Golden GateBrochure |
Brochure of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (NRA) in California. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Golden Gate
Golden Gate
National Recreation Area
California
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
If we in the Congress do not act, the majestic
area where sea and bay and land meet
in a glorious symphony of nature will be doomed.
—US Rep. Phillip Burton,1972
Muir Beach; below left:
osprey with prey
Alcatraz
Native plant nursery
NPS / MARIN CATHOLIC HS
NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE
Tennessee Valley; above:
view from Marin Headlands
toward city
BOTH PHOTOS NPS / KIRKE WRENCH
HORSE AND VOLUNTEER—NPS / ALISON TAGGARTBARONE; HEADLANDS—NPS / KIRKE WRENCH
Petaluma
Tomales
37
101
1
For city dwellers, it’s not always easy to experience national
parks without traveling long distances. A new idea emerged in
the early 1970s: Why not bring parks to the people? In 1972
Congress added two urban expanses to the National Park System:
Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the San Francisco Bay
area and its eastern counterpart Gateway National Recreation
Area in New York and New Jersey.
Gulf of the Farallones
National Marine Sanctuary
140 miles of trails
80
Richmond
Rosie the Riveter /
WWII Home Front
National Historical
Park
580
Muir Woods
Stinson Beach
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Muir Beach
Angel Island
State Park
101
80
Fort Point
Presidio
Cliff House
SAN
FRANCISCO
Ocean Beach
Farallon National
Wildlife Refuge
Berkeley
Alcatraz
Marin Headlands
FIC
78 shipwrecks
species
See below
for detail
Bolinas Lagoon
758 historic structures
San
Rafael
Marin Municipal
Water District
1
10,000 years of history
S AN PAB L O
B AY
Samuel P. Taylor
State Park
Olema Valley
36,000 park volunteers
35 threatened or endangered
Novato
Point Reyes
National Seashore
81,000 acres of parklands
29,000 yearly raptor sightings
Vallejo
Tomales Bay
CI
Fort Funston
San Francisco
Maritime National
Historical Park
101
S AN
F R ANC IS C O
B AY
Milagra Ridge
280
12 sand beaches
OC
3 lighthouses
EA
1 Golden Gate
N
Come here for the natural cathedral of coast redwoods at Muir
Woods or to experience for yourself the harsh conditions on
Alcatraz Island. But don’t overlook the out-ofthe-way places to savor the scents of bay laurel and sage, cool morning fog, waves crashing
on the headlands, or a tapestry of native spring wildflowers. Golden Gate National Recreation Area invites you to
enjoy, explore, and find your own way to experience the parks
at the Golden Gate.
GOLDEN GATE
BY THE NUMBERS
PA
At nearly 81,000 acres, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
is the nation’s largest national park unit in an urban setting.
It extends well north and south of San Francisco (see map at
right). Along with other public lands and waters in the
region, it is recognized by the United Nations as Golden
Gate Biosphere Reserve. Offshore, Gulf of the
Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine
sanctuaries protect ocean habitat and many
threatened and endangered species,
while allowing for compatible
human uses. The national recreation area’s role as the Bay Area’s backyard continues to evolve in ways its early proponents
never imagined. Renewable energy powers public buildings and
transportation. People of all abilities use accessible trails and
other facilities, engaging in activities that promote health and
wellness. Volunteers do everything from conducting tours to
helping restore native habitat.
Golden Gate NRA
legislative boundary
Countless things to discover
Golden Gate NRA water
legislative boundary
Other public land
0
Mori Point
Pacifica
1
Rancho Corral
de Tierra
Sweeney Ridge
San Francisco
Peninsula
San
Watershed
Mateo 101
Half Moon Bay
North
0
See other side
for detail
10 Kilometers
Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary
35
Phleger Estate
1
10 Miles
1
280
Experience Your Parks
Park volunteers contribute
to just about every aspect of
your experience at Golden
Gate National Recreation Area.
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY / EDDIE ARAUJO
WHERE TO BEGIN
Golden Gate National
Recreation Area includes
Alcatraz, Fort Point National
Historic Site, Muir Woods
National Monument, and
dozens more natural and
historic places (see maps on
both sides of this brochure).
There are visitor informa
tion centers at Alcatraz,
Fort Point National Historic
Site, Golden Gate Bridge
Pavilion, Land’s End, Marin
Headlands, Muir Woods Na
tional Monument, Pacifica,
and Presidio.
Information and schedules
are available on site or at
www.nps.gov/goga. For a
calendar of events and
interactive trip planning
map, go to www.parks
conservancy.org.
Alcatraz Reservations
highly recommended: 415981-ROCK (415-981-7625)
or www.alcatrazcruises.com.
Ferries leave from Pier 33
(see map at right). Be
advised that America the
Beautiful Pass does not
cover ferry ride.
Muir Woods National Monument Reservations
required! Visit early in the
day for a more relaxed and
crowd-free time in the
redwoods. Make parking or
shuttle reservations at:
GoMuirWoods.com or call
1-800-410-2419.
(www.bart.gov), Marin
County (goldengate.org);
East Bay (www.actransit.
org); and Peninsula (www.
caltrain.com and www.
smctd.com)
Getting Around MUNI bus
es (www.sfmta.com) serve
most park sites in the city
and the Marin Headlands.
MUNI lines connect to other
systems in the Bay Area
Left: Crissy Field, Alcatraz
in background.
NPS / KIRKE WRENCH
HIGHLIGHTS FOR TWO HOURS OR LESS
• Spot whales at Muir
Beach Overlook during
their winter migration
(December–February).
• Take a cell phone tour of
Fort Baker, an Endicott
period army post from the
early 1900s.
• Tour the Cold War-era
Nike Missile Site in the
Marin Headlands.
• Play with interactive
exhibits at the Presidio
Visitor Center.
• Scan the sky for migratory
birds of prey (raptors) soar
ing above Marin Headlands
on Hawk Hill (in fall).
• Walk around restored
wetlands at Crissy Field.
• Touch the historic 16-inch
gun at Battery Townsley in
Marin Headlands.
• Watch the sun set over
the ocean at Cliff House.
• Learn about two centu
ries of Presidio military life
on a rangerguided tour.
• Discover what makes Fort
Point noteworthy and col
lect an NPS Civil War trad
ing card.
• Explore the ruins of Sutro
Baths and nearby Sutro
Heights Gardens.
• Enjoy spectacular views
of the Golden Gate at one
of the many overlooks.
• Walk the Esplanade at
Ocean Beach.
• Take a history walking
tour of Fort Mason.
• Take a wildflower walk at
Fort Funston (in spring).
• Look for red-legged frogs
in ponds at Mori Point.
Above: Miles of roads and
trails—ideal for hiking and
biking—traverse the Marin
Headlands.
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY /
MICHAL VENERA
IF YOU HAVE A HALF DAY OR MORE
• Hike from the ocean to
the top of Montara Moun
tain (2,000 feet) at Rancho
Corral de Tierra.
• Find the Bay Discovery
Site on Sweeney Ridge
where Spanish explorer
Gaspar de Portolà first saw
San Francisco Bay in 1769.
Accessibility We strive to
make our facilities, services,
and programs accessible to
all. For additional informa
tion ask a ranger, check at
a visitor center, visit the
park website, or call 415
5614958.
Camping The park has
four campgrounds, tents
only. Bicentennial, Hawk
Hill, and Haypress are small
with limited services;
Kirby Cove accommodates
larger groups. Call 415-3311540 for information.
Reserve Kirby Cove and
Bicentennial at
www.recreation.gov.
Rob Hill in the Presidio is
reserved through the
Presidio Trust at
www.presidio.gov.
Volunteers In Parks Golden
Gate National Recreation
Area has one of the largest
and most diverse Volunteers
In Parks (VIP) communities
in the nation. Call the VIP
Hotline, 4155614755, or
visit www.nps.gov/goga/
supportyourpark.
Park Partners The park
works closely with Golden
Gate National Parks Con
servancy and dozens of
other park partners to en
hance the experiences of
visitors and build communi
ty support. For a full list of
park partners, visit www.
nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/
partners.
• Catch fish at Fort Point,
Baker Beach, or Ocean
Beach.
• Camp at Kirby Cove, with
a panoramic view of the
Golden Gate.
• Join in the Junior Ranger
program at Alcatraz. Re
serve tickets ahead!
• Take the rocky trail out
to the Point Bonita Light
house (limited hours).
• Bicycle along the water
front from San Francisco
Maritime National Histori
cal Park across the Golden
Gate Bridge to Battery
• Spot wrens, jays, spotted
owls, and other wild crea
tures among the coast red
woods at Muir Woods Na
tional Monument.
MORE THINGS TO KNOW
For a Safe Visit Federal
laws protect all natural and
cultural features in the park.
Please enjoy things in their
natural habitat and leave
them undisturbed. • Dogs
are allowed in most areas
of the park; check the park
website for area-specific
regulations. Clean up waste.
• Be prepared and dress in
layers. Weather is unpre
dictable. • For a full list of
regulations, including fire
arms information, check
the park website.
Spencer—and panoramic
views of the city.
More Information Golden
Gate National Recreation
Area is one of over 400
parks in the National Park
System. To learn more
about national parks visit
www.nps.gov.
Golden Gate
National Recreation Area
Fort Mason, Bldg. 201
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-4700
www.nps.gov/goga
Follow us on Facebook,
Twitter, and other social
media.
Emergencies call 911
Right: Fort Point
National Historic Site
NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE
• Hike, bike, or ride a horse
to the ocean on the Ten
nessee Valley Trail.
• Spend the day at Stinson
Beach, the park’s only life
guarded beach.
Left: Muir Woods boardwalk. Below: Mission blue
butterfly (actual size), an
endangered species
native to the Bay Area.
MUIR WOODS—NPS / ALISON TAGGART-BARONE;
BUTTERFLY—NPS / KIRKE WENCH