I have walked part way across the Bridge twice and it's pretty cool. We drove across to the Vista Point and walked back over the Bridge to the first tower. Pretty long walk I would say to walk the whole Bridge would take at least 30-40 minutes. each way. The view from the Bay side is great. Not sure how to get to the Ocean side never tried as there is not much to see on that side. If you are going to SF make sure you go to Alcatraz it's a great tour. If you are touring around and you get out to San Jose go to the Winchester House it's a good tour also. http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/
Brandon Katcher
· 1 year ago
The best view of the bridge is from the headlands on the Marin side. Once you walk over to that side, there is a little walkway that goes under the bridge. Take that, then walk up the hill. In about 5 minutes you will come to a bunch of old WWII bunkers. If you walk to the end of these, there is an awesome view. I would also suggest walking down to beach accessed from these bunkers. (West end of parking lot)
edrabbit
· 1 year ago
My Bridge recommendations
awv
· 1 year ago
My first video comment! Cheers for posting it.
Patrick Crispen
· 1 year ago
Vista Point is great, but walk up the [big] hill to the west and you'll get some even more spectacular views. The old encampment that Brandon mentioned offers some great views [see http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4... for a HUGE image] but the view from Hawk Hill is even more spectacular [see http://tinyurl.com/hawkhill ].
if you can rent a bike it's a lot quicker, but entails climbing some hill on the marin headlands, but that can lead to more views and fun. the bridge is about a mile and the climb up the road to the top where all the missile silos are is about an extra two miles as well. google maps can give you more precise distances, so i don't bother. the view from the marin headlands is pretty dang worth it provided there's not too much fog. another great place to hike up is mount tamalpais. again, if it's clear out, the view is awesome. the bay bridge is okay in comparison to the ggb. i'm positive you cannot walk or bike it until the east span is done sometime in our children's lifetimes. enjoy.
Jonathon R
· 1 year ago
The first and last time I was at the bridge, some one jumped...
A little grim.
joelle
· 1 year ago
I agree that the Marin side vista point is worth the walk. There is some parking by the bunkers and even more at the base of the hill. This point pretty much places you right over the first section of the bridge into SF, and you can view the entire city, Marin, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and much more from here. The Bay Bridge isn't nearly as pretty, but the construction of the new bridge may be photo worthy. I haven't been to Treasure Island recently (the land portion of the bridge), but I think you can view the new construction and you can also have a close view of the SF skyline. Just getting on and off of Treasure Island is an adventure in itself, because the highway entrances and exits are practically hairpin turns and 0 to 60 drag races, respectively.
I also suggest eating at the seafood market at Fisherman's Wharf. It'll always be crowded with tourists but the food is good, well priced, you don't have to deal with a waiter, and you can eat outside where ever you want. I like to make a right when leaving the market to eat on the old benches by the marina, and if you go on a weekend (or another heavy tourist day) you can watch all the begging entertainment. For instance, there is a man who hides behind a self constructed bush to scare people walking by right by those benches. They of course want money if you take pictures though.
I hope this helps!
Robin Capper
· 1 year ago
If you can rent a bike, nice ride along the waterfront to the bridge, over then catch a ferry back to the city (Sausalito or Tiburon) if you want. Done it a couple of times & loved it.
The view from Marin Headland is worth the trek up but I'd rather bike it than walk
love your site, been reading it for sometime now. i live in the san francisco bay area since i was a kid, and you know i've never walked across the bridge before.?
anyways, theres a road next to the bridge on the marin side called conzelman road that leads up into the hills next to bridge. is got the best views of the bridge and san francisco from the top of this road. you can google it here.
When I pick up the hire car to go to Monterey, I was thinking of driving up that road to check out the view. Hopefully the weather will be in my favour.
LVN
· 1 year ago
not sure when you are going....
but as long as its not raining its gonna be beautiful man any part of the day...
you get that nice fog that rolls over the city like a blanket, in the early mornings and late afternoons?
still nice...
for the most part this really is the sunshine state, odds are good that the weather will be in your favor...
also, when you get a chance go into sausalito for a few drinks or a nice lunch..
also a great view from san francisco citys side is crissy fields in the marina district...
if our into the art scene, inside fort mason (formerly a foot most of it converted into a kind of art community)..lots of great local artist galleries and in your into theater some interesting small venue plays and such...its not bad either ...worth and evening out if you cant figure out what to do....
hope have a great trip man...
LVN
--- Disqus <>
LVN
· 1 year ago
hey dude...
if you want, I can drive you around town..I live an hour a way but i can take day off to show you around if you want...its boring here in san jose anyways...
let me know....
though only issue is i will be in asia from october 8th through the 22nd...
Thanks for the offer but I'm there between the 7th and the 16th!
LVN
· 1 year ago
Oh man that sucks.
Hey you know you might want to consider renting a car.
It's more convenient I think, just an idea man.
Hey have a great time....take care man.
( by the thanks for a great website. I check it I almost daily)
Sent from iPhone mobile device.
Long V Nguyen
This message is intended only for the named recipient(s) above and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to received for the addressee), you may not use, copy, or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained within. If you have received this message in error, please return it to sender by reply email. Thank you.
adam
· 1 year ago
Dont get the seafood at fishermans warf. Swans Seafood Depot on Polk and Pine is much better and a bit more authentic. Be prepared to wait though. I ride a bike across the bridge about 2-3 times a week and into the dirt trails and fire roads on my cross bike. Once you cross the bridge, get to the western side of the free way and go up into the headlands. as another poster mentioned there is a bunch of bunkers about 5 minutes up. Pretty cool. A better view, however, is about 5 minutes further up that road (conzelman) there is a nother vantage point thats even better. (you will see cars parked there, hard to miss) in between those to points theres a dirt trail that goes down into the headlands that has some nice vistas as well.
adam
· 1 year ago
if youre into local art, fecalface.com is your spot. fort mason is pretty bland.
Stephanie
· 1 year ago
Who's in for taking Rob out for beers one night!? It's only fitting!
Chris
· 1 year ago
As another Welshman (Jack) living in San Fran, If he brings Brains - excellent idea. I think you have previously asked that question Stephanie back in April
What is your favourite micro brewery? Mine is the Park Chalet o Ocean Beach
I am also a photographer and trying to find the best spot for fleet week, but am running a conference at UCSF on Sat Morning, so will probably go for the Sun show
awv
· 1 year ago
I am bringing Brains but can only carry so many.
If you hear of any good spots for Fleet Week let me know.
All Comments
One word of warning, though: Hawk Hill is a serious HIKE [see http://tinyurl.com/hawkhill2 ]
A little grim.
I also suggest eating at the seafood market at Fisherman's Wharf. It'll always be crowded with tourists but the food is good, well priced, you don't have to deal with a waiter, and you can eat outside where ever you want. I like to make a right when leaving the market to eat on the old benches by the marina, and if you go on a weekend (or another heavy tourist day) you can watch all the begging entertainment. For instance, there is a man who hides behind a self constructed bush to scare people walking by right by those benches. They of course want money if you take pictures though.
I hope this helps!
The view from Marin Headland is worth the trek up but I'd rather bike it than walk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinzblog/tags/bi...
anyways, theres a road next to the bridge on the marin side called conzelman road that leads up into the hills next to bridge. is got the best views of the bridge and san francisco from the top of this road. you can google it here.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.829785,-1...
Also Another great view if you want to get an idea of how TALL the bridge is, goto fort point which is an old civil war fort underneath the bridge.
more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Point,_San_Fr...
good luck. great site by the way, thanks man.
but as long as its not raining its gonna be beautiful
man any part of the day...
you get that nice fog that rolls over the city like a
blanket, in the early mornings and late afternoons?
still nice...
for the most part this really is the sunshine state,
odds are good that the weather will be in your
favor...
also, when you get a chance go into sausalito for a
few drinks or a nice lunch..
http://www.sausalito.org/visit.cfm
also a great view from san francisco citys side is
crissy fields in the marina district...
if our into the art scene, inside fort mason (formerly
a foot most of it converted into a kind of art
community)..lots of great local artist galleries and
in your into theater some interesting small venue
plays and such...its not bad either ...worth and
evening out if you cant figure out what to do....
hope have a great trip man...
LVN
--- Disqus <>
if you want, I can drive you around town..I live an
hour a way but i can take day off to show you around
if you want...its boring here in san jose anyways...
let me know....
though only issue is i will be in asia from october
8th through the 22nd...
LVN
--- Long Van Nguyen <financialcontroller@yahoo.com>
Hey you know you might want to consider renting a car.
It's more convenient I think, just an idea man.
Hey have a great time....take care man.
( by the thanks for a great website. I check it I almost daily)
Sent from iPhone mobile device.
Long V Nguyen
This message is intended only for the named recipient(s) above and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to received for the addressee), you may not use, copy, or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained within. If you have received this message in error, please return it to sender by reply email. Thank you.
I think you have previously asked that question Stephanie back in April
What is your favourite micro brewery? Mine is the Park Chalet o Ocean Beach
I am also a photographer and trying to find the best spot for fleet week, but am running a conference at UCSF on Sat Morning, so will probably go for the Sun show
If you hear of any good spots for Fleet Week let me know.