Natural History Wanderings

Golden Gate National Recreation area is a group of non-connected areas from northern San Mateo County to Southern Marin.  It includes Muir Woods, Marin Headlands, Olema Valley, Alcatraz Island, and many other areas.  Habitats include beaches, forests, scrub, dunes prairie/grasslands and wetlands/marshes.  There are many trails for hiking, botanizing, birding, photography and other natural features.  Here are some links to help you explore:

Golden Gate Nat. Rec. Area website:   http://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm

Wildflower sites:  http://www.nps.gov/goga/naturescience/wildflowers.htm
http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/sb-wildflowers.pdf

Golden Gate Raptor Observatory: http://www.ggro.org/

Marine Mammal Center: http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

Trail.com  complete trail list for Golden Gate Recreation Area:  http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=12426

Trails.com wildflower trails:

• Coastal – SCA – Bobcat Trails
• Coastal – Coyote Ridge – Green Gulch Trails
• Coastal – Wolf Ridge – Miwok Trails
• Hiking the Tiburon Peninsula
• Tennessee Valley Beach

Marin Headlands Trails: http://www.gatetrails.com/headlands.html