Last updated: May 17, 2022
Place
Battery Alexander Loop Interpretive wayside
Linda Coldiron
The Batteries Loop Trail is an easy 0.3-mile loop that allows visitors to explore former gun fortifications built around 1900 in the Marin Headlands. This trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the colorful sands of Rodeo Beach, and, on exceptionally clear days, the Farallones Islands in the distance. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail.
Battery Alexander Loop AD
WAYSIDE TITLE: Battery Alexander Loop
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: Directly in front of you is a grassland meadow with a moderate incline. The Battery Loop Trail begins here. A low fence in front of you runs parallel to the Battery Alexander wayside.
To your left, is a slopped meadow landscape descending to the Blue Pacific Ocean. The Battery Loop Trail begins here.
To your right, a large graveled parking lot is present. You will find, at the edge of the parking lot, a wheelchair accessible bathroom.
Directly behind you is a graveled parking lot. Just beyond the parking lot is a hilly landscape with a moderate incline interspersed with low brush and dotted with coniferous tress.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A large-formatted map shows a segment of the Marin Headlands from Point Bonita to the south to Rodeo Beach, Rodeo Lagoon and Fort Cronkite to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. A detailed legend to the left of the map shows park features with raised braille text.
WAYSIDE TITLE: Explore Battery Alexander
SAFETY MESSEGE: Be Safe! Stay on the trail. Cliffs are unstable and plant life is fragile.
No pets, no bikes, no wood gathering, wildlife viewing.
Featured Hike, Batteries Loop Trail .5 Miles / .8 Km
TEXT: Featured Hike—Batteries Loop Trail-.5 Miles/.8Km Icon 1: 4.8% to max 12% grade Icon 2: The Batteries Loop Trail is an easy 0.3-mile loop that allows visitors to explore former gun fortifications built around 1900 in the Marin Headlands. This trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the colorful sands of Rodeo Beach, and, on exceptionally clear days, the Farallones Islands in the distance. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail.
Battery Alexander—Built in 1901, the concrete coastal defense installation in the grove of trees behind the restroom held mortars that could fire 12-inch diameter shells in a high arcing path to penetrate the decks of ships offshore. Soldiers at Battery Alexander fired the mortars for target practice but never engaged an enemy.
Nike Site—Nike Missile Site SF-88 is the only fully restored Nike Missile site in the United States. Designed as a last line of defense against Soviet bombers, the site serves as an enduring reminder of Cold War era fears
Point Bonita Light House—In operation since 1855, the Point Bonita lighthouse continues to guide ships through the hazardous waters of the Golden Gate Strait into San Francisco Bay. Walk to the lighthouse along the spine of the continent’s edge above Bonita Cove, taking in views of San Francisco on one side and the wild Pacific on the other.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A photograph of a Nike Missile in an upright position with a group of visitors gathered nearby.
SAFETY MESSEGE: Keep out an eye for Poison Oak
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: photograph of green colored poison oak.
CAPTION: Please be mindful of poison oak along trails. Even a slight brush of the plant’s oils can cause a serious reaction. Staying on trails and learning to identify poison oak with its three leaves will decrease your chances of contact.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: photograph of purple colored Ice Plants.
CAPTION: Ice plant was first planted by the US Army for erosion control. It can now be found in many locations throughout the Marin Headlands. This succulent plant has colorful pink, yellow or white flowers from April through October. Ice plant crowds out native dune plants and the park actively removes it to restore native dune habitat.
SAFETY MESSEGE: Hazardous Cliffs. Carry plenty of water, and dress in layers. Sunny days along the coast can turn windy, foggy, and cold very fast.
FOR EMERGENCIES Dial 911
For more information go to: www.nps.gov/goga
Download NPS Golden Gate App for interactive map, tours and more.
TEXT: Golden Gate National Park Conservancy— Help preserve the parks by becoming a volunteer or joining the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the parks’ nonprofit support partner. For more information call (415) 4R-PARKS or visit www.parksconservancy.org
Battery Alexander Loop AD
WAYSIDE TITLE: Battery Alexander Loop
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: Directly in front of you is a grassland meadow with a moderate incline. The Battery Loop Trail begins here. A low fence in front of you runs parallel to the Battery Alexander wayside.
To your left, is a slopped meadow landscape descending to the Blue Pacific Ocean. The Battery Loop Trail begins here.
To your right, a large graveled parking lot is present. You will find, at the edge of the parking lot, a wheelchair accessible bathroom.
Directly behind you is a graveled parking lot. Just beyond the parking lot is a hilly landscape with a moderate incline interspersed with low brush and dotted with coniferous tress.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A large-formatted map shows a segment of the Marin Headlands from Point Bonita to the south to Rodeo Beach, Rodeo Lagoon and Fort Cronkite to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. A detailed legend to the left of the map shows park features with raised braille text.
WAYSIDE TITLE: Explore Battery Alexander
SAFETY MESSEGE: Be Safe! Stay on the trail. Cliffs are unstable and plant life is fragile.
No pets, no bikes, no wood gathering, wildlife viewing.
Featured Hike, Batteries Loop Trail .5 Miles / .8 Km
TEXT: Featured Hike—Batteries Loop Trail-.5 Miles/.8Km Icon 1: 4.8% to max 12% grade Icon 2: The Batteries Loop Trail is an easy 0.3-mile loop that allows visitors to explore former gun fortifications built around 1900 in the Marin Headlands. This trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the colorful sands of Rodeo Beach, and, on exceptionally clear days, the Farallones Islands in the distance. Leashed dogs are allowed on this trail.
Battery Alexander—Built in 1901, the concrete coastal defense installation in the grove of trees behind the restroom held mortars that could fire 12-inch diameter shells in a high arcing path to penetrate the decks of ships offshore. Soldiers at Battery Alexander fired the mortars for target practice but never engaged an enemy.
Nike Site—Nike Missile Site SF-88 is the only fully restored Nike Missile site in the United States. Designed as a last line of defense against Soviet bombers, the site serves as an enduring reminder of Cold War era fears
Point Bonita Light House—In operation since 1855, the Point Bonita lighthouse continues to guide ships through the hazardous waters of the Golden Gate Strait into San Francisco Bay. Walk to the lighthouse along the spine of the continent’s edge above Bonita Cove, taking in views of San Francisco on one side and the wild Pacific on the other.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: A photograph of a Nike Missile in an upright position with a group of visitors gathered nearby.
SAFETY MESSEGE: Keep out an eye for Poison Oak
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: photograph of green colored poison oak.
CAPTION: Please be mindful of poison oak along trails. Even a slight brush of the plant’s oils can cause a serious reaction. Staying on trails and learning to identify poison oak with its three leaves will decrease your chances of contact.
DESCRIPTION OF IMAGE: photograph of purple colored Ice Plants.
CAPTION: Ice plant was first planted by the US Army for erosion control. It can now be found in many locations throughout the Marin Headlands. This succulent plant has colorful pink, yellow or white flowers from April through October. Ice plant crowds out native dune plants and the park actively removes it to restore native dune habitat.
SAFETY MESSEGE: Hazardous Cliffs. Carry plenty of water, and dress in layers. Sunny days along the coast can turn windy, foggy, and cold very fast.
FOR EMERGENCIES Dial 911
For more information go to: www.nps.gov/goga
Download NPS Golden Gate App for interactive map, tours and more.
TEXT: Golden Gate National Park Conservancy— Help preserve the parks by becoming a volunteer or joining the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the parks’ nonprofit support partner. For more information call (415) 4R-PARKS or visit www.parksconservancy.org