Scenic Marin Headlands Escape

Pack a lunch, bring the binocs, and bask in the coastal views.

Four easy-to-challenging coastal hikes are the centerpiece of a scenic Marin Headlands escape that takes in views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, and the Pacific. This itinerary is best done from Friday through Monday, when the Marine Mammal Center is open, but the rest of the stops are possible daily. Depending on which hike you choose and how leisurely you pace yourself, you might be in the headlands for half a day or nearly a full one.

Breakfast in Sausalito

9 am
Start your day in Sausalito with a hearty breakfast at Lighthouse Café (not to be confused with the same-owned Lighthouse Bar & Grill, set to open in mid-2025). For something lighter, try a pastry and coffee, tea, juice, or a smoothie at Driver’s Market. Either way, pick up picnic items at Driver’s for lunch in the headlands, where there are no restaurants.

Conzelman Road Vista Points

10 am
From Sausalito, head south on Alexander Avenue and then west (left) on Bunker Road to the headlands through the Baker-Barry Tunnel. Turn left (south) on McCullough Road, about a mile later, taking the first exit off the traffic circle. Head west to Hawk Hill, one of several Conzelman Road vista points. Stop as often as you wish as you continue west on Conzelman along the way to Hawk Hill. Once parked, walk through the unmarked Battery 129 tunnel (across Conzelman from the lot), which shortly delivers you to magical Pacific Ocean views. Back out at the parking area’s western edge, there’s an easy path up to the Nike Missile Site SF-87 radar platform (not to be confused with the nearby SF-88L facility), which yields awesome ocean and city views.

Black Sand at the Beach

West past the Hawk Hill parking area, the road becomes one-way and (if you’re the driver) distractingly scenic as it plunges downward. New hillside and ocean vistas unfold at every curve. An optional stop if you’ve started early is at the first parking lot, often full on weekends, signed as Upper Fisherman’s. The trail to the left of the sign leads down to Black Sands Beach. Even if you don’t descend the long wooden staircase to the beach, walk a few steps down to catch the view. If you reach the beach on a sunny day, you’ll notice that some locals show their appreciation for the stark natural setting by partaking of it au naturel.

Hiking Decision

11:30–11:45 am

Now comes the hiking decision. Take your pick among these four Great Marin County Hikes (see individual pages for trailhead info):

• The short (1.5 miles round-trip) and easy Rodeo Lagoon Trail Loop leaves you more time for lunch.

• The easy-to-moderate Battery Mendell to Battery Townsley hike is 4 miles round-trip.

• The part of the easy-to-moderate Rodeo Lagoon to Point Bonita Lighthouse hike you can undertake even when the tunnel to the lighthouse is closed is about 3.5 miles round-trip. The hike to the lighthouse is an additional 1 mile round-trip. Note: In August 2024, the lighthouse itself was closed “until further notice” for repairs to the suspension bridge that leads to the historic structure, but when it’s open (12:30–3:30 pm from Thursday through Monday), you can still walk through the tunnel and enjoy the views.
• The moderate Coastal, Wolf Ridge, Miwok Trails Loop hike is 5.5 miles round-trip.

Picnic on the Trail

Lunchtime
All four hikes pass by Rodeo Beach. At the eastern end of Rodeo Lagoon, the beach is a good spot for a picnic—on the sand or at tables and benches nearby.

Marine Mammals

2 pm
Except perhaps with the longest hike, you’ll likely finish in the early afternoon. If you’ve done the short Rodeo Lagoon hike, visit the Marine Mammal Center, which rescues and rehabilitates seals and other sea creatures. If you’ve done the longer hikes and want to extend your stay in the headlands, by all means stop here, too. Admission to the center is free, but you need to order a ticket online. Book a 1 pm visit – it’s okay to arrive anytime between then and a little before the center closes at 4 pm. 

3 pm
If it’s a sunny day and you still have time, loop back to Rodeo Beach or Black Sands.

Toast the Day

Late afternoon
Toast your day in the headlands in downtown Sausalito at Fireside Coffee & Tea or Bar Bocce. Another option: the Farley Bar at Cavallo Point in nearby Fort Baker.

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Getting Here

By Car

The easiest way to visit the Marin Headlands is by car.

If heading north from San Francisco: After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Alexander Avenue exit, and turn right; after a tenth of a mile, turn left onto Bunker Road to the Baker-Barry Tunnel.

If heading south on U.S. 101 from anywhere in Marin: Take the Alexander Avenue exit and turn right. You’ll pass under U.S. 101 before turning left (about a quarter-mile from the exit) on Bunker Road to reach the tunnel.

If heading south from downtown Sausalito: Drive south on Bridgeway, turning right on Richardson Street, left on Second Street, and left on South Street, which becomes Alexander Avenue. Turn right at Bunker Road a little less than a mile later.

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More Marin County Hikes

Abbotts Lagoon
Mount Tamalpais Muir Woods Loop
Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Tennessee Valley
Tule Elk Preserve

Marin County History

A Brief History of Sausalito
Marin County’s Bounty

This story first appeared online in 2017; it was most recently updated in 2025.