Battery Spencer
Conzelman Rd., Sausalito, California
Located in Sausalito, almost 500 feet (152 meters) above the San Francisco Bay, Battery Spencer’s stunning clifftop views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco city are unmatched. The short visit here is easy to fit into any California trip and well worth the work to get there. Plus, the abandoned historic buildings serve as an interesting look into the past when the US Army used to use the area.
Most visitors to Battery Spencer come for one thing—the views. Popular tours to Battery Spencer include sunrise and sunset photography tours from San Francisco, biking tours across the Golden Gate Bridge to Battery Spencer, and hop-on hop-off tours that drop you off near the start of the hike up the hill. Other tour options include day-trip experiences that combine Golden Gate Bridge highlights with a visit to Muir Woods, Sausalito, Alcatraz, or all of the above.
Although it’s free to go to Battery Spencer, keep in mind that there are only about a dozen parking spaces right at it, which can fill up fast.
Bring layerable clothing as it can get chilly and foggy at Battery Spencer any time of the year.
Wear decent walking shoes if you’re planning to walk the half-mile Battery Spencer Trail loop.
No dogs are allowed at this Sausalito attraction overlooking the bay.
If you’re not driving to Battery Spencer, you can take Muni’s Route 76 from San Francisco, which crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and drops you off near the parking area on Conzelman Road. You can also take the city bus route 130 from the Palace of Fine Arts area. If you want to bike to Battery Spencer, many people start from Golden Gate Park, the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero, or the beginning of the Golden Gate Bridge.
When to get to Battery Spencer depends on what you’re looking for with your visit. If you want to avoid the heavy crowds and try to snag one of the few parking spaces on Conzelman Road, then a weekday early morning visit is best. For the best photos of the area, then sunset is ideal.
If you’re looking for more awesome views of the San Francisco Bay, head to the Sausalito boardwalk after you visit Battery Spencer. The Bridgeway Promenade in Sausalito offers multiple restaurants where you can grab something to eat and drink, including popular seafood options and a Napa-inspired wine-tasting room.
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