Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Twenty years ago, the revitalization of Crissy Field reshaped San Francisco’s waterfront, turning a concrete US Army airfield into a sanctuary for calm, a place... for local wildlife, and a launching spot for fun. This morning, Parks Conservancy President & CEO Chris Lehnertz and Deputy Superintendent of the GGNRA Carey Feierabend were joined by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House @SpeakerPelosi, as well as local and state representatives, to celebrate 20 years of Crissy Field and 20 years of awesome. Mayor @LondonBreed proclaimed today Crissy Field Appreciation Day in San Francisco! None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and Colleen and Robert Haas, and the commitment of thousands of community volunteers and donors. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all year! Learn more about Crissy’s 20th and today’s event here: https://www.parksconservancy.org//san-francisco-nancy-pelo . . (s: Jed Jacobsohn / For the Parks Conservancy) . . . @GoldenGateNPS @PresidioSF #CrissyField #Crissy20 #20YearsofAwesome #CFC20 #ParksConservancy #GoldenGateBridge #presidio #presidiosf #presidiopark #nationalpark #nationalparks #nationalparkgeek #goparks #findyourpark #nationalparksusa #usnationalparks #nationalparklife See more

Battery Townsley provided valuable shelter from rainy conditions during #WWII. On one miserable day, an infantry battalion arrived to reinforce Rodeo Beach. As it began to pour, Battery E commander John Schonher invited them to bring in their gear and camp out for just a bit. The captain’s offer was heaven to the infantry, and they moved into the tunnel with gratitude. Later that evening, a sergeant saw the invited troops. He immediately went to the commander. Captain, h...e reported, you know there are several Japanese men in this company. John Schonher reported this to the harbor defense commander. A few minutes later, the General himself was on the line, saying to Schonher: These are soldiers of the U.S. Army. They’re treated like anybody else. Japanese-American soldiers served in the #MarinHeadlands during #WWII. As part of #AAPIHeritageMonth, we remember their service. Join us this month in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander history, culture, and accomplishments! Learn more here: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/aapiheritage/index.htm NPS #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Image description: Battery Townsley from a distance. Two green gun casemates protrude from the hillside.

Good news for the #MonarchButterfly! Working within the structure of One Tam Collaborative, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy received funding through the California Wildlife Conservation Board’s pollinator rescue program to invest in protection of monarch butterflies in Marin County. This decision comes at a critical moment for monarchs. Although fewer than 2,000 monarchs were counted in overwintering sites this winteran estimated 97% decline from their historic ...numbersthe U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has not yet made the decision to grant monarchs protected status on the endangered species list. Though the work to revive monarch populations is far from over, the grant awarded to the One Tam project represents a positive step, and is one part of a larger matrix of science-based conservation efforts working together to build capacity for stewardship and engagement across Marin County Read the full story to learn how One Tam partner staff will collaborate to improve monarch habitat in #Marin: https://www.nps.gov//funding-granted-for-much-needed-monar) foxgloved / Photo 112536374 / 02-2021 / iNaturalist.org / CC BY-NC [Image description]: Close-up photo of adult monarch butterfly in Marin. #EncuentraTuParque #FindYourPark #Conservation #EverySpeciesCounts

When we learned it was National Wildflower Week AND International Amphibian Week we couldn't help but think of these two species The Seep Monkey Flower (Erythranthe guttata) the Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)! Both species can be found in a range of habitats, but are strongly tied to wet environments like wetlands, streams, ponds, and seeps. Some Seep Monkey Flowers, like this one, can even grow in small bodies of water! The Pacific Tree Frogs, more likely to be c...limbing shrubs and grasses rather than trees, need water to breed and to develop as tadpoles. They come in a variety of colors depending on their surroundings. Although they come in different shades, they all share a black stripe running through each of their eyes. Photo credit: Gabriela Dunn NPS #AmphibianWeek #nationalwildflowerweek #RecreateResponsibly

Great blue herons are the largest heron in North America, and they have a penchant for showing up in unexpected areas throughout the #MarinHeadlands. They forage by standing very still in shallow water, waiting for a fish to swim near them, and then striking rapidly with their long beak. If you are interested in learning more about the birds of the Marin Headlands, print out the attached checklist and see how many different species you can spot. We share our park with a rich... biodiversity of wildlife, and we invite you to make your own connections with them and identify the value that conservation has in your personal life. Where have you seen great blue herons? https://www.nps.gov//nat/upload/chklist-birds-mahe-web.pdf #ConnectedConservation #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Lara Volski NPS Image Description: A great blue heron stands in a field of wildflowers. It has long legs, a curving neck, and a dagger-like bill. It has gray and blue coloring, and yellow eyes.

Restoration at Hawk Hill is underway! Thanks to generous support from our donors, Phase 2 of the Hawk Hill Visitor Improvement project has commenced! This phase of the project focuses on a new accessible Tunnel Loop Trail and will include new visitor amenities such as vault toilets, seating, bike racks, and trash cans. Access to some portions of the site will be restricted during construction, but access to the hilltop will be provided. To reach the top of Hawk Hill, hik...e up the road circled in red in the included photo! Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/nature/hawk-hill.htm #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #NationalHistoricPreservationMonth

What is something that you have that reminds you of the past? As Park Rangers we wear many different hats. The hat pictured above is a felt winter hat and behind it is another hat in green color. The green hat is an Army issued hat that would have belonged to segregated black unit, the Buffalo Soldiers. They are the first Park Rangers. If you want to see more hats that people would have used at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, click on the link below. ... https://go.nps.gov/9czkb1 #ArchivesTipOfTheHat #NPS #FindYourPark #BuffaloSoldiers Photo: Erick NPS

Today we acknowledge #NationalVietnamWarVeteransDay and show our appreciation for our volunteers who served in Vietnam. We are proud of their service, and their continued work to steward public lands. Thank you, volunteers! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #VolunteersInParks

Have you seen a coyote with a collar and colored ear tags lately? Be a citizen scientist and help with our Marin Coyote Study by sharing your observations of coyotes (including roadkill) in the park. Pictured below is the coyote "Orange/Orange" based on its two orange ear tags. If you see a coyote in the park :... 1. Maintain a generous distance (75 feet) to keep yourself and coyote safe. . 2. Without approaching, take a photo and do your best to remember general location and the color of ear tags. Right now, there are 4 coyotes with either red, orange, black, or green ear tags. Using binoculars or a zoomed in lens are great ways to capture photos of wildlife from a safe distance! . 3. Haze the coyote after your observation is made. You can haze by clapping, making loud noises, or throwing rocks to scare and not harm. It may feel mean to yell or clap at a coyote, but it is a way of showing you care for them. When coyotes are fed by park visitors or regularly approached for photos they lose some of their natural fear of humans this leads to an unnatural dependence on humans for food and a higher chance of to getting hit by cars, the #1 threat for urban coyotes. Sadly, 3 of the 7 collared coyotes have died due to being hit by cars. Consistent hazing helps to reshape the coyote’s behavior to avoid human contact and thrive in their natural environment. We have a team of biologists working hard to get signs up, educate the public, and monitor the local population, but we certainly need support from you all with hazing efforts! . 4. Upload the photo to the iNaturalist : https://www.inaturalist.org/proje/tracking-coyotes-in-marin Or email [email protected] if you don't have an iNaturalist account. In fall 2020, National Park Service wildlife biologists put tracking collars and colored ear tags (used to help identify) on 7 coyotes to learn about the population size and movements of coyotes in the Marin Headlands. Tracking coyotes will help build a stronger understanding of how they are using park lands and responding to human behavior. Part of our research involves collecting small samples for DNA to gain information about population, diet, and genetics. It will inform community outreach and management actions that protect visitor and coyote safety. Coyotes are a valuable part of the ecosystem, keeping racoons, rats, gophers, and other small animal populations in balance. Preventing coyote habituation to humans protects people, pets, coyotes, and the local ecosystem! Read more about the project here: https://www.nps.gov/art/coyote-tracking-marin-headlands.htm

CLONES... at Muir Woods! Watch Muir Woods National Monument News Show: What’s the Word in the Woods to learn about redwood reproduction.

We’re continuing our celebration of #KeepAmericaBeautiful month by highlighting Ranger Julia, who helps keep our park beautiful through her dedication to stewardship and maintenance! Click through the photos to learn more about what makes #GGNRA beautiful to her as well as career advice she has for aspiring rangers! What are some beautiful places in parks you've visited? #GetInvolved #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque

It’s #RespectYourCatDay, so let’s give some love to Golden Gate’s cats! Both bobcats and mountain lions share our park with us. How can you tell the species apart? Bobcats and mountain lions differ in both size and coloring. While mountain lions can grow to 175 lbs, bobcats weigh between 15 and 35 lbs. Bobcats are usually spotted, whereas mountain lions are uniform in color. Mountain lion kits can be spotted, however, so that is when tail length comes in handy. Bobcats have ...a short, bobbed tail whereas mountain lions have a long tail that can grow to three feet long. Have you ever seen a bobcat or mountain lion while hiking in #GGNRA? Perhaps you’ve seen their tracks on the trails? Let us know in the comments below, and we can work together to learn more about these fascinating felines! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #ParkPumas

Not only is February 1st the first day of #BlackHistoryMonth, it is also the day the 13th amendment was signed in 1865, outlawing slavery. Freedom Day was the dream of Richard Robert Wright, a leader in African American higher education, an accomplished banker, and a Major in the Spanish American War, who was also born a slave. In his 80’s, he started lobbying for a day for all Americans to celebrate freedom. In 1948, one year after his death, that dream became reality when F...reedom Day became federally recognized. Today is a day to celebrate the freedoms we have. One important freedom we appreciate today is access to #NationalParks. The #GGNRA is a place where you are free to enjoy scenic views, find solitude in nature, and connect to the rich history these lands hold. What freedoms are you thankful for? #FreedomDay #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Cordelia Vargas Video description: American flag blows in the wind atop the pole outside the Marin Headlands Visitor Center. It is sunny, and also raining. There are grey clouds overhead, but clear skies in the distance. Audio: There is the sound of a strong wind, light rainfall, and the occasional chirping of a bird.

Here at #GoldenGate, we are starting the year strong by creating and sustaining a partnership with the One Tamalpais State Park high-school leadership program, Rising Environmental Youth Leaders. Our Education Team and One Tam mentors joined forces to elevate student voices on topics such as community building, social justice, fire ecology and climate change. Our goal is to work together to address environmental problems, but also support student learning. To create cohesio...n between the two parks, our Education Team has been highly involved in the planning and implementation of projects and activities for the youth group. To learning more about Rising Environmental Youth Leaders, check out their website at: https://www.onetam.org/our-work/youth-programs Share in the comments below -- how are you kicking-starting the New Year? #PlotYourPath #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque Socorro Cardoso NPS Image Description: Photo of Rising Environmental Youth Leaders group, mentors, and park rangers. Some of the members are holding up plants, money, and pets. In the center there is a red microphone speaker and words that read GGNRA Park Partners Shout Out.

If you go walking in many Bay Area parks this winter, you may encounter a special sight: thousands of red ladybugs with black spots, congregating in tight clusters amidst fallen leaf litter near streams. These are convergent ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens), one of the Bay Area's most common native ladybug species. They are currently overwintering in "aggregates" of up to hundreds of thousands, and you may spot them in woodland areas like those found at Muir Woods Nationa...l Monument. Moving slowly and rarely eating, the insects will pass the winter in a state of mild hibernation until temperatures rise in late winter or early spring. Though scientists don't know all the details about why ladybugs do this, some benefits are clear: clustering ladybugs keep each other warm throughout the coldest months, and when spring arrives, there's a bounty of potential mates close by to choose from Once they've mated, ladybugs will disperse to lowland habitats along the coast or Central Valley to give birth, die, and begin the annual ladybug lifecycle anew Unfortunately, introduced ladybug species, like the seven-spotted and multicolored Asian ladybugs, have begun to displace native ladybugs in California. You can help scientists research this pattern by submitting your photos and observations of ladybugs to lostladybug.org or uploading them to iNaturalist Happy ladybug spotting! NPS / Kirke Wrench #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #OptOutside #WildlifeWednesday

Calling all Kirby Cove, Bicentennial, Haypress, and Hawk campers! Do you have a story to share? Maybe the whale you saw under the Golden Gate Bridge from Kirby Cove Campground? Maybe the steep climb you endured to reach the view from Hawk Campground? Whatever it is, we want to hear it! Submit your story to recreation.gov by April 30th for the chance to win prizes. And tell us if you do, because your story is sure to put a smile on a ranger’s face! Follow this link to lear...n more: https://www.recreation.gov/shareyourstory #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #WritingContest #PlotYourPath

#NationalComplimentDay I can live for two months on a good compliment. -Mark Twain How did you explore Fort Point? ... A good portion of visitors never intend to stumble upon the Fort but when they do and go inside and are amazed that this small space exists, it is the greatest compliment one can give. The Fort was initially built at the ideal location to protect the Bay, meaning the having the bridge built above makes it hard to see us. That is why when we see visitors discovering it for the first time, it is always a special feeling. So today on National Compliment Day, we wanted to thank those accidental adventurers as well as our seasoned explorers for visiting us! Without you, we would not be able to share the history and untold stories that dwell within each layer of brick. Photo Credit: Xotchitl NPS

Knowledge is Power We hear this phrase all the time, but this past year reminded us how education can empower learners of all ages. Today is the International Day of Education, when we celebrate the role of education in our lives despite the current challenges we face. COVID-19 challenged us to work together to reimagine and revitalize the way we reach youths. We moved from in-person to online programs, and our goal is to continue to provide equitable, inclusive, and safe ...opportunities that connect students to their local cultural and natural resources. As the new year begins, we are determined to continue our initiatives to bring the Golden Gate NRA into students' homes. How have you taken initiative to revitalize your learning? To learn more about our virtual programs, follow this link: https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/education/index.htm #InternationalDayofEducation #ParksAsClassrooms #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque

Here they come! Streams of pelicans soaring along the coast add to the amazing sunset views at #LandsEnd. At dusk, brown pelicans can often be seen traveling in large groups in search of overnight refuge from the elements and predators. Forewarning though, when viewing this close there may be a chance of showers! #RecreateResponsibly #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque

Are you passionate about public service, stewardship, and making a difference? Join Golden Gate to help preserve and protect the park by engaging the public in volunteerism for a 1 year internship! We are now accepting applications for our Community Volunteer Ambassador! The internship will be hosted through our youth partner conservationlegacy in their Individual Placements: Stewards Program. The intern will be working cooperatively with the Maintenance and Natural Resources... Division at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to engage local communities to help protect and preserve our parks for all, forever. By focusing at the local level and offering a variety of opportunities to become involved, we strive to maintain the park’s cultural and natural resources for current and future public enjoyment. Some of our volunteer service opportunities include beach clean-ups, landscaping, painting, monitoring and mapping of rare and invasive plants or animals, non-native plant removal, citizen science projects, and graffiti abatement. Applications will close on November 20, 2020 please apply using this link: https://form.jotform.com/Stewa/cva-application-February2021 GGNPC/NPS Staff #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque

November is Native American Heritage Month. We begin with a land acknowledgement. Why do we do land acknowledgments? Our mission as the National Park Service is to protect, preserve, and share the stories of our national parks. An important part of sharing those stories is acknowledging that we occupy stolen land. A land acknowledgment is an opportunity for self-reflection, learning, and recognition. It is a starting point in building authentic relationships and support for ...indigenous communities. In the northern regions, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area spans across the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok, some of whom identify today as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. In the south, the land is of the Ramaytush Ohlone. We thank the original stewards of this land, and their undeniable role in shaping these places we love. We honor the connection of this and future generations to this land. NPS Image Description: Map of Ohlone villages and tribes, as well as the Missions that were erected during Spanish Period Colonization, and the cities we know today. Coast Miwok people were north of the Golden Gate Bridge. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #AcknowledgeNativeLand #IndigenousHeritage

Happy #DiaDeLosMuertos Dia de los Muertos, or #DayoftheDead, is when people can remember and celebrate their loved ones who have passed. Where you set up an altar with ofrendas, or offerings to give to spirits of your loved ones. This past weekend, Rangers Xotchitl and Erick set up an altar that honors and remembers people within #GoldenGateNationalRecreationArea history who's story has inspired us. ... Who is someone that inspires you? 1st Erick NPS ( Day of the Dead altar) 2nd Erick NPS ( Rangers Erick and Xotchitl standing next to an altar)

Daylights saving has come and gone. The daylight get shorter as we approach winter. The Rangers at Muir Woods will no longer see the beautiful sunrise coming i...nto work, but will now see sunsets as they leave. Have you taken any good photos of the sunrise or sunset on your way to visit Muir Woods? Share them with us in the comments, and use the hashtag #MuWoYes to let us reshare them! Image Credit: NPS Image Description: Sunrise over the San Francisco Bay. #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Sunrise #MUWOYes

Hey campers! It’s that time of the year again -- when Kirby Cove Campground, Hawk Campground, and Haypress Campground close for the season. Although campsites won't reopen until next year, you can still hike to and visit the campgrounds. Bicentennial Campground is open year-round, and you can still camp there through the winter months!... Check out our camping page for details. #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Camping

VIP (Volunteers-in-Parks) Supervisor Spotlight Katlyn Grubb first started at the National Park Service as an interpretive intern at Yosemite in 2005. From there she landed a seasonal job as an interpretation ranger at Crater Lake. At Crater Lake, Katlyn would frequently participate in emergency response, always going above and beyond to respond to EMS calls and Search and Research missions. Fast forward to 2017, her commitment to the National Park Service’s mission and ex...cellence in service has landed her in the role of Horse Mounted Patrol Program Manager. The Volunteer Horse Mounted Patrol acts as a public interface in areas Law Enforcement and Interpretive Rangers can’t always be. When on patrol the volunteers become a roving visitor center. In 2019 the volunteers made over 12,220 contacts with park visitors. The Volunteer Horse Mounted Patrol acts as the eyes and ears for the Visitor and Resource Protection Division. Volunteers assist park visitors by explaining park rules, offer medical aid and have assisted with Search & Rescue. Volunteers with the Horse Mounted Patrol are proud ambassadors of the National Park Service. Katlyn's love for her work with volunteers stems from her belief in service and passion: I love to see the passion and devotion the Volunteers with Horse Mounted Patrol have for the National Park Service. We have a core group of approximately 26 volunteers; 12 of which have been volunteering with the program 10 years or more. The program requires weekly volunteering from each individual. Last year the program donated over 3,800 hours of volunteer service to the Golden Gate NRA, not a small feat! It’s a dedication I admire them for. Thank you to Kat and her dedicated Corp of volunteers who are currently working to carry out essential needs of the park. We are so grateful for you! #CheersToVolunteers #VIP50 #GGNRA

California doesn’t have seasons! Says who? While other parks don their #FallColors, the #MarinHeadlands features different manifestations of autumn. Understanding these seasonal changes can help us form lasting connections with the ecosystems we inhabit, and prime us to better track large scale shifts in climate, plant, and animal patterns. From migrating raptors, to California red-legged frogs sporting their festive colors, to changing fog patterns, there are plenty of ways to cozy on up to autumn in the Headlands, even without typical fall foliage. Click on the photos to learn more. #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #CaliforniaSeasons

Lunchtime with Lawrencium Check out Alcatraz Island's post on this recent sighting!

It's our birthday! On October 27, 1972, we became officially known as Golden Gate National Recreation. But these past 48 years are just a piece of the story of this land. Billion year old sandstone, basalt and radiolarian chert became unearthed due to tectonic shifts to form the San Francisco Bay. Thousands of years of Coast Miwok, Yelamu and Ohlone people living amongst its over 19 distinct ecosystems and 3,000+ plant and animal species. A couple centuries of colonialism, gold-rushin', agriculture, a major city, military expansion, and 1 Golden Gate Bridge later... and here we are! So today of all days we want to remind you that this is YOUR park. Your special place. Share your stories, memories, photos, experiences with us below! #GOGA48

As a result of an upcoming PG&E public safety power shutoff (PSPS) event, Muir Woods National Monument will be CLOSED on Monday, October 26. Please visit our website for more information and further updates: https://nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

It's #BatWeek! Imagine how different spooky October celebrations would be without bats! Well, turns out a lot of other things would be pretty different without them too... All 13 bat species in the San Francisco Bay Area are insectivores, meaning they eat insects Scientists estimate that bats save farmers billions of dollars on pest control every year! In other parts of the world, bats pollinate plants and disperse seeds Bats are a diverse bunch that come in all shap...es and sizes. The smallest bat is the size of a bumble bee, and the largest bat is a fruit bat that can have a 5-6 ft wingspan! Want to learn more about these unique animals and how park biologists study them? You're in luck! We're kicking off our celebration of #BatWeek at Golden Gate by sharing this awesome video created for the San Francisco Public Library by one of our wildlife technicians with the Marin Bat Monitoring Project, Katie Smith! Video description: "All About Bats with Katie Smith from Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy." Katie walks us through her work as a wildlife technician with the parks, debunks some common myths about bats, and tells us about how and why the parks are studying these unique animals.

What’s in a name? You walk the trails and visit the beaches of the #MarinHeadlands, but you may not know the meaning behind their names. For example, the Marincello Trail inherited its name from its former title of Marincello Boulevard. It was going to be the main entry into a huge planned housing development that would have occupied the majority of the Headlands called Marincello. Although the city was never built, Marincello Trail serves as a reminder of what might have bee...n. Or take #TennesseeBeach, depicted in this serene video of an egret gazing out onto the waves. It is named after the S.S. Tennessee, a ship that sank just off of the beach in 1853. This incident prompted the U.S. Congress to fund a lighthouse we now call the #PointBonitaLighthouse. During low tide, you can still see the remnants of the ship! How did you get your name? #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque

For #NationalColorDay, we have more #MarinHeadlands coloring pages! How do you feel when you color? How can you bring more color into your life? Please share your creations with us! Image descriptions: Sketches depict the #PointBonitaLighthouse with a beam of light, the military buildings of #BatteryYates, and a red-legged frog sitting on foliage. Emilene Castillo NPS... #ParksForArt #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque See more