National recreation area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a national recreation area run by the National Park Service in Marin County, California. There is no entrance fee. It is open 24 hours a day.

Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Sept. 30, 2026.

Closure: Alcatraz Island to Temporarily Close in Fall for Dock Repairs Date Posted: 9/28/2026 Alcatraz Island, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is scheduled to temporarily close beginning on Oct. 26, 2026, while crews replace pilings that secure the ferry dock to the island. Repairs are expected to be completed by Nov. 18, 2026. For more information, please see news release linked here. Since Sept. 28, 2026. Until Oct. 18, 2026.
Closure: China Beach Construction & Seacliff Avenue Closures Fall - Winter 2026 Park's China Beach renovation of bathhouse, lower terrace, and picnic areas is in progress. See 'more' for link to Phase 3 of China Beach project below. SFPUC waterline replacement project will cause parking restrictions, lane closures, and access controls along Sea Cliff Avenue. Visitors should expect SFPUC project on Sea Cliff Avenue to impact access to China Beach. See link to SFPUC project bel Since Sept. 6, 2026. Until Dec. 31, 2026.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the managing agency's own page.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area map

Golden Gate National Recreation Area boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

View larger map Open in Google Maps Directions

Fire restrictions

No fire restriction recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders below before you go.

Common questions

: Yes. Golden Gate National Recreation Area has no entrance fee.
: Golden Gate National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day.

Fees, passes, and hours

Golden Gate National Recreation Area has no entrance fee.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day.

Sources: nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-28; nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/hours, checked 2026-09-28.

Entrances and visitor centers

William Penn Mott Jr. Presidio Visitor CenterVisitor center, year-round: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.4155614323
Golden Gate Bridge Welcome CenterVisitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.4154265220
Lands End Lookout Visitor CenterVisitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Visitor center, year-round: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.4154265240

Source: nps.gov/goga/goga_linked_data.json, checked 2026-09-28.

Trails

Batteries Loop Trail(0.5 mi loop, easy)Marin Headlands loop past coastal gun batteries and Rodeo Beach views.
Point Bonita Lighthouse Trail(0.5 mi one way, moderate)Steep half-mile trail to the lighthouse tunnel; no pets or bikes.
Gerbode Valley Loop(5 mi loop, strenuous)900 ft gain through chaparral with Marin Headlands and Pacific views.
Dias Ridge Trail(3.1 mi round trip, moderate)Climbs from Muir Beach to ~800 ft with Pacific and Mt. Tamalpais views.
Crissy Field Promenade(2.3 mi one way, easy)Level bayfront path with Golden Gate Bridge and marsh views.
Old Mori Trail(1 mi round trip, easy)Boardwalk and trail to Mori Point ocean cliffs.

Source: nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/hiking, checked 2026-09-29.

What to see

Historic sitePoint Bonita LighthouseHistoric light at the continent's edge; tunnel access when staffing allows.
OverlookCrissy FieldRestored shoreline and marsh with Golden Gate Bridge views.
Historic siteMarin Headlands batteriesCoastal defense batteries along Batteries Loop overlooking Rodeo Beach.

Source: nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/hiking, checked 2026-09-29.

Fishing and water

Merced Lake North fishing (0.5 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.

Public lands next to Golden Gate National Recreation Area

BLM unitGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders California Coastal National Monument.
National Park Service unitGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Fort Point National Historic Site.
State parkGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park.
State parkGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Montara State Beach, a state park.
State parkGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Mount Tamalpais State Park.
National Park Service unitGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Point Reyes National Seashore, a National Park Service unit.
State parkGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
National Park Service unitGolden Gate National Recreation Area borders San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

https://www.nps.gov/state/ca/index.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/directions.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/goga_linked_data.json (accessed 2026-09-28)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/hiking.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/batteries-loop-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/point-bonita-lighthouse-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/gerbode-valley-loop-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/dias-ridge-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/crissy-field-promenade.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/old-mori-trail.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)