• View of the Golden Gate Bridge, taken from the Marin Headlands, looking across the bay back towards San Francisco, seen in the distance.

    Golden Gate

    National Recreation Area California

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Tunnel to Marin Headlands Closed

    The tunnel on Bunker Road from Alexander Avenue in Sausalito towards the Marin Headlands is closed for construction. Please follow the detour signs to Conzelman Road (just above the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge) to go up over the hill. More »

  • Muir Beach (but not nearby Muir Woods) parking lot closed June-November 2013

    Muir Beach parking lot will be closed from June-November 2013 due to construction. Restrooms or nearby parking will not be available at Muir Beach during this period. Pacific Way is closed except to residents. Check back for updates or call (415)561-3054 More »

  • CAUTION: Post Storm Damage to Coastal Trail

    The Presidio Coastal Trail segment just north of the Pacific Overlook and adjacent to Lincoln Blvd remains CLOSED indefinitely. We have posted signage to alert bicyclists and hikers and with information for safe trail alternatives. More »

Climate Change and National Parks

Giant sequoia

Giant sequoia habitat is moving to higher elevations. Can the trees make the move?

NPS photo

Some national parks are already experiencing significant impacts from global warming. Glaciers are melting, alpine habitats are being replaced by warmer climate zones, wildfires are larger and more frequent, and floods and diseases are more commonplace in many parks.

Some of our national parks could lose their signature treasures. Glacier National Park could be without glaciers by the mid part of this century. Some scientists believe that Joshua trees could disappear from Joshua Tree National Park, and saguaro and giant sequoia are threatened in their namesake parks.

Here are some predicted effects on western national parks:

• Alpine meadows replaced by fir and sagebrush

• Aquatic life stressed by early runoff, warmer water, and evaporative stress
• Vegetation drought stressed by increased summer temperatures and late season drying
• Recreational opportunities impacted by environmental changes, such as loss of snowpack, and by limiting of access to protect disrupted habitats
Learn more about climate change in national parks and the National Park Service response, or use the links at the right to find out more about climate change and national parks.
 
West Glacier 1913 and 2005
West Glacier (on left in 1913) in Glacier National Park has melted away (on right in 2005). The other glaciers in the park are facing the same threat and may disappear within the next 30 years.
NPS (left), USGS (right)
  • Climate Change at Point Reyes Climate Change at Point Reyes

    Learn how climate change is affecting Point Reyes and what the park is doing about it

  • Climate Change and Western Parks Climate Change and Western Parks

    Read a Natural Resources Defense Council report: Losing Ground

  • Global Warming and National Parks Global Warming and National Parks

    Read a National Parks Conservation Association report: Unnatural Disaster

  • Climate Change in Western National Parks Climate Change in Western National Parks

    Downlaod this brochure to learn more about climate change in western national parks Read More

Did You Know?

Lake Baikal tectonic travel decal with freshwater seal

Lake Baikal in Siberia first formed 25 million years ago, when a tectonic rift zone developed beneath the lake. Tectonic forces still are trying to tear apart Siberia.