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. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

  2. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View

  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop

    If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.

    View

  2. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

    View

  3. Great Is an Understatement!

    Tucked against the Utah border in eastern Nevada, Great Basin is a hiking wonderland of 13,000-foot peaks, ancient forests, sub-alpine lakes, and marbled limestone caves.

    View
  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View