bicentennial camping

Halloween can be a bit crazy in San Francisco, and after a year of wedding planning, celebrating, and costuming, we were ready for a little break.  Our friend, Julia, proposed a camping trip in lieu of Halloween debauchery.  I immediately jumped on board.  Ryan, our camping guru, started the planning.   Tahoe was going to be too cold for camping this time of year, so we decided to stay local.  The Marin Headlands have some great, and FREE, campsites.  Plus, as an added bonus, you can ditch the car and hike, bike, or transit over.  

Ryan had been wanting to check out the Bicentennial Campground in the Headlands, so a week before our trip, we booked all three camp sites.  Technically groups are not allowed at Bicentennial, and should head to Haypress instead.  As it turns out, you should probably play by the rules, we got reprimanded by the rangers for trying to cheat the system.  

Post work on Friday, we packed up and headed out.  Using Transit and Trails to plan our trip, we took MUNI to Civic Center, then Golden Gate Transit to the Golden Gate Bridge.  We arrived at the bridge just before sunset and started hiking. 

Leaving the city

Waiting for MUNI

View of the city from the bridge

After getting across, you must walk through the scary tunnel under the bridge to reach the trailhead.  Walk through the parking lot, and you will find a clearly labeled trail sign.

The trail we took hugged the road and offered incredible views of the Bay, the city, and the bridge almost the entire way.  Since we got a late start, much of our trip was in the dark, which led to the most epic photo of the Golden Gate bridge that I have ever taken.

All in all, our hike took two hours and topped out at 6.1 miles.  Not a bad way to end the work week.

After pitching our tent, we settled into some Papalote burritos and a competitive game of Moose Farkle with our friend Liz, who biked up for the night.  

The morning was brutally foggy. The fog horns wailed as we ate our luke warm oatmeal.  I was thankful for my layers and winter hat.  Post breakfast, we did a short walk to the ocean while we waited for our friends, Andy and Julia to arrive.  The beach, which was completely socked in, was just a 10 minute walk from our campsite.  

Bicentennial Campground

Thank goodness for brightly colored layers.  Bicentennial picnic area.

After our friends arrived, we lazily hiked around the Headlands, stopping frequently to take in the scenery, chat, and have snacks.  The fog retreated enough for the air to warm up, and sunscreen to become necessary.  

On Sunday, before heading back into the city, we hiked out to the Point Bonita Lighthouse.  Unfortunately, we arrived at 11:00, and the lighthouse didn't open until 12:30.  A visit to the lighthouse will just be an excuse for a repeat trip.

Post lighthouse hike, it was time to head home.  The return trip was easy peasy.  We just walked the one mile to the visitor's center and hopped on the 76 MUNI bus, which took us to Powell and Post, where we transferred to the MUNI K line.  Door-to-door, the trip was just under one hour.  Not too shabby.

Know before you go:

• Bring your rainfly to keep dry on the foggy nights.
• There is a port-o-potty at the site, but no running water.  Make sure to pack in enough water for your trip.  The Marin Headlands Visitor's Center is about a mile down the road and offers potable water.
• The rangers check the sites every morning, so having reservations and permits are crucial.
• The raccoons are aggressive.  Watch your food carefully and use the food storage containers.  
• Bicentennial also has a picnic site for day use.  If you don't want to camp, this is a great option.  The site provides a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge, port-o-potties, and grills.  

Cost: 

Transit fare: $6.00 there, $2.00 back (per person)

Camping: Free

Total: $8.00/person + food