Battery Spencer

What you need to know

The View

Battery Spencer sits about 500 feet above the bay on the Marin Headlands, directly above the Golden Gate Bridge’s north tower. The angle puts the bridge in the foreground with the San Francisco skyline behind it. On foggy mornings the bridge towers rise above the marine layer while the deck disappears below.

The History

The U.S. Army began building Battery Spencer in 1893 as part of the Endicott Era coastal defense system protecting San Francisco Bay. Construction was completed and the battery was transferred to the Coast Artillery in 1897, armed with three 12-inch M1888 guns on Barbette M1892 carriages. The battery stayed active until 1942, when changing technology made coastal artillery obsolete. The guns were scrapped during World War II.

Today the National Park Service maintains the site as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The concrete bunkers and gun emplacements are open to walk through, with interpretive signs explaining the original use.

Visiting

Address: Conzelman Road, Marin Headlands (just over the bridge from San Francisco)
Hours: Always accessible during daylight
Cost: Free
Best time: Sunrise for the city lit from the east. Sunset for the bridge lit from the west. Foggy mornings (common in summer) for the towers-above-fog effect.
Parking: A small lot at the trailhead holds about a dozen cars and fills fast on weekends. Arrive before 9am or after 5pm to find a spot.
Getting there: Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Alexander Avenue exit, follow signs to Conzelman Road, and continue up the hill. About a 15-minute drive from downtown San Francisco. Bring a jacket. The wind at the overlook is significantly colder and stronger than at the bridge below.