, movies and TV shows.

I shot a 360° panorama for the World Wide Panorama spring 2006 'Borders' event from this area and I've visited here and taken many photos over the years. More of those images are available on my Golden Gate Bridge page.

One panorama on that page—Battery Yates 360°—was shot from the other side of Horseshoe Bay and shows North Vista Point, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco and the famous fog rolling into San Francisco through the golden gate. Another photo on that page from a photo shoot on July 4th shows fireworks in SF beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. I shot another panorama that same evening that served as my "Best of 2005" entry to the WWP.

Conzelman Road continues—one way only—westward to Point Bonita. Point Bonita Lighthouse is located at the end of the point. To visit the lighthouse you pass through a hand carved tunnel and cross two wooden bridges, one of which is meant to resemble the Golden Gate Bridge. The tunnel is locked to restrict access except on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Conzelman Road ends just beyond Battery Mendell—one of several WWII concrete gun emplacements with the expected great views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Nearby are Battery Wallace and Battery Alexander. Battery Townsley is at Fort Cronkhite on the other side of Rodeo Lagoon. In the early 1980s I would visit the hill behind the Fort Cronkhite a couple of weekends a month. It was the beginner hang gliding site closest to San Francisco.

Following Bunker Road back toward US 101 you pass a Nike Missile Site—also known as SF-88 and now an educational Cold War museum, the Marin Headlands Hostel at Fort Barry and the Marin Headlands Visitor Center in short order. There is a lot to explore here the visitors center is the best place to start for trail maps, advice and information about the Marin Headlands.

The Marine Mammal Center—also at Fort Cronkhite, beyond Rodeo Lagoon—is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation hospital for stranded marine mammals with educational programs.

Rodeo Beach is the largest beach in the Marin Headlands and easiest to access. Muir Beach at the northern end of the headlands—next to the community of Muir Beach, CA and not far from Muir Woods— can be reached by taking Highway 1. Black Sands Beach and Tennessee Beach require hiking. The trail to Tennessee Beach is longer, but relatively level and so will be more appropriate for children.

There are a limited number of camping sites available by reservation in the Marin Headlands. Walk-in camping is available at four sites at Kirby Cove. Three 2-person camp sites are available at Bicentennial Camp near Battery Wallace andPoint Bonita. Inland hike-in camp sites include Hawk Camp and Haypress.