timmyp_nwpa
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Re:Golden Gate National Recreation Area - 2007/03/24 13:15
The Golden Gate Nat'l Rec Area is absolutely incredible. For such an inspiring and scenic landscape to exist in such close proximity to a major metropolitan center is a tribute to the conservation efforts of Californians and Americans of generations past. (Not to mention the commendable conservation efforts that occur there daily as a result of the Conservancy's efforts!)
I had the good fortune to be in San Francisco for my (final) Spring Break, just this past March. The weather was perfect, as the poster of this forum suggested, and the wildflowers were great foreground details to the incredible panoramic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco peninsula, the Pacific Ocean and those captivating rolling green Northern California hills.
While we didn't get the chance to hike into the interior, my two friends and I did accomplish quite a bit for being equipped only with laughable beach-cruiser rental bikes. (The 1000+ vertical feet of the Marin Headlands rise sharply out of the Bay - and punish those who attempt to ascend them with inappropriate bicycles.)
We pedaled up to the summit of aptly-named Hawk Hill, and sat still on the back side of the Headlands looking out over the first valley and the Rodeo Lagoon and Beach. It was so peaceful - you could easily forget one of the world's greatest urban centers was just a few short miles behind you. The abundant raptors would fly so closely overhead as they crested the ridge and zoomed into the valley below that we could hear their feathers slicing through the air.
The descent from Hawk Hill down to Rodeo Beach and ultimately down to Sausalito - an incredible place to end a day of exploring with a laid-back meal at Caffe Trieste - was otherwordly. At first the paved track was so steep I thought I might fall over my handlebars and into the ocean below, but soon it was a mindless, winding cruise through idyllic landscapes. The views provide permanent memories, and the physical sensation is almost that of flight.
If you ever find yourself in San Francisco, save no less than half a day to pedal (or drive...) across the Golden Gate Bridge and up the Marin Headlands to one of America's best urban fringe public open spaces. What an incredibly special place this is...
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