Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Protected park · CA, USA
Golden Gate National Recreation Area in CA, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00
About
This park's official page lists: Pet-friendly (leashed).
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Picnic areas.
At the park
- Exhibits
- Beaches
- Hiking trails
Shows and experiences
- Historic sites & museum
Events
- Campfire Program
- Nike Missile Site Open House
- Point Bonita Open House
- Battery Townsley Open House
- Presidio Forest Stewards
- 250 Years on the Presidio
- Presidio Tunnel Tops Stewards
- Presidio Habitat Stewards
- The Last Gun
- Litter Pickup on Presidio Tunnel Tops
Before you go
- First aid
- In-park (mapped location) — First aid station marked on the park map. Confirm the current location with any team member on arrival.
- Limits
- What activities require a permit?
- Limits
- Picnic area at Battery Wallace, near the Point Bonita Trailhead is complete with tables and grills (no water on site)
- Limits
- Drones are prohibited in all national parks, including ours, with almost no exceptions
- Park alert: Ocean Beach Fire Season in Effect through October 31, 2026
- Fires allowed ONLY in park provided concrete fire rings between Stairwells 15 and 20. Do NOT make fire rings using rocks, logs or other items. When the Bay Area Air Quality Management District declares a Spare the Air Day, NO campfires, beach fires, or outdoor grills are allowed in the park. For more information, visit the beach fire regulations link below.
- Park alert: Upper Fort Mason Roads and Parking Area Closures Fall 2025 - Fall 2026
- Roads and parking areas at upper Fort Mason will have closures during utilities and seismic retrofit projects. Closures planned Fall 2025 through Fall 2026. Lots will be fenced and used as staging areas for projects occurring at Fort Mason. Signs will be posted in advance of utilities work as project progresses through each area at Fort Mason. Read signs and do not park in posted areas. Vehicles will be towed at owner's expense.
- ⚠ Park closure: China Beach Construction & Seacliff Avenue Closures Fall - Winter 2026
- Park's China Beach renovation of bathhouse, lower terrace, and picnic areas is in progress. See 'more' for link to Phase 3 of China Beach project below. SFPUC waterline replacement project will cause parking restrictions, lane closures, and access controls along Sea Cliff Avenue. Visitors should expect SFPUC project on Sea Cliff Avenue to impact access to China Beach. See link to SFPUC project below: https://www.sfpuc.gov/construction-contracts/construction-projects/seacliffpumps.
- ⚠ Caution: Auto-Theft Warning - Only Bring What You Need to the Park
- You can prevent vehicle break-ins in parking lots and scenic overlooks. Before leaving your car for even a short period of time: 1) Remove all valuables, 2) Lock your doors. 3) Take your wallets, purses, backpacks, keys, key fobs, cell phones, and electronics with you. Read article for more details.
- Getting there
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area has many sites that span over 60 miles of mostly coastal areas north and south of San Francisco. Park areas can be reached by Highways 1, 101 and 280 from the north and south San Francisco Bay Area, and by Highway 80 from the East Bay. To access park headquarters at Fort Mason, please use the entrance at Franklin and Bay Streets in San Francisco.
- Weather & when to go
- Winter is characterized by sporadic rain and cool weather punctuated by brilliant sunshine. In winter the grass greens. Trees and flowers dormant through winter start blooming in late February or early March and last until May or June. By July, summer fog predominates in most coastal areas of the park. Grasses and plants have now turned to the golden brown and muted grays characteristic of California summer and fall. September and October skies are clear and sunshine is abundant everywhere in the park.
- Visitor center
- Alcatraz Cellhouse
- Visitor center
- Alcatraz Cellhouse
- Visitor center
- Alcatraz Island
- Visitor center
- Alcatraz New Industries Building
- Visitor center
- Bay Area Discovery Museum
- Visitor center
- Fort Point National Historic Site
- Visitor center
- Golden Gate Bridge Plaza
- Visitor center
- Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center — Due to Covid-19 and state and federal health recommendations, hours may vary slightly. — Paid parking is extremely limited at the plaza. It's highly recommended that you take public transit to the plaza. Options from San Francisco: Downtown, at Main and Folsom or along Mission Street. (Routes 10, 70, and 101) Union Square, at 5th Street and Mission. (Routes 10, 70, and 101) Civic Center, at 7th Street and Market or McAllister and Polk Street. (Routes 10, 70, 92, 93, and 101) Along…
- Visitor center
- Lands End Lookout Visitor Center — Lands End Lookout is open 7 days a week 9am to 5pm. At the northwestern corner of San Francisco, there is wild and windy trail with stunning views at every turn... Lands End's trails winds their way around rocky cliffs above the ocean, moving through shady stands of cypress and eucalyptus and… — Located at the Merrie Way parking area just east of the Cliff House and west of the cross streets of Point Lobos Avenue (very west end of Geary Blvd.), and El Camino del Mar in San Francisco, California.
- Visitor center
- Marine Mammal Center
- Visitor center
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Visitor center
- Park Headquarters at Fort Mason
Facilities on the park map
22 bench, 1 changing table, 4 defibrillator, 1 first aid kit, 1 first aid station, 18 picnic area, 34 restroom, 13 visitor information.
History
- Opened
- 1972
- Park opened