Golden Gate National Recreation Area (www.nps.gov/goga/) is a U.S. National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco Bay area. It is one of the most visited units of the National Park system in the United States, with over 13 million visitors a year. It is also one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a size two-and-a-half times that of the consolidated city and county of San Francisco. The park is not one continuous locale, but rather a collection of areas that stretch from northern San Mateo County to southern Marin County, and includes several areas of San Francisco. The park is as diverse as it is expansive; it contains famous tourist attractions such as Muir Woods National Monument, Alcatraz, and the Presidio of San Francisco. The GGNRA is also home to 1,273 plant and animal species, encompasses 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline and has military fortifications that span centuries of California history, from the Spanish conquistadors to Cold War-era Nike missile sites. The following are Marin County beaches in the Golden Gate Recreation Area:

Bolinas is a local secret and often hard to find as the residents like to take down the road signs, but it is just a few miles north of Stinson on down Highway 1. The beach is protected by a sand bar that makes the water calm and it’s great for kayaking and surfing. Fishing, camping and campfires are allowed on the beach, as are dogs. On a clear day there are fantastic views of Twin Peaks in San Francisco.

Bonita Cove is small and windswept, but has great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The beach located off the Marin Headlands and is very rocky with dramatic, pounding surf at most times. The beach disappears at high tide.

Cronkite Beach is a small, thousand-yard crescent-shaped beach at the end of Rodeo Canyon on the Cronkite Army base and is known as THE surfing beach. Because of all the variables of tide, swell, wind and bottom contour, Cronkite changes from day to day and even the most experienced local can rarely predict what the surf will be like until he gets there. All of the surfing takes place in the north half of the beach, which picks up just about anything pulsing in from the south, north or west. In summer, Cronkite is a south-swell magnet. The very north end of the beach magnifies whatever energy is out there, and it can be one of the few places to surf on the coast during the doldrums.

Kirby Cove is also located off the Marin Headlands with great Golden Gate Bridge views. The pebbly beach is a quarter-mile long and has a tunnel that can be explored at low tide. There is a day use site and picnic area.

Muir Beach is a crescent-shaped cove that has a sandy beach with lots of privacy. It’s strikingly beautiful with a creek and nearby dense woods providing opportunities to view wildlife: Monarch butterflies in the pine trees, salmon in Redwood Creek, and frogs in the marsh, fox, birds, deer, and coyote on the hills. Horses and dogs are allowed on the beach and some trails. The beach isn’t vast and well-tended ocean-view homes flank one side while trails climb up along the bluffs. The calm waves are great for beginning boogie boarders and swimmers. The park has picnic tables, a pay phone in parking lot, and toilets at the main beach. Just up the road the Muir Beach Overlook provides a dramatic view of the California coastline. Go north just six miles to find the “town” of Muir Beach and the Pelican Inn, a Tudor-style lodge and pub/restaurant that often has live music.

Red Rock Beach is protected from the wind and good for sunbathing and Frisbee playing. There is a cave area that has a hot spring that is accessible after a full moon and the tide remains low on the following day. This is not a beach for swimming, but is a very popular beach for those that prefer clothing optional.

Rodeo Beach is a large, picturesque beach and the easiest ocean beach to reach in Marin. The beach is located at the westernmost edge of the Marin Headlands and provides sunning, walking, surfboarding, semi-precious stones, dog walking, restrooms, and a picnic area. The historic buildings of Fort Cronkite at Rodeo Beach are representative of the mobilization posts constructed by the Army during the 1940s. These buildings now house National Park Service offices.

Stinson Beach is the quintessential beach for visitors year-round: white sandy beaches, crashing waves, and picnicking sites. Stinson Beach is a treasure tucked between coastal bluffs and on a clear day it is not uncommon for 15,000 beachgoers to descend on the town of 1,000. Lifeguards are on duty late-may through mid-September. Swimming is not advised at other times of the year. Dogs are not permitted on the National Park Service section of the beach. Shark sightings are not uncommon; swimmers and surfers have been attacked. The beach will be closed to all water activities for five days after a confirmed shark sighting. Stinson Beach is open to the public all year. The main entrance gate opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at about sunset. All the parking is near the southern end of the strand, which is owned by the federal government. North of that, the County of Marin owns a stretch of it (technically called Upton's Beach) and dogs are allowed there. Beyond that, to the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon, the beach is owned by the residents of the Seadrift subdivision. A magnificent ridge rises above Stinson and the Matt Davis Trail can be picked up near the community center and up the ridge. South of town along Highway 1 lies the bottom end of the two-plus-mile-long Steep Ravine Trail. Those wanting to tackle the trail from the other direction can start the descent from the Pantoll Ranger Station (altitude around 1,500 feet) on Panoramic Highway, which leaves Highway 1 in Stinson and scales the shoulder of Mount Tamalpais. The town has several restaurants and hotels, a couple of art galleries and shops, and a summer Shakespeare festival.

Tennessee Cove is a pebble beach surrounded by towering cliffs. During low tide, you might be able to get around the southern end to reach another small, sandy beach with interesting rock formations. The 1.8 mile hike to Tennessee Cove begins in Mill Valley and is the most popular beach hike in Marin. At low tide you can view the anchor and part of the engine of the steamship Tennessee that ran aground in 1853. During low tide, you might be able to get around the southern end to reach another small, sandy beach with interesting rock formations. The beach is popular but not for swimming or surfing.

Steep Ravine Beach has a couple of hot springs that are active sometimes, one is in the ocean. This rocky beach (no sand) is only usable during a very low tide.

Marin County Beaches are managed by the Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space (www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/pos/parks.cfm). This agency operates and maintains more than 50 separate Parks and Open Space District Preserves. Marin County residents value their open space and parks. The Department is proud to state: “Our treasury of public lands defines our communities, safeguards our air and water, preserves habitat for wildlife, and provides beautiful places where we can enjoy nature close to home. As a community we can be proud of our accomplishments. Over the past 35 years Marin's parks and open space area has grown to 16,000 acres. Our recreational lands, scenic vistas, hiking and riding trails, and nature preserves offer places where we can play, learn, connect, and thrive.” The following are beaches in the park system of Marin County:

Agate Beach is located off Elm Road in Bolinas. This 6.6-acre park provides access to almost two miles of beach at low tide. Together with the adjacent Duxbury Reef, the beach is a rewarding opportunity to explore tidal pools filled with marine life. Collecting is not permitted but the beach is located near a Marine Sanctuary where specimens can be viewed.

Mcnears Beach Park is located along the shore of the San Pablo Bay in San Rafael. The 55-acre park has a lot to offer: a seasonal swimming pool, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe courts, a 500-foot fishing pier, and a semi-private area with palm trees. The picnic areas include 21 tables and 12 BBQs. The beach is wide and sandy and often sunny.