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Credit 1 Pam Starr
2 Alyn Robert Brereton
3 Julie MacKinnon
4 Linda Pittman
5 Parham Pourahmad
6 Larry Whiting
7 Randall Finley
Visitation: 14 million
Area: 73,183 Acres
Lat: 37.830531
Lon: 122.506978
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Top Banner Photo Credits
Pam Starr
Alyn Robert Brereton
Julie MacKinnon
Linda Pittman
Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
Randall Finley
Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Site # 81
Spanning three urban counties, the wildlife habitats range from cliff-lined beaches, estuaries, lagoons, and islands to undisturbed grasslands, forested ridges, and lush redwood groves.
PremiumPremium - the most significant sites, worth visiting if you have limited time. Premium sites have high wildlife values year-round, staff on site, interpretive programs and/or displays, and well-developed facilities.

Snowy Plovers on the beach at Golden Gate NRA. Photo by Jessica Weinberg: 1024x1529.6790123457 Bobcat : 1024x682.66666666667 Ocean Beach, Golden Gate NRA. Photo by Jessica Weinberg: 1024x685.48760330579 Coho Salmon at Golden Gate NRA. Photo by Jessica Weinberg: 1024x682.66666666667 Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly at GGNRA. Photo by Jessica Weinberg: 1024x685.48760330579 Quail and chicks at Golden Gate NRA. Photo by Jessican Weinberg: 1024x685.48760330579 Western Fence Lizard at Golden Gate NRA. Photo by Jessica Weinberg: 1024x685.48760330579

Background: This huge complex begins in San Francisco, nearly in the shadow of skyscrapers. The Marin County portion offers everything from beaches, estuaries, and lagoons to forested ridges, lush redwood groves, and grasslands. These diverse habitats attract a wide array of water-associated birds, songbirds, small and large mammals, and more. Hawk Hill is famous for its fall views of migratory birds of prey.

Viewing Tips: Good year-round viewing. Fall through spring are peak periods for water-associated birds. Birds of prey best in September and October. You can get a taste of the wildlife in San Francisco with an hour of viewing. Marin County sites require at least a few hours, a full day excursion would provide opportunities to see more variety. Bring a picnic lunch.

Site Notes: A huge complex spanning three urban counties. Wildlife habitats range from cliff-lined beaches, estuaries, lagoons, and islands to undisturbed grasslands, forested ridges, and lush redwood groves. The San Francisco side including Alcatraz, starts at Aquatic Park and follows the coast to Fort Funston and Ocean Beach. In the uplands, Sweeny Ridge harbors songbirds and butterflies. Boat tours visit Alcatraz, once a prison, now a shelter for nesting colonies of black-crowned night herons and wetern gulls. Shorebirds roam the San Francisco shorelines, western grebes, Brandt's cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and brown pelicans (endangered in the West) remain offshore. Seal Rocks below the Cliff House are a favorite haulout for Steller and California sea lions. The vast Marin side encompasses nearly all of the Marin Headlands, Tennessee Valley, three military bases, and separate lands at Muir Woods and Stinson Beach. Quiet Rodeo Lagoon and Beach attract a broad range of waterfowl, wading birds, and gulls, including breeding pelagic cormorants and occasional wintering harlequin and tufted ducks. An extensive headland trail system explores varied habitats with songbirds, birds of prey, spring wildflowers, and spectacular bay and ocean vistas, watch for bobcats and gray foxes. Be sure to visit Hawk Hill at Battery 129 in the fall, 19 species of birds of prey-up to 12,000 birds-pass over this site, forming the largest concentration of migratory hawks in the Paciic states.

Nearby Viewing Sites: Part of International Biosphere Reserve involving State and City Parks, Point Reyes National Seashore, Water District Lands

Festivals & Events: 

Visitor Information: San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau - (415) 974-6900 - http://www.sfvisitor.org
Viewing Site Hours of Operation are:
Staff On-site: Yes
Open: Everday
Hours: 24 hours
Year Round: Yes

Road Information:   Paved.  Dirt. 
Road Hazards: No except for winter storm damage
 Number of Parking Spaces: 0
Parking Fee: 
Proximity to viewing area:
 Pull-Through Parking: 
Parking Notes: 

How to Get There: San Francisco side: Get park map at headquarters located at Fort Mason on Bay and Franklin Streets. Marin Headlands area: North of the Golden Gate Bridge, take first Sausalito exit and follow park signs to visitor center.
 

Contact Information
Managing Agency: National Park Service
Agency Site URL: http://www.nps.gov/goga
Physical Address:Building 201 Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Agency 2:Building 201 Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Manager Phone:(415) 561-4720
Site Phone:(415) 556-0560
County: San Francisco, Marin, Sa
Addition Website: