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Trails with the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Top Bay Area hikes to gaze at the famous San Francisco Bridge
Hiking the SCA Trail in the Marin Headlands.
Paul Myers/Parks Conservancy
The soaring and spectacular Golden Gate Bridge is the centerpiece to the Golden Gate National Parks and anchors miles of parklands from San Francisco to Marin, all waiting for you to explore. From ADA-accessible, family-friendly trails to steep, sweat-inducing treks, these are the pathways that'll give you Instagram-worthy, jaw-dropping views of the iconic span that you'll just have to see to believe.
These trails can't exist without community support from people like you! You can help preserve them for generations to come by becoming a Parks Conservancy member or volunteer today.
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Trail
Length
2.00 miles round-trip
Restored in 2001, Crissy Field wasted no time in becoming a San Francisco icon and a gem of the Parks Conservancy. The former military airfield now sports a clean, smooth promenade with views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz , and the North and East Bays.
Trail
Length
0.21 miles round-trip
This short connector trail, lined by lovely trees, links the Mason Street bike path to the east Crissy Field parking area. It'll take you by Crissy Field Center , the Parks Conservancy's urban environmental education center in partnership with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust.
Trail
Length
0.45 miles round-trip
Hiking up to the ridge promises a rewarding view. It is a steep trail, and descending down the gravel can be slippery and loose. This trail is not for the faint of heart. However, some of the most famous photos of the Golden Gate Bridge are taken from this ridge.
Trail
Length
0.80 miles round-trip
One of the signature trail improvement projects of the Parks Conservancy, the multi-use Battery East Trail features eye-popping views of the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge , as well as an overlook/seating area to admire the span and San Francisco Bay.
Trail
Length
4.02 miles round-trip
A hike along the SCA Trail will provide a breathless vista of the Golden Gate Bridge and the surrounding Bay. When the sun is shining and the fog is lifted, hiking along this trail will make memories that will last a lifetime.
Trail
Length
1.17 miles round-trip
Hiking this trail is a simple out-and-back with a shaded path for the first portion of the trail. After the second bend, the views towards San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge are eye catching. At the third bend, Fort Baker comes into view.
Trail
Length
1.10 miles round-trip
The walk down to Point Bonita Lighthouse is a hallmark Bay Area experience that offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge .
Trail
The Coastal Trail is the true connoisseur's way to drink deeply from the quintessence of the California experience. Get your sip along any segment, and enjoy some of the best landscapes and seascapes in the Golden State.
Trail
Length
0.11 miles round-trip
Access to the beach is via a paved drive or stairway down from the parking lot to water level.
Trail
Length
0.20 miles round-trip
Some of the most eye-popping vistas in the Bay Area—beloved by Golden Gate Raptor Observatory staff and volunteers who annually monitor the fall migration from Hawk Hill—are available to individuals with a wide range of abilities.
Trail
Length
2.25 miles round-trip
The steep, mile-long trail to the cove begins at the parking area above Battery Spencer on Conzelman Road—eye-level with the Golden Gate Bridge's towers—and descends through a grove of cypress, eucalyptus, and pine.
Trail
Length
3.10 miles round-trip
A morning outing to Lands End provides about as much wilderness as can be found in San Francisco; the beauty is so stunning, it's easy to miss the ghosts. But walk a few minutes under the thick mantle of Monterey cypress and they'll appear.
Trail
Length
0.70 miles round-trip
Stretching from just south of the Golden Gate Bridge to Battery Crosby, the trail offers spectacular coastal panoramas, views of the Golden Gate, and a safe descent to Marshall’s Beach.
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