Bike Ride to Kirby Cove in the Marin Headlands to views of Golden Gate Bridge

Kirby Your Enthusiasm

Bike or hike down to hidden Kirby Cove just west of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin

09.08.2021
A biker stopped to take in the scenery on the fire road leading to Kirby Cove and overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge

Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin is one of the Bay's most-accessible secluded beaches, Kirby Cove. The gate blocking the 1-mile fire road down to the cove throws off the tourists; but hike or bike past it and make your way down to the beach with relative ease.

A biker with a yellow backpack standing at a vantage just above Kirby Cove Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

A few people relaxing on the beach at Kirby Cove with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Biker passing the official sign to Marin Headlands Golden Gate in the San Francisco Bay Area

We recommend biking it for a faster pace down, but lots of folks hike it as well. Either way, you’re climbing out when you leave, but at just under a mile up it’s not so bad. On hot days the eucalyptus and cypress trees keep things cool. At the bottom, claim a picnic table or spread a blanket on the beach and watch as sailboats float in the distance and seals bob their heads in the nearby waves.

Kirby cove beach with a colorful sun umbrella and people on the beach with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

There’s probably going to be other people there on a nice day, but the gated road helps keep big crowds at bay (pun intended!), and the overall spaciousness of the sand and picnic area lets you get some social distance and a slice of the cove to call your own for the duration of your stay. Kirby’s got serious curb appeal with its all-time classic, sprawling view of the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco skyline darlings like Coit Tower in the distance.

BONUS CAMPING: Kirby Cove has beautiful reservable campsites.

Dogs aren't allowed at Kirby Cove.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    {NOTE: Due to atmospheric rivers that can come this time of year, always be sure to check ahead for trail closures and hazards. And of course, wait for better weather and drier con

    View

  2. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View

  2. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

    View
  3. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

    View

  4. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View