Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 21 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Golden Gate
We matched 21 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Golden Gate. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (6)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointNatural Arches (2)
Lakes (1)
Beaches (10)
Beach
Beach
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Sand Dunes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Golden Gate the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:15 PM | 244° | 9h 50m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 295° | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 301° | 14h 46m |
| July | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:33 PM | 298° | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 274° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:34 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:00 PM | 247° | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 241° | 9h 33m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.8598, -122.6007); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Golden Gate, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:59 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:08 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:29 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:22 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:18 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Winter is characterized by sporadic rain and cool weather punctuated by brilliant sunshine. In winter the grass greens. Trees and flowers dormant through winter start blooming in late February or early March and last until May or June. By July, summer fog predominates in most coastal areas of the park. Grasses and plants have now turned to the golden brown and muted grays characteristic of California summer and fall. September and October skies are clear and sunshine is abundant everywhere in the park.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Golden Gate National Recreation Area has many sites that span over 60 miles of mostly coastal areas north and south of San Francisco. Park areas can be reached by Highways 1, 101 and 280 from the north and south San Francisco Bay Area, and by Highway 80 from the East Bay. To access park headquarters at Fort Mason, please use the entrance at Franklin and Bay Streets in San Francisco.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Junior Ranger Program
- Surfing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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