The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has unveiled the Golden Gate Dozen Trail, connecting 12 national park sites in San Francisco into one route. The trail is featured on AllTrails thanks to a new partnership, making it easier to experience incomparable beaches, bluffs, history, and city views.
“The Golden Gate Dozen Trail is an invitation to get out, get moving, and see your favourite national park sites in a whole new way,” said Christine Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
“We’re proud to partner with AllTrails and add meaning to every mile through storytelling and connection.”
The Golden Gate Dozen was created by the Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). People can collect special stickers at the Presidio Visitor Center, Warming Hut, and Lands End Lookout featuring the trail’s donut mascot, which celebrates community and sharing a “dozen” with friends and family.
“Trails are how many people first connect with the national parks, and only here could you see 12 national park sites in one day,” said David Smith, general superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
“The Golden Gate Dozen offers a powerful pathway to connect with the landscapes and history that define the GGNRA.”
The roughly 13-mile hike or bike ride stretches from Crissy Field to Lands End to Fort Funston. It includes beloved park sites like Presidio Tunnel Tops, Fort Point, Baker Beach, Ocean Beach, and Fort Funston. The connected route is destined to become an experience for visitors locally and from around the world.
The Golden Gate Dozen is on AllTrails thanks to our partnership through the company’s Public Lands Program. AllTrails is the Parks Conservancy’s Official Partner for Connecting People to Urban National Park Trails. The collaboration helps spotlight the GGNRA and makes it even easier for people to discover and enjoy these national park sites. Throughout the route, visitors will find history and storytelling via the Parks Conservancy to enhance their experience.
“The Golden Gate Dozen is the kind of trail that shows why urban access to public lands matters,” said Pitt Grewe, AllTrails head of social and environmental impact.
“A route that connects San Francisco’s rich history and unique ecology to its diverse community is a powerful reminder of what we’re working to protect and make accessible for everyone. AllTrails is honoured to help bring this experience to life.”
The 12 sites include Crissy Field, with its marshland, bird life, beaches and panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, as well as Presidio Tunnel Tops. One of the Presidio’s newest spaces offers bridge views, food offerings and history at the Presidio Visitor Center.
The free Gold Rush and Civil War era National Historic Site of Fort Point offers interactive exhibits and a unique vantage point under the Golden Gate Bridge.
At Baker Beach visitors can head down its Sand Ladder to experience white sand, passing ships, and iconic bridge views. Seals, brown pelicans and Brandt’s cormorants can be seen from here. Also in the dozen is The Presidio, where hikers can take a side trip on the Lobos Creek Valley Trail, featuring information about native dune habitats.
China Beach, named in honour of the Chinese immigrants who used the area as a campsite and anchorage for their fishing boats during the Gold Rush in the 1850s, features views of the Marin Headlands, while visitors can learn about the history of the Lands End area, an Ohlone fishing site.
Sutro Baths ruins are where San Franciscans once splashed in salt-water pools and John Harris fought for civil rights. Sutro Heights is a sprawling garden on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with views of Ocean Beach, a 3.5-mile stretch of white sand, and the city’s Sunset District, along with remnants of Adolph Sutro’s former mansion residence.
Previously a national missile defence site, Fort Funston is now known for its bluffs, hang gliders and as a popular place to walk dogs.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, supporting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Spanning 82,000 acres, including Muir Woods, Ocean Beach, and Alcatraz Island, the Parks Conservancy works to preserve these parks, enhance visitor experiences, and foster a community dedicated to conservation.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of the largest national parks in an urban area, preserves and enhances the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources of the lands north and south of the Golden Gate for the education, enjoyment and inspiration of people today and in the future. It was established by Congress in 1972 as part of the Parks for the People movement. GGNRA spans three counties: Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. With more than 15m annual visitors, the park is a destination for the 7m people who call the Bay Area home.
