10 Best Spots for Scenic Views of the Golden Gate Bridge
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Consistently ranked as the number one most popular attraction in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is an awe-inspiring symbol of human engineering and thanks to it being one of the most photographed bridges in the United States, it's well known throughout the world and is often sought after by domestic and foreign visitors alike.
There are many spots in and around the city that offer great views of the bridge. From craggy bluff-lined beaches to historic batteries, all the way to walking on the bridge itself, a great view isn't hard to find…you just need to know where to look. There are a handful of classic, well known spots, along with a hidden gem or two.
I grew up in and spent a good chunk of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've walked this iconic bridge numerous times and seen/photographed it from various vantage points. While I feel there isn't a single, absolute best view of the Golden Gate Bridge, I do have my favorite spot or two (or ten) to share with you. Each offer unique perspectives and are easily accessible to most. Let's get into it!
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First, a Few Things to Note…
First and foremost, I highly recommend either bringing your own vehicle or getting a rental. Utilizing ride share is possible with many of these spots, though it's gotten expensive in recent years, particularly in big cities such as San Francisco. Joining a tour group would get you to most of these, but you'd be tied down to their timeframe, itinerary and pace.
Having your own vehicle provides ultimate freedom to visit and explore as many spots on this list as you wish. Though I do feel a responsibility to warn you about San Francisco's vehicle break-in epidemic. It's gotten better in the last couple years now that local officials are taking a stricter stance on this sort of thing, but it still occurs.
Never leave anything of value in sight in the car or in the trunk. If you do, you'll likely return to your vehicle to find smashed-out windows and your belongings gone. Additionally, camera theft, specifically the DSLR and mirrorless variety, has been a problem as well. Multiple photographers, often in broad daylight in populated tourist areas, have been robbed of their camera gear.
I don't say this to deter you from visiting. Both of these issues have waned in recent years, but you never know. Keep your wits about you, keep your gear out of sight when you're not using it, and pay attention to your surroundings. I've used my expensive and noticeable DSLR throughout the city multiple times and have never been bothered. Be street smart and you'll be fine.
1) Lands End Trail
Lands End is a fair distance from the bridge, but from its hiking trail of the same name, you'll have an expansive view of it with the Pacific Ocean providing the beautiful foreground along with craggy bluffs on your right. Additionally, Lands End contains the ruins of the historic Sutro Baths that you can (and should) explore, along with the iconic Cliff House.
Know that if Carl is present (the locals pet name for San Francisco's infamous fog) you'll likely have no view of the bridge. Therefore a visit to Lands End is best on a clear day. Not just for the view, but also so you can safely explore the baths and hike the beautiful Lands End Trail. To read more about it, check out my Lands End post here.
2) Battery Spencer
When it comes to Golden Gate Bridge views, this vantage point is one of the most iconic as you've likely seen tons of photos of it throughout the interweb and in various films. To get there from the city, you'll need to drive to the north side of the bridge. There, you'll be outside of San Francisco and in the Marin Headlands, which is a treasure-trove of exploration all its own.
The view is nearly 500 feet up, offering a commanding view of the bridge, the ocean, and the San Francisco skyline in the distance. On it sits the ruins of a civil war-era artillery battery where soldiers once stood guard over the Golden Gate Straight, watching for potential incoming enemy combatants. Parking and accessing Battery Spencer is free.
Since it's a popular spot, early mornings would be the best time of day to visit to beat the crowds. This epic view is hard to beat but further up Conzelman Road is Hawk Hill, which offers an amazing view of the bridge from an even higher vantage point.
3) Marshall’s Beach
Back to the city side of the bridge, Marshall's Beach offers a remarkable view of the Golden Gate Bridge and is often cited as one of the best. It offers a from-the-ground perspective, which differs greatly from the aforementioned Battery Spencer lookout. You won't be able to see the city skyline from here, but you will be able to see the headlands across the ocean.
One important notation to Marshall's Beach is it can be a bit spicy given its designation as a nude beach. However, its rise in popularity in recent years has caused many to abandon it in favor of greater privacy elsewhere. Still, that designation holds, so be prepared for that possibility. If you have small children in tow, it would probably be best to skip this one.
4) From the Water
For a completely different perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge, take a cruise of the Golden Gate Straight by booking a bay cruise through a variety of operators (check out the offerings from my affiliate partner, Viator, at the links below). Nearly all of them cruise underneath and around the famed bridge and include other sights such as Marine Headlands, Alcatraz Island, and more.
5) Battery East Trail
Battery East Trail is a multi-use trail connecting many popular San Francisco destinations as well as offering eye-popping views of the bridge. You won't have to go far either, as the views begin within a one minute walk from the parking lot, as indicated by the photo above that I took. You can stop there or continue along the trail for one unique perspective after another.
You can walk this trail east all the way to nearby Crissy Field and the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts (among other spots) or continue towards the bridge to access the historic civil war-era Fort Point (more on that later). You won't have a panoramic view of the bridge from here, as its southern end dominates the view. It's particularly wonderful in spring when many colorful flowers, including the California Poppy, are in full bloom.
6) Crissy Field
Located just a short ways away from the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike looking to unwind, relax at the beach, take in the views, or get in some exercise. The bridge is completely visible from just about every vantage point at Crissy Field. So much so that you've likely seen it on various movies and TV shows, such as the comedy classic Mrs. Doubtfire, starring the late (and great) Robin Williams.
7) Kirby Cove
I may be a bit biased here, as Kirby Cove is my hands-down favorite place in the Bay Area and I always recommend it to people I know who are looking for things to do in San Francisco. Kirby Cove is a small enclave in the Marin Headlands and features various sea caves, picnic area, Battery Kirby (a post-civil war defense post), and a bombastic view of the bridge and parts of the city skyline.
From Kirby Cove you'll have what I feel to be one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll have to earn it, though, as you'll need to hike a couple miles to reach it. It's totally worth it, though. Similar to Battery Spencer, you'll want an early morning start to this one, as parking along Conzelman Road gets rather scarce as the day progresses. To read more about Kirby Cove, check out my post here!
8) Fort Baker
Also on the north side of the bridge, but on the opposite side from Battery Spencer and Kirby Cove, is Fort Baker, a preserved early 1900's United States Army post. You'll have multiple angles of the bridge to see and photograph from here, but I recommend the rocky shoreline just off of the pier. It's far from the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge, but it's a hidden gem with a unique perspective nonetheless.
9) On the Bridge Itself
Wanting a more up-close-and-personal experience with the bridge? Lace up your best walking shoes or grab a bicycle and traverse it for yourself. There are parking lots on both ends of the bridge with immediate pedestrian access. I would recommend the southern end of the bridge (city side) as it also offers a visitor center, food/drink options, and a bit more parking.
You don't need to walk the entire thing. Most folks walk to the middle point or so and turn around. Some, though, go from one end to the other and back. It's roughly a 3.5-mile trek roundtrip and there's no shuttle service to take you back to the other side, so be sure of your intentions before committing to it. Nothing beats being on the bridge and the views you'll see from it, so definitely make this part of your San Francisco itinerary.
10) Fort Point National Historic Site
Fort Point is a preserved civil war-era fort originally built in the mid-1800's to defend San Francisco Bay as part of a coastal fortification system. It was heavily staffed with U.S Army servicemen, including with some of the first African-American soldiers. The fort never saw any conflict with enemy combatants, though it was fully prepared with hundreds of canons and other artillery.
The fort pre-dates the Golden Gate Bridge by about 72 years, as construction was completed on the fort in 1861 and the bridge was finished in 1933. At the time of the bridge's construction, builders were keen on destroying the fort, as it was placed in the exact span path of the bridge (as you can see in the photo below).
However, Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss was a big proponent of its preservation and saved the fort by re-designing the bridge to include the massive arch you see above Fort Point today. Without his willingness to redesign that section, the fort would've been lost to history. That sacrifice in design offers visitors not only the ability to explore history, but also provides what many consider to be some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Can You See All of These Viewpoints in One Trip?
Honestly...probably not. It entirely depends on how long you're visiting for and how many other attractions you're wanting to see. If you're visiting for just one day (see my one day San Francisco itinerary here) you definitely won't be able to see them all. You would need two to three days, at minimum, and go outside of the busy tourist season, as many of these spots are popular.
If you're short on time, or just looking to do two or three of these, I'll provide my recommendations to help you narrow it down. If you're short on time, I recommend:
Walking the bridge
Fort Point view
Battery Spencer view
To me, these are the quintessential best views of the Golden Gate Bridge that visitors, especially first-timers, should see and what I would suggest to family and friends. With these, you'll see the bridge from a few different perspectives, won't have to contend with parking fees and will have a short walk to each from the car.
Additionally, they’re grouped somewhat closely together. Battery Spencer is at the north end of the bridge and offers a "from above" view and Fort Point sits at the southern end, offering a ground level view. From the bridge itself, you'll see the massive rivets and 36-inch thick steel cables, and the towers they're attached to, up close. Not to mention the expansive views of the ocean.
If this works for you, I recommend starting at Battery Spencer (early) as parking there can be scarce. From there, drive to the north end plaza parking lot and walk/bike that portion of the bridge. When finished, drive back across the bridge and head to Fort Point. The fort's hours can be finicky but even if it's closed you'll still be able to explore its exterior and take in the view.
That said, not having your own vehicle will make visiting Battery Spencer challenging (and expensive). If you'll be without a vehicle, I recommend skipping it. Take a ride share or bus to the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center on the southern end of the bridge. From there, you can walk/bike the bridge and access Fort Point as well. You can also walk to Crissy Field (about 15 minutes).
If you have EXTRA days, definitely use some of that time to hike down to Kirby Cove. I can’t recommend it enough as words and photos do no justice to how beautiful of a spot it is. You can make a day of it by beginning your day hiking to Kirby Cove, walking down the road to Battery Spencer, and possibly even Hawk Hill if you have enough energy left. Read more about Kirby Cove here!
Buy me a coffee?
If you’ve found this blog helpful, please consider leaving a tip through the Buy me a Coffee button below. Whether it’s $1 or $5, every bit helps to offset small travel costs such as coffee, meals, and parking/entrance fees. Your support means a lot—thank you!
