"The Headlands 5". Just over the Golden Gate Bridge lies a hiking gem riddled with trails-- the Marin Headlands. This now protected 2,100-acre area of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area survived WWII military defense fortifications and dodged development in the 70s to emerge as a trail mecca unbelievably only minutes away from San Francisco. This challenge brings you to the summit of the 5 major hills in the Headlands, all have trails and stunning ocean views. For those who want to dial it up, try hitting all 5 in one day.
Highest peak
FAA Hill
1,041 ft / 317 m
Most prominent peak
Coyote Ridge
411 ft / 125 m prom
Most summited peak
FAA Hill
54 summits
Most difficult peak
FAA Hill
Class 1
Difficulty breakdown
Class 1/2 1 peak
Highlights
Latest summits
"My wife and I wanted to check out a new trailhead that we heard about. As we were driving up to the TH we climbed about 500 feet. We were laughing about it because my wife was excited for the free climb and I was grumbling about how the car was eating into my elevation gain. I'm sure she would love to start here again...but I know the TH has likely seen the last of us! " — jeffreybossaller • Apr 30, 2023
"I started my hike at 2:00pm and got backl to the car at 7:30pm. I hiked most of the day and ran for about an hour. It was a gorgeous day with perfect temperatures for a long hike. I watched part of the Sunset on Hawk Hill and finished it on Lower Hawk Hill. This was close to the longest hike I have done in the Marin Headlands. I got back to the car after dark and then decided to shed the backpack and do the last two peaks (Peak 197 and Peak 360) after dark with a headlight on. This completes my 50 Peak Challenge and I really appreciate the effort that was put in to getting this challenge set up. It was one of the coolest things I have done." — jeffreybossaller • Feb 25, 2023
"I started my hike at 2:00pm and got backl to the car at 7:30pm. I hiked most of the day and ran for about an hour. It was a gorgeous day with perfect temperatures for a long hike. I watched part of the Sunset on Hawk Hill and finished it on Lower Hawk Hill. This was close to the longest hike I have done in the Marin Headlands. I got back to the car after dark and then decided to shed the backpack and do the last two peaks (Peak 197 and Peak 360) after dark with a headlight on. This completes my 50 Peak Challenge and I really appreciate the effort that was put in to getting this challenge set up. It was one of the coolest things I have done." — jeffreybossaller • Feb 25, 2023
"Marin Headlands 50 Peak Challenge finish! Took south slopes offtrail route to this stunning summit. Strong but warm winds on the ridge all the way up. Great views to the south and out toward Rodeo Beach. The offtrail route up to Hill88 got a bit bushwacky in places but (hopefully) no poison oak. Finished off with a trailrun over Wolf Ridge and down to Rodeo Beach. Huge surf, winds were gusting! Have a slight headache cinched hat down so tightly. " — scott • Feb 13, 2023
"It was raining the entire time and like a dummy I forgot my jacket at home. I was in shorts and a t-shirt. It was cold but I was hanging in there just fine until I got back to the car and stopped moving. Then the shivering began. It was fun for sure, but next time I do something like this on a rainy day I will definitely have a jacket with me!" — jeffreybossaller • Feb 4, 2023