Fort Cronkhite and Rodeo Beach
Kirke Wrench/National Park Service
Located in the Marin Headlands, Fort Cronkhite is nestled at the end of Rodeo Valley, just west of the Marin Headlands Visitor Center. The buildings at Fort Cronkhite currently house the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Marine Mammal Center, Headlands Center for the Arts, and other organizations.
Once an army installation and part of the Presidio, Fort Cronkhite is now a center for park activities: there is access to the beach, the Point Bonita Light, the visitor center, and miles of beautiful trails.
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- Look for the Marin Headlands Visitor Center’s red spire at Bunker and Field roads. Explore exhibits on the natural and historical resources of Rodeo Valley and the Marin Headlands. Ask park rangers about trails and camping.
- Spend an afternoon relaxing on Rodeo Beach or surfing its waves.
- Explore the miles of backcountry trails that meander through coastal hills, and observe birds, butterflies, and bobcats.
- Visit the Marine Mammal Center to learn about the many fascinating mammalian species that reside in nearby waters.
- Volunteer with the Conservancy’s Marin Headlands Native Plant Nursery and grow plants for vital park restoration projects.
Beaches and Basalt
Rodeo Beach at Fort Cronkhite is a great place to marvel at the pretty green and dark-red pebbles that come from pillow basalts and chert—rocks formed on the seafloor and scraped off on the Headlands by plate tectonics.
Fort Cronkhite is a prime representative of the mobilization posts constructed by the Army from 1940–1941. Barracks #1059 is the only restored mobilization barracks in the West. Its interior has been restored to its original appearance, complete with furnishings that reflect its uses during World War II, the Korean War, and the 1960s.
Trails & Activities
Explore what kind of activities are available near the park.
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