Every Trail Tells a Story
Point Bonita Lighthouse
Cross a swaying suspension bridge to a historic lighthouse
Best ocean-and-city view combo in the Headlands
Shipwreck history, seabird drama, and whale-spotting potential
Built in 1855 to guide ships through the foggy, turbulent straits of the Golden Gate, Point Bonita Lighthouse is both a working beacon and one of the most dramatic sights in the Marin Headlands. A paved trail passes through a long tunnel and across a long, high wooden suspension bridge Fun!
Originally, the lighthouse stood higher on the headlands. But keepers soon realized that its beam was often lost in fog that shrouds the bluffs, so in 1877 the beacon was lowered to its current precarious perch-closer to sea level, below the usual fog line. It remains the only U.S. lighthouse reached by a suspension bridge.
The paved trail begins with a steady descent past steep cliffs draped in ice plant and wildflowers. You’ll pass through a 118-foot hand-hewn tunnel, blasted through solid rock in 1877 to allow easier access. From there, it’s on to the dramatic suspension bridge that sways above crashing surf and connects you to the lighthouse itself. Few hikes pack this much adventure into a single mile.
Today, the lighthouse is automated, but for visitors it still feels like stepping back into a bygone maritime world. Rangers and volunteers are often on hand to share stories of heroic keepers, shipwrecks, and the relentless sea. And while the lighthouse is open just two afternoons a week (Sundays and Mondays, 12:30-3:30 pm), the trail itself is worth walking anytime it’s open, even if you can’t get inside the tower. The views across the Pacific and back toward the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline are unforgettable.
Wildlife often steals the show. Look for harbor seals hauled out on the rocky shoreline below, pelicans gliding just above the waves, and peregrine falcons riding the wind along the cliffs. Springtime brings migrating gray whales cruising by, visible from the overlook if you’re lucky..
Drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge, exit on Alexander Avenue (just beyond the Vista Point), go 0.2 miles to Bunker Road, and proceed to the one-way Baker-Barry Tunnel, controlled by a stoplight. Travel through the tunnel and after 2 miles turn left onto Field Road. Continue 0.6 mile past the Visitor Center to the Point Bonita Parking Lot.
Walk south from the overlook past Battery Godfrey and Battery West to the signed junction with Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Descend stairs and trail to a viewpoint and grand views of the ships entering and exiting the Golden Gate. Continue the descent to a little creek and a last set of stairs to Marshall’s Beach.
Serpentine-cliff bordered Marshall’s Beach offers stunning vistas (particularly at sunset) north to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Rugged and secluded, this beach has long been favored by the clothing-optional set.
Now it’s upward on the B2B Trail and lots more stairs, climbing over the top of Battery Crosby and up to meet Coastal Trail and Lincoln Boulevard. Cross carefully to the start of the trail to Immigrant Point Overlook.
On the ascent amidst pine and eucalyptus trees, enjoy vistas of the Marin Headlands and Point Bonita Lighthouse to the north, and to Seacliff and the Baker Beach bluffs to the south. Relax on the benches, savor the views, and descend. For a quicker way back, take the Coastal Trail along Lincoln Boulevard past Pacific Overlook to Golden Gate Overlook.