California Current Conservation Complex - Golden Gate National Recreation Area– visited October, 2023, during 2-weeks USA trip (rented car). In fact Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a huge complex of different state parks and other reserves including Alcatraz, Muir Woods (redwoods) located south, west and north-west of San Francisco. Probably the easiest component to visit if you are in San Francisco is the area near Golden Gate Bridge, on both sides of San Francisco Bay. Personally I focused on northern part. And additionally – if you drive north from San Francisco, crossing the bridge is free.

Just after crossing the bridge – to the right there is a parking space - H. Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point – Northbound – good place to leave the car and start exploring Golden Gate Bridge on foot (also good views of San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island). Also the space around is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Golden Gate Bridge as a historical landmark may also has its place on UNESCO list one day as engineering masterpiece.

Better panoramas of the bridge are from area near Spencer Battery (google coordinates 37.827697856528495, -122.48177038786507, destroyed fortifications on the other side of highway, access via Bunker Road / Baker Battery Tunnel and Conzelman Road – one way traffic only). There are several view points but the best are probably from Short Range Battery (few meters from Spencer Battery). All those places are within Golden Gate National Recreation Area but probably history is the most interesting aspect there.

For more natural places I went to Rodeo Beach (beginning of coastal trail – google coordinates 37.83228831057007, -122.53966878841393, access via Bunker Rd and Mitchell Rd, big parking space at the end). Area seem to be very popular, there are a lot of different trails, picknick sites natural beach (Rodeo Beach). Coastal Trail allows to explore seaside area (rocky coast with occasional bays, cliffs, steep slopes) – mostly barren landscape with grass / heather. Area is also full of military traces, some visible from quite big distance – like Battery Townsley on the top of the hill some just hidden in the bushes.

Just visited small part of one component (out of five) but it is very interesting. And because of huge numbers of historical landmarks (Golden Gate, Alcatraz, lots of military forts) maybe mixed status would be more appropriate.

More info about the area – official site of National Park Service (recommended website to receive basic data before any visit to USA National Park) https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/rodeo-beach-and-lagoon.htm

Places on the photo, bottom left, than clockwise: Rock outcrop near Battery Spencer, Golden Gate from Conzelman Rd, Coastal Trail, Rodeo Beach