Hidden Treasures of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area | Trish Althaus, Travel Columnist 

October 2, 2022

Hidden Treasures of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

San Francisco is home to many iconic places from the Golden Gate Bridge to Twin Peaks. Some of the more popular spots are managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

People come from far and wide to visit historic spots like Fort Point, which the Army Corps of Engineers began building in 1853, the Presidio, which was built by Spain in 1776 and now houses open space, museums and local attractions, and Alcatraz, the famous penitentiary that was supposed to be escape proof. Golden Gate National Recreation Area is also home to many natural wonders such as Muir Woods National Monument, home to one of California’s majestic Coastal Redwood forests.

Some of the less visited sites in the National Golden Gate Recreation Area also provide breathtaking views and a glance at the rich history of the area. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area covers land in three California counties. GGNRA reaches as far north as Tomales Bay in Marin County and as far south as Phleger Estate in San Mateo County.  Phleger Estate is situated in the beautiful city of Woodside where travelers wanting to stay close by can book their vacation through Airbnb. 

If you want to avoid the crowds and see what the GGNRA has to offer try visiting one of the following places.

Sweeney Ridge and Mori Point

Sweeney Ridge

Atop the coastal range of mountains, south of San Francisco, is the Ohlone-Portola Heritage Site. This site commemorates the Indiginous people of the San Francisco Peninsula and the Spanish explorer, Juan Gaspar de Portola, who was the first European to see the San Francisco Bay.

For thousands of years before the Spanish explored northern California the Ramaytush people, one of the eight subgroups of the Ohlone, lived on this peninsula. The Ramaytush lived in small independent tribes, hunting, fishing and managing the land. (National Park Service) 

Today, in this part of the GGNRA you can hike on a 6.9 mile loop trail that will take you along Sweeney Ridge with breathtaking 360 degree views of the San Francisco Bay, Pacific Ocean and its Coast. The trail also travels to Mori Point, an ocean overlook where you can often see migrating whales. California Native wildflowers can be found year round, but the spring would be the best time if you want the most color. This hike is also a favorite for bird watching. There are a number of different access points to this trail in the cities of Pacifica and San Bruno. (All Trails)

The Sweeney Ridge and Mori Point Trail will not disappoint. It is only 20 miles south of the heart of San Francisco, but the wide open spaces and spectacular views will be a welcome change from the hussle and bussle of the city.

Mori Point

Bolinas Ridge Trail

View from Bolinas Ridge Trail

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area reaches north of the Golden Gate Bridge into beautiful Marin County. A scenic drive up historic Highway One will give you spectacular ocean views and lead you through a number of small Marin County towns including Stinson Beach and Olema. Not far from Point Reyes National Seashore is the trailhead to Bolinas Ridge Trail.

This 21.9 mile out and back trail follows the San Andreas Fault along the ridge of mountains that overlook Olema Valley. The west side of the trail sits on the Pacific Tectonic Plate and the east side sits on the Continental Plate. The trail includes open rolling ranges with unique views of the Pacific Ocean and Point Reyes National Seashore, along with wooded areas that include redwood forests and chapperals. (All Trails)

People enjoy mountain biking, hiking and running in this part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Remember your hat and sunscreen for protection in the open areas of this trail. About an hour from San Francisco, this part of the GGNRA will provide a full day of hiking or biking through many different ecosystems, each of them unique, each of them beautiful in their own way. 

Phleger Estate (see top phot0)

This hidden gem is located south of San Francisco in the southern peninsula hill country.  This land was once the home of the Lamchin, one of the Ohlone groups. The forest provided plenty of food and other necessary resources for a comfortable life. By the end of the 1700’s, most Lamchin people had been brought to Mission San Francisco de Asis by the Spanish. Later, when the mission land was secularized,  John Copinger was awarded this area as a land grant. As time went on this part of the peninsula was heavily logged. Lumber was transported to a port in what is today’s Redwood City and shipped to San Francisco to build homes to meet the demands of the ever growing population. (GGNRA – Phleger Estate)

Herman and Mary Elena Phleger purchased their estate in 1935. As lifelong conservationists the Phleger’s offered the land to the Peninsula Open Space Trust after the death of Herman Phleger. In 1995, their lovely estate became one of the newest members of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (GGNRA – Phleger Estate)

Today, you can hike through the serenity of old growth and second growth redwoods. The area includes 1,322 acres in Woodside, California, next to Huddart County Park. While hiking you will find streams containing steelhead trout and you might encounter deer enjoying the quiet of the park. The Raymundo Trail is a 6.3 mile loop trail that travels through redwood and hardwood forests. (All Trails) It is a wonderful place to hike on a hot day as the canopy of the trees keep the trail cool. The trails in Phleger Estate can be reached through Huddart County Park.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area provides many historic and natural wonders for all to enjoy. Some are iconic and known the world over, others are quiet spots with spectacular views and unique ecosystems, providing a respite from the busy world of the San Francisco Bay Area.