Golden Gate National Recreation Area

San Francisco California

 Golden Gate National Recreation Area is the world's largest urban national park and covers 75,398 acres of land and water, including 28 miles of coastline.  A nature watcher's paradise, Golden Gate Park is home to deer, hawks, bobcats, mountain lions, and 33 rare and endangered species.

The park has something for everybody --If you're the sporty type, you can enjoy biking, hiking, and horseback riding in the Muir Woods, one of two redwood forests in the area. If you rather unwind, you can tour the historic military outposts and the lighthouses, or look for one of the 79 shipwrecks that populate the bay. And if you feel daring, you can head over to Fort Funston and join the hang gliders that frequent the spot. Recreational programs at Golden Gate National Park are also held throughout the year, including ranger-led walks and scenic tours. Popular water activities include boating, kayaking, and windsurfing.

Many famous sights are contained within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's boundaries, such as Alcatraz Island, the Cliff House (dubbed "the place where San Francisco begins," this historic landmark now houses a series of restaurants and cocktail bars), the ruins of the Sutro Baths, and the Fort Point National Historic Site (with its 7-foot thick walls and cannonballs set at water level).

Cliff House

Of the five campgrounds in the Golden Gate Park area, only one closes from October to April. The most popular camping sites are Hawkcamp Campground, a 4-mile hike up from the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, and Kirby Cove Campground, which offers stunning views of the Golden Gate.

Entrance to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is free, with varying fees charged for tours of Alcatraz and a $3 fee for Muir Woods National Monument. The park can be accessed on foot by following any of the roads off of Highway 101 in Marin County, or you can drive through the Golden Gate and take Highways 1, 280, or 880 directly into the park.

Whatever your style, The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is bound to have something for you.

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