Morning Sun and a Mimosa

Hike the Morning Sun and SCA Trails in the Marin Headlands

08.17.2022

Maybe you’ve strolled the Sausalito waterfront, but have you ventured up the forested stairway trail to beautiful bay views and the headlands? Get an early start (parking fills quickly!) and hike the Morning Sun Trail, which switchbacks for half a mile up through an oak forest with peek-a-boo views of the bay.

Two hikers go up the stairsteps on the Morning Sun Trail in Sausalito

Morning Sun Trailhead hikers in Sausalito

Signs point the way to the SCA Trail, which travels along a ridge with classic views of the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge. Soak up the scenery—it’s some of the best in the Bay Area. Keep following the SCA Trail to descend all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. When you reach Conzelman Road, you’ll cross it and keep following the Coastal Trail to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sign for the SCA trail in the Marin Headlands

Hiker on the SCA Trail heading down to Fort Baker Bay Trail

Once at the bridge, take the Fort Baker Bay Trail, which is very popular with cyclists. It’s a bike and pedestrian road route; just be mindful of cyclists who may be going a bit too fast on the descent! After you arrive at Fort Baker and the dock for the ferry, beeline for Cavallo Point (signs point the way). Next to Sula restaurant at Cavallo Point there’s a set of picnic tables on grass that can be used by anyone—bring your own picnic or order brunch or lunch from Sula.

Bikers getting ready to go down the Fort Baker Bay Trail

Hold steady at one mimosa if you can, because the return trip the way you came starts with a serious uphill, rounding out an 8-mile all-in hike. (Alternatively, have someone pick you up at Cavallo Point and take you back to the Morning Sun Trailhead parking area, or just make the Morning Sun and SCA Trail an out-and-back for as far you feel comfortable and skip Cavallo.)

Parking fills up fast at the Morning Sun Trailhead. The Morning Sun Trailhead is dog-friendly but no dogs beyond that when you enter the SCA and Bay Trail area. Cavallo Point is dog-friendly!

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