Battery Rathbone-McIndoe-Marin Headlands
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Conzelman Road, Sausalito, Marin Headlands
Starting Point: Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is located about 0.4 miles past the Upper Fisherman’s/Black Sands Beach parking lot (which is approximately 0.8 miles past Hawk Hill, where the westbound one-way section of Conzelman Road 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
Marin Headlands map link:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is a great location for views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge, and is a historic structure with a limited area to walk around. This is near other Marin Headlands hikes which can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area, but in the immediate area, hikers can also enjoy a visit to Black Sands Beach, or try the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk starting from the Upper Fisherman’s Beach/Black Sands Beach parking lot.
Considerations:
• There is no toilet facility at Battery Rathbone-McIndoe, but there is a restroom building visible from the road at the parking lot for Upper Fisherman’s/Black Sands Beach 0.4 miles earlier on the left side of one-way Conzelman Road. Watch carefully so as not to miss the turn as it is several miles to make the Bunker Road/McCollough Road/Conzelman Road loop back to this point.
• Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is on the left side of one-way Conzelman Road, and there are a few parking spots available. Weekend parking can be a challenge at popular trail areas.
• Dressing in layers is always wise as cool and overcast can turn to hot and sunny in an instant. Water and sun protection are always recommended.
• As with any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak in the brush around the battery grounds. Scrubs like Tecnu are helpful if someone comes in contact.
• Check for ticks, if exploring trails through denser brush and grass.
• Use caution when walking around these aging structures.
The trail:
We drove by the aging concrete structures on one-way Conzelman Road countless times on our way to other locations in the Marin Headlands. Conzelman Road is one of my favorite roads, and we take that as a long route to Rodeo Beach because we enjoy the drive. We noticed cars parked along the battery structures many times but never stopped there.
One day, we decided to check out an unnamed trail paralleling Conzelman Road from the Upper Fisherman’s Beach/Black Sands Beach parking lot. That short hike is noted in the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk Hike Notes. At the end of that trail, we decided to walk another 0.2 miles along the road to get to what is officially Battery Rathbone-McIndoe (built in 1905), one of many military relics dotting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Before getting to Battery Rathbone-McIndoe (on the left side of one-way Conzelman), we took a side jaunt along the trail from a parking pullout space on the right side of the road. Turns out this is part of the Coastal Trail, and a short walk to a round structure on the hill there offers great views of Rodeo Lagoon and the hills behind it.
We then continued walking along Conzelman until we reached Battery Rathbone-McIndoe on the left side. From the road, it never seemed there would be much to see or explore, so we were curious why cars were parked here.
A short climb to the top of the battery revealed the reason. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the sculptural coastline toward the Pacific are stunning. The rolling hills of the headlands are also visible facing away from the ocean.
We saw turkey buzzards tilting their wings along the contours of the bluff, and spotted a black-tailed deer in the coyote brush along this stretch. I’ve also seen gray fox scooting across Conzelman Road and coyotes ambling near Rodeo Beach for those who are interested in wildlife.
For those who are up for a scenic drive and just want to stop for a great view spot, Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is one of many places to do that. This area is near many other Marin Headlands hikes which can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area, but in the immediate area, hikers can also enjoy a visit to Black Sands Beach, or try the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk starting from the Black Sands Beach parking lot (also noted as Upper Fisherman’s Beach).
Battery Rathbone-McIndoe-Marin Headlands Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Bench with a View” 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: Conzelman Road, Sausalito, Marin Headlands
Starting Point: Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is located about 0.4 miles past the Upper Fisherman’s/Black Sands Beach parking lot (which is approximately 0.8 miles past Hawk Hill, where the westbound one-way section of Conzelman Road 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
Marin Headlands map link:
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance:
Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is a great location for views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge, and is a historic structure with a limited area to walk around. This is near other Marin Headlands hikes which can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area, but in the immediate area, hikers can also enjoy a visit to Black Sands Beach, or try the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk starting from the Upper Fisherman’s Beach/Black Sands Beach parking lot.
Considerations:
• There is no toilet facility at Battery Rathbone-McIndoe, but there is a restroom building visible from the road at the parking lot for Upper Fisherman’s/Black Sands Beach 0.4 miles earlier on the left side of one-way Conzelman Road. Watch carefully so as not to miss the turn as it is several miles to make the Bunker Road/McCollough Road/Conzelman Road loop back to this point.
• Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is on the left side of one-way Conzelman Road, and there are a few parking spots available. Weekend parking can be a challenge at popular trail areas.
• Dressing in layers is always wise as cool and overcast can turn to hot and sunny in an instant. Water and sun protection are always recommended.
• As with any trail, keep an eye out for poison oak in the brush around the battery grounds. Scrubs like Tecnu are helpful if someone comes in contact.
• Check for ticks, if exploring trails through denser brush and grass.
• Use caution when walking around these aging structures.
The trail:
We drove by the aging concrete structures on one-way Conzelman Road countless times on our way to other locations in the Marin Headlands. Conzelman Road is one of my favorite roads, and we take that as a long route to Rodeo Beach because we enjoy the drive. We noticed cars parked along the battery structures many times but never stopped there.
One day, we decided to check out an unnamed trail paralleling Conzelman Road from the Upper Fisherman’s Beach/Black Sands Beach parking lot. That short hike is noted in the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk Hike Notes. At the end of that trail, we decided to walk another 0.2 miles along the road to get to what is officially Battery Rathbone-McIndoe (built in 1905), one of many military relics dotting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Before getting to Battery Rathbone-McIndoe (on the left side of one-way Conzelman), we took a side jaunt along the trail from a parking pullout space on the right side of the road. Turns out this is part of the Coastal Trail, and a short walk to a round structure on the hill there offers great views of Rodeo Lagoon and the hills behind it.
We then continued walking along Conzelman until we reached Battery Rathbone-McIndoe on the left side. From the road, it never seemed there would be much to see or explore, so we were curious why cars were parked here.
A short climb to the top of the battery revealed the reason. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the sculptural coastline toward the Pacific are stunning. The rolling hills of the headlands are also visible facing away from the ocean.
We saw turkey buzzards tilting their wings along the contours of the bluff, and spotted a black-tailed deer in the coyote brush along this stretch. I’ve also seen gray fox scooting across Conzelman Road and coyotes ambling near Rodeo Beach for those who are interested in wildlife.
For those who are up for a scenic drive and just want to stop for a great view spot, Battery Rathbone-McIndoe is one of many places to do that. This area is near many other Marin Headlands hikes which can be found under the Marin section of Hike Search by Area, but in the immediate area, hikers can also enjoy a visit to Black Sands Beach, or try the Headlands Lookout Bluff View Walk starting from the Black Sands Beach parking lot (also noted as Upper Fisherman’s Beach).
Battery Rathbone-McIndoe-Marin Headlands Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Bench with a View” 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
