Battery Mendell-Marin Headlands
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Mendell Road/Trail, from intersection with loop end of Field Road, Marin Headlands
Starting Point: There is parking noted as Point Bonita Lighthouse Parking on Field Road, near the junction with Old Conzelman Road. There are disability parking spots on the Field Road loop by the vault toilets where Mendell Road/Trail starts.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Marin Headlands info link (Golden Gate National Recreation Area/National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm
Mendell Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/mendell-trail
Marin Headlands map link:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
The Mendell Trail is 1.58 miles round trip, with minimal incline and a relatively firm, smooth trail. This makes for an easy outing for those wishing for maximum scenery and minimal walking.
Considerations:
• There is parking near the Field Road loop, with signs guiding visitors to Point Bonita Lighthouse in the direction facing the Golden Gate Bridge view. Facing the vault toilet building, a wide, smooth trail opens up toward Battery Mendell and the coastal views beyond.
• Weekend parking can be a challenge at popular trail areas. There are a couple of disability parking spots near the vault toilets.
• As with any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak. Scrubs like Tecnu are helpful if someone comes in contact. There are mostly ice plants low to the ground along this trail, but keep an eye out on side trails with more foliage.
• Heed health, safety, and wildlife notices.
• Use caution if exploring the old battery structure. Some of these old buildings are decaying in places. Also be careful around the residual military structures closer to the coast edge.
• The view at the bluff edge is wonderful, but always use caution along cliffs. One area that used to be accessible to walkers is closed off because the cliff edges are eroding dramatically and are unstable.
The trail:
When we visit Battery Mendell, the first thing we do is take in the views facing the Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco cityscape hovering behind it. This is the first obvious view to enjoy near the Field Road loop. There are limited parking spots along this stretch, often used by those visiting Point Bonita Lighthouse as well as those visiting Battery Mendell. There are some disability parking spots near the vault toilet building.
A broad, fairly smooth path (noted as Mendell Road on maps, and Mendell Trail elsewhere) leads away from the Golden Gate Bridge view (walk past the vault toilet building). In a short distance, the old military structure of Battery Mendell looms on the left. There are information signs telling the history in front of the battery, and it is possible to climb some of the stairs to walk around the upper area. It is interesting to look at the interior of the battery through the rusted iron bars blocking the windows, but it looks kind of spooky. We heard some screams and laughs from visitors who had gone past the do not enter signs. Maybe they saw a ghost or two.
There is a slight rise in elevation as you walk past the battery toward the ocean. A view of Rodeo Lagoon comes into view on the right, with other historic buildings at the far edge of the lagoon visible with their red roofs. On our visit, there were various low-lying blossoms giving a colorful tint to the foreground of our vista views.
Once at the top of the bluff, there are some old bunker-type structures to the left. These are interesting to look at, but be careful not to fall down through the hole at the top. Looking in that same direction, south, Point Bonita Lighthouse is visible beyond some dramatic craggy rocks and cliffs. It is a very picturesque lighthouse with the cliffs in the foreground.
We followed a narrow trail in this direction through a tree covered area that opened onto a grassy area lined by a fence. This was a different vibe from the main Mendell Trail, and allowed us to circle around to the top of Battery Mendell from behind.
After walking on top of Battery Mendell, we backtracked along the narrow trail past the bunker structures and followed the bluff edge in the direction facing Rodeo Lagoon, with hills rising above that including Battery Townsley, Tennessee Point Labyrinth, Hill 88 from Rodeo Beach, and Old Bunker Road as hikes to try from the other side of the lagoon.
In the foreground facing that direction is a jutting piece of land which has eroded rapidly in recent times, and has a deep cove where the water sometimes appears as a turquoise green, and reminds me of areas along the Mendocino Coast and Point Reyes.
It’s an easy walk back down the slight incline to get back to the parking area. Despite the short distance, this is a location that offers interesting visuals contrasting between historic structures and ocean and mountain views.
Other hikes and viewing spots to explore near Battery Mendell can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area.
Battery Mendell-Marin Headlands Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Short Distance, Big Views” Insights post.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Mendell Road/Trail, from intersection with loop end of Field Road, Marin Headlands
Starting Point: There is parking noted as Point Bonita Lighthouse Parking on Field Road, near the junction with Old Conzelman Road. There are disability parking spots on the Field Road loop by the vault toilets where Mendell Road/Trail starts.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Marin Headlands info link (Golden Gate National Recreation Area/National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm
Mendell Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/mendell-trail
Marin Headlands map link:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
The Mendell Trail is 1.58 miles round trip, with minimal incline and a relatively firm, smooth trail. This makes for an easy outing for those wishing for maximum scenery and minimal walking.
Considerations:
• There is parking near the Field Road loop, with signs guiding visitors to Point Bonita Lighthouse in the direction facing the Golden Gate Bridge view. Facing the vault toilet building, a wide, smooth trail opens up toward Battery Mendell and the coastal views beyond.
• Weekend parking can be a challenge at popular trail areas. There are a couple of disability parking spots near the vault toilets.
• As with any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak. Scrubs like Tecnu are helpful if someone comes in contact. There are mostly ice plants low to the ground along this trail, but keep an eye out on side trails with more foliage.
• Heed health, safety, and wildlife notices.
• Use caution if exploring the old battery structure. Some of these old buildings are decaying in places. Also be careful around the residual military structures closer to the coast edge.
• The view at the bluff edge is wonderful, but always use caution along cliffs. One area that used to be accessible to walkers is closed off because the cliff edges are eroding dramatically and are unstable.
The trail:
When we visit Battery Mendell, the first thing we do is take in the views facing the Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco cityscape hovering behind it. This is the first obvious view to enjoy near the Field Road loop. There are limited parking spots along this stretch, often used by those visiting Point Bonita Lighthouse as well as those visiting Battery Mendell. There are some disability parking spots near the vault toilet building.
A broad, fairly smooth path (noted as Mendell Road on maps, and Mendell Trail elsewhere) leads away from the Golden Gate Bridge view (walk past the vault toilet building). In a short distance, the old military structure of Battery Mendell looms on the left. There are information signs telling the history in front of the battery, and it is possible to climb some of the stairs to walk around the upper area. It is interesting to look at the interior of the battery through the rusted iron bars blocking the windows, but it looks kind of spooky. We heard some screams and laughs from visitors who had gone past the do not enter signs. Maybe they saw a ghost or two.
There is a slight rise in elevation as you walk past the battery toward the ocean. A view of Rodeo Lagoon comes into view on the right, with other historic buildings at the far edge of the lagoon visible with their red roofs. On our visit, there were various low-lying blossoms giving a colorful tint to the foreground of our vista views.
Once at the top of the bluff, there are some old bunker-type structures to the left. These are interesting to look at, but be careful not to fall down through the hole at the top. Looking in that same direction, south, Point Bonita Lighthouse is visible beyond some dramatic craggy rocks and cliffs. It is a very picturesque lighthouse with the cliffs in the foreground.
We followed a narrow trail in this direction through a tree covered area that opened onto a grassy area lined by a fence. This was a different vibe from the main Mendell Trail, and allowed us to circle around to the top of Battery Mendell from behind.
After walking on top of Battery Mendell, we backtracked along the narrow trail past the bunker structures and followed the bluff edge in the direction facing Rodeo Lagoon, with hills rising above that including Battery Townsley, Tennessee Point Labyrinth, Hill 88 from Rodeo Beach, and Old Bunker Road as hikes to try from the other side of the lagoon.
In the foreground facing that direction is a jutting piece of land which has eroded rapidly in recent times, and has a deep cove where the water sometimes appears as a turquoise green, and reminds me of areas along the Mendocino Coast and Point Reyes.
It’s an easy walk back down the slight incline to get back to the parking area. Despite the short distance, this is a location that offers interesting visuals contrasting between historic structures and ocean and mountain views.
Other hikes and viewing spots to explore near Battery Mendell can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area.
Battery Mendell-Marin Headlands Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Short Distance, Big Views” Insights post.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
