The Golden Gate opened in 1937 and its 'International Orange' towers rise 227 metres over the strait where the Pacific meets the bay. It is a working highway with a pedestrian sidewalk on the east side, open to walkers from about 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (later in summer); cyclists use the east side on weekdays and the west side at weekends. Walking the full span and back takes about an hour and the wind can be fierce — bring a layer even in July.
The classic ride is to hire a bike near Fisherman's Wharf, ride through the Presidio and across the bridge to Sausalito, have lunch on the water, and take the ferry back to the Ferry Building. It is about 13 kilometres of mostly easy riding and one of the best half-days in North America. Book the ferry return in advance on summer weekends.
For photographs, the two ends give different pictures. On the city side, the Welcome Center and Battery East trail frame the bridge against the Marin Headlands; Baker Beach and Crissy Field put the whole span over water. On the Marin side, Battery Spencer and the Hawk Hill road put the city skyline behind the towers — the shot on every postcard. The Presidio's Golden Gate Overlook is a quiet alternative.
Fog is the wild card. The marine layer rolls through the gap on summer afternoons and can bury the towers completely; it usually lifts by mid-morning in autumn. Stay in the Marina or Presidio districts for walking access; downtown hotels are a fifteen-minute chauffeur ride, and an SFO pick-up avoids the BART-to-Muni shuffle.
Three things to get right
- Hawk Hill on the Marin side for the postcard shot; Crissy Field for the whole span.
- Cycle to Sausalito and ferry back — reserve the ferry on summer weekends.
- September–October for clear skies; summer means fog until noon.
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