Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands is located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is the largest urban park in the country. The Marin Headlands is home to a Nike Missile site, Point Bonita Lighthouse, a variety of historic military sites, beaches, hiking trails, museums, and camp grounds. The park is visited by hundreds of people each day, many of them there to enjoy the views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. Visitors can park their vehicles in the headlands and walk onto the bridge. Most of the professional photos taken of the Golden Gate Bridge were taken from one of the vantage points near the headlands. Located in the park is the Bay Area Discovery Museum, an indoor and outdoor children's museum in East Fort Baker. The onsite visitor center is a great place to start your adventure in the headlands. There is access to the Marin Headlands Hostel at Fort Barry and the Marine Mammal Center, which is a nonprofit rescue destination where marine mammals are rehabilitated. Rodeo Beach is located in the headlands and is the largest of all the beaches in the area. Other beaches on the grounds include the Muir Beach, the Black Sands Beach, and Tennessee Beach, all of which require a bit of hiking. Campsites are available at Kirby Cove, Bicentennial Camp near Battery Wallace and at Point Bonita.