Marin Headlands Visitor Center to Rodeo Beach
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Intersection of Field and Bunker Roads, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA.
Accessible from exit just north of Golden Gate Bridge, US-101.
Follow signs for Marin Headlands, using either Bunker Road or Conzelman Road.
Do an internet search for "Marin Headlands Visitor Center" for detailed map and direction options, as well as current road conditions and closures.
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Map: Try NPS Marin Headlands map link https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance: Full loop from Visitor Center to Rodeo Beach and back around Rodeo Lagoon is 1.5 miles
This is an old family favorite that has moderate ups and downs.
Starting high from Marin Headlands Visitor Center with a view from the hills, this is a fairly easy walk downward through tree tunnels, past a magical eucalyptus tree along the way.
From the visitor center parking lot, the trailhead to the beach starts to the right of the restrooms, facing the ocean.
Update: The visitor center parking lot now has a 30 minute parking limit. Ask the ranger where longer parking is allowed (there should be roadside spots in this area where parking longer is allowed), or do this hike in reverse, starting from the Rodeo Beach parking lot and climbing up to the visitor center and returning to the beach.
The view opens out onto Rodeo Beach Lagoon, with a glorious view of the Pacific.
Shared by surfers, hikers, families and dogs, Rodeo Beach has a parking area, restrooms, and access to other trailheads.
Return via the same trail, or walk the loop around the lagoon back to the visitor center.
(Marin Headlands Visitor Center to Rodeo Beach Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Light Emerges from Darkness” 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: Intersection of Field and Bunker Roads, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA.
Accessible from exit just north of Golden Gate Bridge, US-101.
Follow signs for Marin Headlands, using either Bunker Road or Conzelman Road.
Do an internet search for "Marin Headlands Visitor Center" for detailed map and direction options, as well as current road conditions and closures.
(Information links are sometimes changed at the source unexpectedly. We do our best to update.)
Map: Try NPS Marin Headlands map link https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map_mahe_150429_508_2021.pdf
Distance: Full loop from Visitor Center to Rodeo Beach and back around Rodeo Lagoon is 1.5 miles
This is an old family favorite that has moderate ups and downs.
Starting high from Marin Headlands Visitor Center with a view from the hills, this is a fairly easy walk downward through tree tunnels, past a magical eucalyptus tree along the way.
From the visitor center parking lot, the trailhead to the beach starts to the right of the restrooms, facing the ocean.
Update: The visitor center parking lot now has a 30 minute parking limit. Ask the ranger where longer parking is allowed (there should be roadside spots in this area where parking longer is allowed), or do this hike in reverse, starting from the Rodeo Beach parking lot and climbing up to the visitor center and returning to the beach.
The view opens out onto Rodeo Beach Lagoon, with a glorious view of the Pacific.
Shared by surfers, hikers, families and dogs, Rodeo Beach has a parking area, restrooms, and access to other trailheads.
Return via the same trail, or walk the loop around the lagoon back to the visitor center.
(Marin Headlands Visitor Center to Rodeo Beach Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Light Emerges from Darkness” 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
