Kirby Cove Road

Kirby Cove Road in the Marin Headlands. Ryan Curran White / Parks Conservancy

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. The road ends at Kirby Cove Campground. No pets are allowed at Kirby Cove.

Down the road, you'll pass by Battery Wagner, a relict artillery battery from the U.S. Army's coastal defense era. 

How to Get There

The parking lot at Kirby Cove is only for camping and day-use reservations. Ryan Curran White / Parks Conservancy

The public is invited to walk the trail and picnic on the beach or bluffs. There is public parking area above Battery Spencer on Conzelman Road. The parking lot at Kirby Cove is only for campsite and day-use area reservations only. 

BEFORE YOU GO

• Large stretches of Conzelman Road are one-ways! You cannot drive up Conzelman Road from the US 101. Drive through the Baker-Barry Tunnel instead.
• Saturdays and Sundays are very crowded along Conzelman Road. It can be difficult to find parking. Please watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Walk in your own water. There is no potable water at the Kirby Cove Campground.

sAFETY tIPS

• See up-to-date alerts on current park and trail conditions.
• Stay on the established trail. Keep an eye out for poison oak. Read our four season guide to poison oak.
• Observe warning signs and railings-these exist for your safety.
• Dress in layers and be prepared for varying weather conditions. Sunny days along the coast can turn windy, foggy, and cold very fast. View our Golden Gate Bridge webcams to see current conditions.
• Do not climb on the coastal bluffs or edges, the sand and rocks are loose and eroding and dangerous!
• People have fallen from these cliffs.