Marin Headlands Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

The Marin Headlands are located in southern Marin County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area of California. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Marin Headlands offer beaches, hiking, history, and spectacular views of the California coast.

Follow U.S. 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, or south from other parts of Marin County. Exit at Alexander Ave. If coming north, this is the second exit, after the "Vista Point". Going either way on Alexander Avenue can take you to the Marin Headlands.

If you go west, turn right before the road goes back into the freeway. You can park in a lot right next to the highway, or proceed on the road (Conzelman Road) up the hillside. Various roadside parking areas line this road. Along this road you will see breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Eventually this road becomes one-way steep downhill "roller coaster" heading west, so if you pass this point you will have to return by a different route.

If you go east, turn left at the first intersection, with signs pointing to Marin Headlands. (If you enter Sausalito, you've gone too far.) This road goes through a one-lane tunnel (Bunker Road) controlled by a traffic light. After you pass through the tunnel, you will be in the Tennessee Valley area of the Marin Headlands.

If you want to search direction from your place to Marin Headlands, use the following address:

948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA 94965, US

• Muni. Muni operates the 76X Marin Headlands route from Downtown San Francisco on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only. The bus also stops at the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion in Presidio near the toll booths. 

There are two parallel roads into the Marin Headlands: Conzelman Road (the Coastal Route) and Bunker Road (the Tunnel Route). Conzelman Road is more scenic. Bunker Road goes through an old one-lane tunnel at one point. After Hawk Hill, Conzelman Road turns into a one-way section, which eventually intersects with Field Road. Field Road goes to the Point Bonita Lighthouse trailhead. You can also use Field Road to return to Bunker Road for the return trip (Bunker Road is the only way back after passing the one-way Conzelman Road.) McCullough Road also connects Bunker Road and Conzelman Road after the Bunker Road tunnel, but before one-way section of Conzelman Road, so you can use it to switch between the roads if one of them is blocked by construction.

• 37.8285-122.4991 Hawk Hill.  
• Kirby Cove. 
• 37.81604-122.5285852 Point Bonita.  
  • 37.815569-122.5296043 Point Bonita Lighthouse. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
• 37.8269-122.5284 Nike Missile Site. (updated Jul 2021)
• 37.832309-122.4796175 Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point. (updated Jun 2022)
• 37.8351-122.5326 Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, ☏ +1 415 653 1870, [email protected]. A hospital for marine mammals. (updated Jun 2022)

• 37.8297-122.52241 Headlands Center for the Arts, 944 Simmonds Rd. Su-Th noon-5PM.  
• Drive the One-way Conzelman Road (Take Conzelman Road (Coastal Route) to the top (Hawk Hill), and then continue down the other side). An extremely thrilling drive down a 18% grade descent. At many points, you will seem to be driving straight into the vast, open ocean right in front of you. 

• 37.828905-122.5209591 Marin Headlands Hostel (Hostelling International), 941 Rosenstock Rd (check in at Fort Barry Building 941, near the Headlands Center for the Arts), ☏ +1-415-331-2777, [email protected]. Check-in: 3:30PM-10:30PM, check-out: 11AM. Reception hours are 7:30AM–11:30PM; the hostel is open 24 hours to guests who have already checked in. $24 dorms, $72 private rooms. 

• Bicentennial Campground. Reservations required. 
• 37.827-122.4906112 Kirby Cove Campground. Reservations required.