Bay Area Ridge Trail: The Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Headlands

Bay Area Ridge Trail: The Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Headlands is a 1.7 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near San Francisco, California that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.

Length1.7 miElevation gain239 ftRoute typePoint to point

Description

Waypoints (8)

Facilities

Tips

Getting There

This famous bridge span, dedicated in 1937, is one of the world’s most spectacular and visited sites. A trip by foot, bike, or wheelchair offers visitors an excellent opportunity to understand Bay Area geography and the route of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The bridge can be windy and/or foggy, so wear layers. For more information, see the Bay Area Ridge Trail site here: https://ridgetrail.org/golden-gate-bridge/ This trail description is excerpted from the 2019 Guidebook. For details on all of the Bay Area Ridge trails, trailheads and more buy the book from Wilderness Press: https://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16685&cat=274&bestseller=Y Accessibility: There is a wheelchair-accessible ramp leading from the Visitors Center on the south end up to the bridge entrance with handrails and a gentle slope. Once on the bridge, the path is paved with cement with steel sections, flat (estimated 1% grade or less), and typically at least 6 feet wide. There is a safety barrier protecting pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicle traffic on the bridge. There is an infrequent painted center dividing line (reduces the width). There is a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with grab bars in a separate building across from the Visitor Center. There are at least 3 designated wheelchair-accessible parking spaces at waypoints #1 and #7.

South Parking Lot

Park your car in the metered parking lot on the south side of the bridge. Don't miss the last exit or you will find yourself in Marin. If the main lot is full, follow Lincoln Boulevard a little way to the spillover parking lot.

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South Vista Point

At the south end of the bridge you will find a parking lot, visitor center and a gift shop. Look down to see Fort Point below the bridge and look to the other side of the bridge to see the Main Headlands in the distance. The Roundhouse was built in 1938 as a restaurant. Today it serves as an information center selling souvenirs, books and other information about the history of the bridge; there is a restroom nearby.

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Joseph B. Strauss Statue

Joseph B. Strauss was the chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge, which was completed in 1937. At that point, it was the largest suspension bridge ever successfully completed measuring at 1.7miles. A poem was written upon completion: At last the mighty task is done Resplendent in the western sun The Bridge looms mountain high Its titan piers grip ocean floor, Its great steel arms link shore with shore, Its towers pierce the sky ...

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Fort Point

If you are up for a short hike, take the path down to Fort Point. Fort Point was completed just before the American Civil War to protect the harbor, but no enemies ever showed up. Today you can walk through the fort, up the stairs to the higher levels or look at the old cannons up close. A few times a day, rangers will give a demonstration of how the cannons were used (but they won't fire them).

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Walking Across the Bridge

The best way to see the Golden Gate Bridge is walking along the pedestrian walkway (or biking along the other side if you prefer). The pedestrian walkway is on the east side of the bridge (on the bay side) and is open only during daylight (the hours are extended a bit in summer). The path is level and dogs are allowed if on a leash. The entire span of the bridge is 1.7 miles between viewpoints. If you do not feel like walking the entire bridge, walk as far as the first support where you can look straight up to see how massive the bridge is. If you prefer to ride your bike across, you can do so 24-hours a day, seven days a week (although on weekends bikes are only permitted on the west side of the bridge due to the larger pedestrian crowds on weekends).

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Lone Sailor and Sea Services Memorial

The Lone Sailor Statue stands on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge and was dedicated on April 14, 2002, to all of the Sea Services (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine). San Francisco's history is closely tied with its bay and its ports--millions of people in the military have come and gone through the Golden Gate Bridge, especially during World War II. The plaque reads: "Here the sailor feels the first long roll of the sea, the beginning of the endless horizon that leads to the far Pacific."

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Marin Vista Point

Once you've crossed the bridge you come to beautiful Marin. If you continue a little farther after the road curves to the left, you can get off the main road and walk on the Vista Point Trail, which offers great skyline views of San Francisco across the bay.

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Hendrik Point

If you are up for a little more hiking before heading back across the bridge to your car, consider walking up to Hendrik Point, where you can walk around the old batteries or just sit and enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline in the background.

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There are bathrooms and a cafe at the southern end of the bridge.

San Francisco can be a cold city because of the winds and the fog, especially near the water. As Mark Twain famously said, "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco." It's best to dress in layers with something to protect you from the wind. A nice sunny day can quickly become very cold once the fog rolls in.

There are many bike rental companies within the city that allow you take bikes across the bridge for the day. There are also parking lots available on the southern side of the bridge.

Weather

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Daylight

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