Marin Headlands
The Marin Headlands describe a coastal landscape near San Francisco in the US state of California - located out of town directly behind the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County . With a view of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge and - a little further away - the Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge , the coastal landscape is a popular destination for photo opportunities around the metropolis when the weather is clear.
The Marin Headlands are part of the so-called Golden Gate National Recreation Area ( National Recreation Area "Golden Gate"), the largest recreation park in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Of this national recreation area, the Marin Headlands comprise the southern part along the coast, where the seawater of the Pacific flows into the Bay of San Francisco .
In addition to the many viewpoints on San Francisco along Conzelman Road - where various old battery positions testify to a time when the stretch of coast at the Golden Gate was still used for military purposes - the Marin Headlands with numerous hiking and biking trails and popular beaches - like the Rodeo Beach - also its own charm. They are a popular weekend destination for residents of the surrounding area, but with some drawbacks they are also geared towards overnight stays by tourists.
Looking north-west towards the Marin Headlands
Marin Headlands as seen from the Golden Gate Bridge
Web links
- National Park Service: Marin Headlands (official site; English)