• 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 »

Fort Funston

 
Hikers at Fort Funston with the San Francisco skyline in the background

The 200ft high bluffs on the most western edge of San Francisco,Fort Funston is one of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country. Networking trails make it ideal for hiking & horseback riding.

Tips and Highlights
  • Hang-gliding is especially good in March and October. Fort Funston is a Hang-III (intermediate) site with a launch area and wheelchair-accessible viewing deck. Several hang-gliding shops in the Fort Funston area offer instruction, sales, and repairs.
  • Park in the lot off Skyline Boulevard.
  • Keep a close eye on the kids, as the surf and undertow are extremely dangerous.
  • Be aware that it's a steep, strenuous hike down to the beach and back up.
  • The loop trails at Fort Funston are paved and wheelchair-accessible; the trails down to the beach are not.
  • Stay current on the latest dog management policies; click here for updates.
  • Help grow native plants for vital restoration projects in our parks; volunteer at the Fort Funston Native Plant Nursery.

Nature

Sand Dunes
Plants with deep roots and a tolerance for harsh conditions are uniquely adapted to growing on a constantly shifting sand-dune landscape. The San Francisco peninsula was once covered with sand dunes, and today the peninsula's largest remaining dune field can be found at Fort Funston.

Bank Swallows
Bank swallows (Riparia riparia) once migrated through California in great numbers, but today they are listed as a state threatened species; their only known coastal nesting sites are at Fort Funston and Año Nuevo. Swallows dig holes in the sandstone cliffs and raise their young between March and June. In July and August, the chicks fly from the nests, and their parents follow soon after.

Did You Know?

Wildflowers

A 1° F increase in average temperature seen in California over the last 100 years has led to Sierra snow melting 2 to 4 weeks earlier and flowers blooming 1 to 2 weeks earlier. Temperatures are predicted to increase another 1° to 2° F in the next 25 years.