Top 3 Golden Gate Bridge Photo Spots
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is a California landmark you have to see at least once. Check out these top 3 Golden Gate Bridge photo spots for some of the best views.
Over the summer, we went on an amazing California road trip starting in San Francisco. Flights into San Francisco were a bit cheaper, and Reece had “never heard of the Golden Gate Bridge.” I know…what?! So when he asked me if that was the reason why we flew into San Francisco, yeah…kinda. Our flight was delayed and landed at midnight, and by the time we picked up our rental car it was 1:30 in the morning. We really wanted to see the bridge at sunrise, so we decided to stay awake, so we could leave our Airbnb at 4:30 am. Three hours at an Airbnb was totally worth $150…however it had no AC and it was in the 80s, so I don’t know how well we would’ve slept anyway. Onto our first of the top 3 Golden Gate Bridge photo spots-Battery Spencer.
Battery Spencer
Battery Spencer is where you will see the first picture perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Parking is limited, however visiting at sunrise on a weekday, we only saw one other car. If the lot is full, cars will park along Conzelman Road. The walk from the parking area to the large viewing area is around a quarter mile or so. Along the trail you will pass what’s left of San Francisco’s Harbor Defense. It was abandoned in 1943, but it stands as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Unfortunately, it’s covered with graffiti now. But the main reason you’re visiting Battery Spencer is for the close-up views of the Golden Gate Bridge! The view at Battery Spencer was our favorite and having it almost all to ourselves as the sun came up was even better.
We were so worried that the San Francisco fog would be hiding the bridge from view, but it was a perfectly clear morning. What we should have been worried about was the wind! Battery Spencer sits on a cliff high above the bay and tends to be extremely windy all the time. Bring a jacket; don’t be like us freezing in our short sleeve shirts. Also, I love a good hat picture, but it’s not going to stay on your head unless you hold it the whole time. Even then, I tried to hold mine and the wind snatched it out of my hands, and I almost lost it forever. If you’re setting up a tripod, be careful with that too.
Golden Gate Overlook
If you’ve ever seen a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge in between two Cypress trees, Golden Gate Overlook is the spot! We stopped here right after visiting Battery Spencer, and the bridge in the morning light was beautiful. Again, as it is a pretty popular spot, arrive early to beat the crowds.
Marshall’s Beach
Marshall’s Beach offers visitors gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge. We parked at the Golden Gate Overlook and took the Batteries to Bluffs Trail to get down to the beach. A lot of the trail is made up of wooden steps which is nice going down to the beach, but not as nice coming back up. The walk down to the beach is scenic, and the trail is well maintained. We loved how secluded the beach felt as well as the perspective of the bridge from the beach below. Just an FYI, it is a clothing optional beach.
When visiting these spots, make sure your valuables are with you or hidden in your vehicle. Car break-ins are very common in San Francisco.
We loved seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from different angles during our short time in San Francisco. Let us know in the comments which view is your favorite!
