Marin Headlands: a secluded world of hiking, history and scenery
Kevin Knauss
View of Bird Island from Rodeo Beach.
North of San Francisco lies one of California’s best kept secrets for scenery, history and hiking; Marin Headlands Golden Gate National Recreation Area. When you travel through the one lane tunnel from Hiway 101 you are greeted with another world of wide open spaces devoid of bumper to bumper traffic, commercial strip malls or houses stacked on one another.
Defending the homeland
This militarily strategic high ground over looking
Artillery spotter/look out box at O’Rorke Battery.
the entrance into San Francisco Bay offers ample historical evidence to its defensive position. Abandoned and repurposed military installations span three general eras of WWI, WWII and the cold war. You can climb around concrete artillery and bunker positions from the turn of the 20th century, larger WWII fortifications and visit a refurbished Nike missile silo.
Touch the clouds on the ridge
View of Black Sands Beach west of Golden Gate Bridge where I scattered my mother’s ashes.
While the military played a prominent role in shaping the headlands all of that becomes a spec when you hike to the top of the surrounding ridges and cliffs. Words fail as you see fast moving layers of marine clouds waft over ridges and disappear into blue sky. The numerous trails can provide casual to moderate levels of hiking. We have had fun spending a couple nights at the very reasonable Hostel, meeting great people from around the country and hiking through the numerous military sites and nature trails.
A rare new installation
On our last visit we toured the relatively new Marine Mammal Center which opened in 2009. This
Young gentleman at the Marine Mammal Center tour allowing folks to feel the pelt of a sea lion.
new site, built on top of an old Nike Missile silo, is a hospital for orphaned and injured sea otters, seals and sea lions. It was a great hands-on education about the marine mammals we see and hear, but rarely interact with.
One visit and you are hooked
Alta trail looking down over Sausalito and Tiburon.
It is virtually impossible to see everything in one day. From the Point Bonita Light House, Marine Mammal Center, Rodeo Beach, Nike Missile silo, Headlands Center for the Arts and all the hiking trails, you will be scheduling multiple future trips to explore this special world set apart from the hustle and bustle of the Bay area.
Satellite view of Marin Headlands center of activity: Marine mammal center, Hostel, Headlands Art Center, Nike Missile.
Satellite view of the Rodeo, Alta and Bobcat trails we hiked.
Alta trail provides stunning views of Sausalito, Angel Island, and Alcatraz.
Angel Island with Mt. Diablo peaking above the marine layer in the upper right hand corner.
Plaque commemorating one of the many artillery batteries on the headlands.
View of Bird Island from Rodeo Beach.
Thick concrete munition bunkers are scattered throughout the headlands.
Most of the trail are really safe. Golden Gate bridge above this caution sign.
Estuary into Rodeo Valley.
Beautiful green ceramic tiles surround the refurbished wood burning stove in the communal dinning commons at the Headlands Center for the Arts.
You can spend hours crawling around and through the abandoned military installations.
Original pressed tin ceiling tiles still adorn many old military buildings.
Four stories tall with winding stair cases. What must it have been like with all the military personal going up and down these stairs?
Soft light enters through a window at the Headlands Center for the Arts.
Stairs, rails and history, all part of the Marin Headland’s history of Fort Baker and Fort Cronkhite.
One lane tunnel road, one of only two ways into the Marin Headlands Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
My son and me, standing at the entrance of the Hostel on one of our overnight stays.
The Hostel kitchen is nice and large and everyone is accommodating around dinner time.
Layered sedimentary rock outcrop, covered in lichen, showing the uplifted sea floor that made the Marin Headlands.
Beautiful green lichen growing on rock outcropping on the Rodeo trail.
View of Black Sands Beach west of Golden Gate Bridge where I scattered my mother’s ashes.
Officer’s residence of Fort Baker is now the International Hostel.
Many Officer housing still stands and used by Park staff and other full time employees.
Fort Baker chapel has been converted into the Marin Headlands visitor center.
Tule reed hut display inside the visitor’s center.
Young gentleman at the Marine Mammal Center tour allowing folks to feel the pelt of a sea lion.
Over looking the pens at the Marine Mammal Center where they care for orphaned and injured seals, sea lions and otters.
Refurbished Nike Missile site open to visitors a couple times a month.
Rodeo beach in the morning, filled with sun bathers on a sunny afternoon.
Looking down Rodeo Valley towards the ocean, approximately 875′ above sea level.
Alta trail looking down over Sausalito and Tiburon.
Artillery spotter/look out box at O’Rorke Battery.
Old swivel base for artillery gun. There are even larger more fortified gun batteries built for WWII you can hike to.
Just a quirky art display I call the row of urinals at the Headlands Center for the Arts.
