The Marin Headlands to Point Bonita Lighthouse - A Pashnit Ride

[Papa-Ken]

Very nice Tim. You are so right about being able to get away from the crowds in a short time when you know the places.

That route you have mapped is excellent for putting smiles on your face and if you have the time to stop in Bolinas, it is a good place for pictures.

Thanks for the reminder.........Ken

[grahamr]

I will head for this little loop when I have only an hour or so to take a quick ride. Just as you crest the the hill and head down into the one lane road is a fantastic view. This was a major party area when I was in high school. At least for those that knew it was there. The Army still ran the base, but were more than cool with the civilians. The little beach at the end of the road was always more or less deserted, and you usually had the beach to yourself. You could even light small fires from the driftwood that came ashore. That reminds me of one night me and my gitlfriend..........hhmmmmm..

On the way out, you can ride through a tunnel that is one way. We used to fly through this thing at insane speeds. The sensation was that you where falling into a hole, with a light at the end. The sound of a good exhaust is much appreciated in here as well. This area is also wonderful to go on those summer days when the temps are extreme. It's usually 10 or more degrees cooler there, and a great place to have a picnic.

[ChuckBecker]

I grew up in Marin, 1957-64, and the area you rode was a part of the culture then. Believe it or not, Marin was highly involved in Cold War defense. Radar installation atop Mt Tam, Hamilton Air Force Base for intereceptors (northern Marin), and the Nike Battery on the headlands. Scout groups used to tour all of the defense sites. A lot of history and nostalgia...
________
Cheap Acrylic Bongs

[Night1983Hawk]

I love this ride! I did it with a 150cc scooter about 3 times in 2 days not more than 3 weeks ago! I sold the scooter and am getting a real motorcycle this weekend and plan to do the ride again! IT IS SO AMAZING. Especially coming down over the hill once it turns into a one way road.


Braydon

[OrangevaleFJR]

Glad I saw this thread before it went to page 2! This looks like a great day!

[Node]

beautiful. i live right by there in stinson and havent been out there yet. you can spot it heading N on the Golden gate though.

simply awesome, just like every back road in the area
-Ben Martin

[Andrew]

I do this ride (Marin Headlands) every chance I get (once a month) and take my friends and family visiting San Francisco as Moto Passengers whenever they want a little something different. That first drop when the road starts "one-way" always elicits screams from my passengers. I LOVE IT!!!
The ride is just 15 minutes from my house and I can see the lighthouse and some of the road from my neighborhood in San Francisco and it makes me want to play "hooky" every chance I get.
Thanks for the great photos!
Andrew
Honda ST 1100

[pashnit]

15 minutes? I think next time, I'm over there, party at Andrew's place! Gotta get back over there sometime and actually get out to the lighthouse and reshoot those pics of that suspension bridge and the walk out there on a clear sunny day!

[loco_devo]

I've been dying to get back out there. These photos are from a very similar ride I took, except we went south on the 1 from Stinson instead of heading back over on farifax/bolinas rd and then ended up at the batteries on top of the headlands right at sunset.

This is the view from Hwy 1 looking north toward Stinson Beach, the road has some great curves and thrilling cliff drops but there were some pretty dangerous slumps and potholes in the pavement

Pt Bonita at Sunset


My friend Lindsey at the end of the ride, quite palpable permagrin from a great day on the road

[yamaha]

I took your advice and visited Pt. Bonita last saturday and it was a fun ride and the view of San Francisco the Golden Gate bridge & the Pacific ocean was well worth the trip. I also visited Sausalito Beach. Took alot of pix,too.
This summer I plan to visit Pt. Arena lighthouse.
James

Originally Posted by pashnit

That's all! Do visit this place if you get the chance to poke around San Francisco!!

Here was our ride btw, the road snakes right along San Francisco Bay (to the left of the bridge) out to Point Bonita & back. If you look closely at the pic, you can see the road snaking along the top of the ridgeline.



The whole scene of San Francisco Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean.