Rodeo Beach & Fort Cronkhite - Marin Headlands
There are several spurs of trail that will take you down to Rodeo Beach. You can also follow the road below Battery Townsley as it bends its way back toward the beach and the parking lot.
You'll often see surfers along this short stretch of Pacific beach . . . and always, groups of children exploring Rodeo Lagoon and the Marin Headlands area with guides. The Headlands Institute at Fort Cronkhite runs educational programs and day camps -- to connect youths with the nature of the Headlands and of the Bay Area.
Fort Cronkhite also houses a number of non-profit offices, including the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, and the Marine Mammal Visitor Center. (The renowned Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito is just a short way up the hill from the main structures at Fort Cronkhite.)
Fort Cronkhite itself is a World War II military post, with barracks, mess hall, and non-denominational chapel.
Getting Back to the Miwok Trail Head
To get back to your starting point from Rodeo Beach, follow Mitchell Road (which becomes Bunker Road) eastward. You'll walk along Rodeo Lagoon, on your right. In the winter, the Lagoon is a great spot to look for migrating ducks and sea birds. Year round, it provides habitat for a number of species.
If you walk along the road, there's a narrow path between the road and the lagoon. Go about 3/4 of a mile, and on your left, across Bunker Road, you'll see a set of red-roofed buildings -- and the Miwok Trail head, with a posted sign. Follow the trail until you reach the short spur trail where you started your hike. Take a right toward Bunker Road.