These guides are created as part of the Open Source Photographic Guide Project.
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks. Built in 1937, the 8,981 foot-long suspension bridge connects Marin County on the north with San Francisco on the south. There are numerous photo locations at both the north and south ends of the bridge. Each day thousands of visitors also walk across the bridge.
In 2007, it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
Contrary to popular myth, the bridge is painted red, not gold. The name refers to the bridge’s location, not its color. The span between Marin County and San Francisco was known as the “Golden Gate” because it was the gateway to the California goldfields in the mid-nineteenth century.
There are four primary regions where you can photograph the Golden Gate Bridge: from San Francisco, from Marin County, while walking across the bridge, and while riding a ferry boat below the bridge. I’ll describe each of these four regions separately.
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| Satellite view of the Golden Gate Bridge |
There are three traditional locations to photograph the bridge from the San Francisco (south) side: Baker Beach, Fort Point, and the area around Torpedo Wharf. I will also describe a fourth, less-known location: Battery Marcus Miller
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| South (San Francisco) end of the Golden Gate Bridge |
Baker Beach (Google map) is a half-mile long beach extending from just southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge south to the Sea Cliff neighborhood. This is the traditional spot where you see a sandy beach in the foreground and the bridge in the background. The north end of the beach is rockier than the south end and provides a more spectacular view of the west side of the bridge. However, be warned that the north end is sometimes popular with nudists who might object to photographers. Although Baker Beach is administered by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, it is closed after sunset.
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| Baker Beach facing northeast on a foggy summer day. Notice the south span of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Fort Point is just visible below the south buttress. (Andy Frazer) |
Torpedo Wharf is located on Marine Drive about 500 yards east of the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge (Google map) immediately adjacent to the Warming Hut snack shop and gift shop. This location provides a good view of the entire eastern side of the bridge and is usually well-protected from the wind. It is also a good place to leave your car before walking west along Marine Drive towards Fort Point. You can also enjoy a long walk heading east across Crissy Field towards the San Francisco Harbor.
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| Golden Gate Bridge from Torpedo Wharf (Andy Frazer) |
Fort Point (Google map) is located directly under the south end of the bridge. It was built in 1861 in order to protect the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. It is currently managed by the National Park Service and is open to visitors on weekends free of charge. If you climb up onto the roof of Fort Point, you will find yourself directly underneath the bridge.
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| Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point (Andy Frazer) |
Battery Marcus Miller is located on the south-west corner of the bridge (Google map). You can get to Battery Marcus Miller via Merchant Rd if you are driving south-bound across the bridge. If you start from the south end of the bridge, use Lincoln Blvd (refer to the map, above). This location is less-crowded than either Fort Point or Torpedo Wharf. It provides a spectacular view looking down at the ocean-side of the bridge. The batteries themselves are also good for historic architectural photography. This is also a good place for kids to run around.
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| Golden Gate Bridge, facing north, from Battery Godfrey (Andy Frazer) |
There are three traditional locations to photograph the bridge from the Marin (north) side: the Vista Point, Conzelman Rd, and (less popular) Horseshoe Cove.
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| North (Marin) end of the Golden Gate Bridge. |
The North Vista Point is located on the Marin side of the bridge. It is easily accessible from the north-bound lane. See Getting There (below) for directions. The North Vista Point offer views of the bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and Fort Baker East. During the summer it is not unusual on a sunny day to see thick clouds rolling over the hills only a few hundred yards to north.
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| Fog over the Marin hills from the North Vista Point (Andy Frazer) |
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| Taken from the North Vista Point facing south over the Golden Gate Bridge (Andy Frazer) |
Conzelman Rd is offers spectacular views of the bridge from the north-west (Marin) side of the bridge. Most of the well-known postcard photographs of the bridge in the foreground and San Francisco in the background were taken from Conzelman Rd. See Getting There (below) for directions to Conzelman Rd.
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| Cliche' shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, facing south, from Conzelman Rd. Every photographer takes one, most will not admit it (Andy Frazer) |
Horseshoe Cove is located in Fort Baker East at the north-east end of the bridge. It is less crowded than both the North Vista Point and Conzelman Rd. If you walk out to the pier at Horseshoe Cove you will get spectacular views looking up at the bridge with San Francisco in the background. The photograph below was taken from the bunkers at Fort Baker East. You can see these bunkers along the top of the hill that is visible to the east from the pier (they are also open to the public).
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| Golden Gate Bridge, facing SE, from Horseshoe Cove (Andy Frazer) |
You can park at one of the parking lots/vista points on either end of the bridge, then walk across the east side of the bridge. Facing east from the walkway, you will get stunning views of Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, San Francisco and the East Bay cities of Berkeley and Oakland. You can also get interesting photographs facing directly up the sides of the two supporting towers of the bridge. There is no charge to walk across the bridge.
Pedestrians are only allowed on the bridge during the daytime. Pedestrians are prohibited from jumping off the bridge.
At this time, I don't have a good photograph of the pedestrian zone on the bridge. I'll add one as soon as I can get one.
At this time, I don't have a good photograph of the pedestrian zone on the bridge. I'll add one as soon as I can get one.
Ferry rides below the bridge are very popular with tourists and are available from the Red and White Fleet.
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| Passing below the Golden Gate Bridge on a Red and White Fleet ferry (Andy Frazer) |
For additional photograph ideas for the Golden Gate Bridge, take a look through some Flickr photographs of the bridge.
Night Photography
Although you can no longer walk across the bridge at night, most of the north-side and south-side locations listed above are accessible at night (the main exception is Baker’s Beach which is closed at Sunset). The most spectacular views at night are from the road to Fort Point (facing up at the bridge), Horseshoe Cove (facing southwest), and from the hill on Conzelman Rd (facing down onto the bridge).
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| Golden Gate Bridge, facing SW, taken from Horseshoe Cove (Andy Frazer) |
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| Golden Gate Bridge, facing SE, from Battery Spencer (Andy Frazer) |
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| Facing NW from with Torpedo Wharf in the foreground and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background (Andy Frazer) |
Best Time of Day
The Golden Gate Bridge looks great anytime of day. Remember that it runs directly north and south, with San Francisco on the south, and Marin on the north. On a sunny day, the morning shots would be best from Torpodo Wharf and Fort Point. In the late afternoon, Baker Beach and Conzelman Rd might be the best options. Conzelman Rd is especially good towards sunset. In mid-day, you might have difficulty shooting from any of the locations on the Marin side of the bridge because you may be shooting towards the sun.
The best way to determine if it's sunny or cloudy on the bridge is check SFGate's WebCam.
Wind Information
Like any coastal region in Northern California, the weather may be unpredictable. On a calm day, the entire Golden Gate can be wonderful. If there's any wind at all, the Marin side may be windier than the San Francisco side. If the fog comes in the afternoon, expect the temperatures to drop quickly.Getting to the bridge from the San Francisco side is non-trivial. Check the Directions and Parking page on the Golden Gate Bridge website for the best directions. The South Vista Point has the worst traffic/parking situation. I recommend any of the other options (Google map).
In addition to parking adjacent to the bridge (see above), here are the directions to the vistas at Baker Beach (on the San Francisco side), the North Vista Point, Horseshoe Cove, and Conzelman Rd.(on the Marin side).
From the south-bound direction across the bridge, once you pass through toll-plaza on the San Francisco side, immediately turn right onto either Merchant Rd or Lincoln Blvd (Merchant Rd merges into Lincoln Blvd). Follow Lincoln Blvd south through the Presidio for about 1-1/2 miles until you see the signs for Baker Beach (Google map)
From the north-bound direction on the bridge, the entrance to the Vista Point is the first turn off on the right just after the end of the bridge. If you reach the Alexander Rd exit, then you’ve gone too far. If you can’t find a parking spot, just keep circling around. Parking spots tend to open up frequently (Google map).
From the north-bound direction on the bridge, take the first major exit (Alexander Rd) after you come off the bridge (do not turn into the Vista Point). Stay to the right and follow the Sausalito Lateral downhill. As you past around a large hill on your left, take the first left and head towards the “Five Minute Tunnel”. Before you get to the tunnel, turn right and follow the U-turn downhill down Bunker Rd. Bunker Rd will come to an intersection at the bottom of the hill. Turn right and follow Murray Circle/Rd out to the pier. Most people are not familiar with the name Horseshoe Cove, so if you ask for directions, just ask for “the pier at Fort Baker East” (Google map).
From the north-bound direction on the bridge, take the first major exit (Alexander Rd) after you come off the bridge (do not turn into the Vista Point). Stay to the left and turn left at the stop sign onto the Sausalito Lateral. Follow the road under the freeway. Turn right onto Conzelman Rd which quickly turns up the hill (if you miss the turn-off to Conzelman Rd, you might end up back on the south-bound direction on the bridge.. that will result in another $5 toll and a trip back through San Francisco). Follow Conzelman Rd uphill for 400 yards until you see a row of cars parked along the left side of the road. You've arrived at Battery Spencer which is the first vista point of the bridge. You can also continue further up Conzelman Rd and park at any one of many other vista points (Google map).
Coordinates: 37 deg 49’ 11’ N, 122 deg 28’ 43’ W
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