Kirby Cove

Mill Valley, California

4.7/5

based on 6 reviews

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Details

Distance

3.01 miles

Elevation Gain

774 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by John Smith

Kirby Cove and Kirby Beach are reached by easy hike with breathtaking views (about 2 miles roundtrip). This destination is close enough to the city of San Francisco, but feels like a world away. Great for sunrises and sunsets with the bridge as a great backdrop!

This scenic hike is a 2 mile out-and-back trail located near Sausalito, CA. From the trail and beach, you'll get scenic of the Golden Gate, San Francisco's skyline, and glimpses of the East Bay. The best news, there's rarely any crowd.

Consider packing a blanket and a small picnic. With panoramic views of the Golden Gate, it's hard to find a better spot to relax and take it all in.

Things to keep in mind:

The hike down is a little steep, so be prepared for a little more challenging hike back up from the beach. Also, this is a great spot to catch a sunrise or sunset, so plan accordingly if you can.

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Kirby Cove Reviews

Team

Brian Heifferon

Team

Kirby Cove

10/16/23

Really enjoyable little adventure. A relatively short hike down to the water where you’ll enjoy amazing views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. Great for families.

5.0

Michaela Velarde

Kirby Cove

05/28/23

Kind of chilly but awesome view

4.0

Zena Luu

Kirby Cove

01/18/23

It use to be a hidden gem but now it is a big tourist location, if you get a chance to camp at Kirk because I highly recommend it. Bring some hiking sticks if you have bad knees, I hiked here a couple of times, and the hiking stick really helped. Next time when I do come back, I think I want to come back here to see the sun rise.

5.0

Team

Tyler Drake

Team

Kirby Cove

07/26/20

This is also a great place to camp and is really easy to get to considering it's just across the Golden Gate!

4.0

Jennifer Nuñez

Kirby Cove

08/31/17

Not to long n greats views:)

5.0

Morgan Leone

Kirby Cove

11/28/16

I am a Bay Area native and frequent the city often. This gave a new perspective of the golden gate. It also shows an incredible view of the city!!

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Headlands Ride to Point Bonita Lighthouse

The Headlands are a quick ride over the Golden Gate. On the ride, you'll see wildflowers, rugged coastline, and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Once you cross the bridge, take Conzelman Rd up ~700 feet to Hawk Hill. From here, continue on to the lighthouse. On the return trip, head back on Conzelman until it meets up with Coastal Trail. Head northeast on Coastal Trail until it rejoins Conzelman Rd.

Vista Golden Gate

The headlands offer great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, particularly at Vista Golden Gate. You can make the Vista Viewpoint your starting off point to leave your car or if you're riding, just stop in and enjoy the view. This spot allows you to capture views of the Golden Gate as well as Angel Islands, and the East Bay. There are 4 designated viewpoints along Conzelman Rd on the way up to Haw...

Battery Spencer

This is a very popular spot to hike up to from Conzelman Road. You can find parking in the lot or on the street and do the quick hike up to Battery Spencer. You can get a perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge and SF from the Marin side of the Bay. This is a unique perspective as you also get the City in the background.

Camp at Kirby Cove

Yes, you can camp just over the Golden Gate! Kirby Cove Campground has 4 overnight campsites and 1 picnic area for day use. The campground is set near a coarse-sand beach and offers amazing views of the Golden Gate, as long as it’s not a super foggy SF day. From the parking lot, it's a steep ~1 mile hike down to the campground, but if you have a reservation, you can drive ~0.25-0.5 miles from t...

Ninja Loop

This loop can start from several different locations, including Rodeo Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge parking lot. Starting from the GGB will add 2 more miles onto this run. I like to start at the Coastal Trailhead parking lot off of McCullough and Conzelman Roads (just a notch down from Hawk Hill). From here Coastal gradually descends for about a mile, cross over the road at the bottom to ge...

Marin Headlands Trail Loop

This trail starts at the Julian Trail in Marin Headlands Park, where there's a small parking lot and outhouse bathroom off the circle when coming from Conzelman Road. Take the Julian Trail until you intersect with Bunker Road (you can even turn right and spit off the trail just before intersecting with Bunker Road, which you can see from the trail to cross at a different section of the road an...

Kirby Cove

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Kirby Cove Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Headlands Ride to Point Bonita Lighthouse

Vista Golden Gate

Battery Spencer

Camp at Kirby Cove

Ninja Loop

Marin Headlands Trail Loop

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