Hawk Campground
Hawk Campground is located above Tennessee Valley and offers sweeping views of the Marin Headlands. The site is a 2.5 mile uphill hike from the Tennessee Valley Trailhead parking lot, or a 3.5 mile uphill hike from Miwok Trailhead in the Marin Headlands. This campground is recommended for experienced backpackers. The hike may be steep, but the views are more than worth it!!
More like this: reservable in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Hike-in | 3 |
Amenities & rules
This primitive campground has three overnight sites that accommodate up to four guests each. Water must be packed in, and trash must be packed out. There is no water available at this campground - campers must bring any water necessary for drinking, cooking, etc. Each site has a tent pad, a food locker, and a picnic table. There is one port-a-john. There is limited cell service at the campground, and no cell service at either of the recommended parking areas (Tennessee Valley Trailhead parking lot or the Miwok Trailhead parking area.)
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From San Francisco (traveling north). Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and continue on the US-101 N. Take exit 445B toward Mill Valley/Stinson Beach. Continue straight until you can turn left onto Tennessee Valley Road. This road will dead-end at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead parking lot.
| Nearest town | Sausalito, California |
| Coordinates | 37.8539° N, 122.5203° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Car or RV camping is not allowed.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bluerush ↗ | 1.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Fog Campers ↗ | 10 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The San Francisco Bay Area has no shortage of fun and interesting things to do and see. The 150-year-old Point Bonita Lighthouse (a secret jewel of the Bay Area) and the historic Cold War era Nike Missile Site are just a 5-minute drive from the Miwok Trailhead parking area or a 20-minute drive away from the Tennessee Valley Trailhead parking lot or. Awe-inspiring Muir Woods National Monument, with its old-growth coastal redwood forest and numerous hiking trails, is a 25-minute drive. Mount Tamalpais State Park, with hiking and sweeping views of the Bay Area, is another 10 minutes past Muir Woods. Within the Marin Headlands, consider visiting the historic Battery Townsley, the Point Bonita Lighthouse, and Nike Missile Site SF-88.
- 3.9 miMuir Woods National Monument Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
- 4.7 mi
- 4.9 miOutpost Meadow Picnic Pods ↗Day use
- 5 miWilliam Penn Mott, Jr. Presidio Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge begins about 8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8 miMarin Islands National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 469 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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Natural features
Hawk Campground sits atop of the rolling landscape of the Marin Headlands, within a biodiverse coastal scrub landscape. While the campground itself is situated under a cluster of Monterey cypress and pine, the undulating hills leading up to it are dotted with manzanita, coyote brush and sagebrush. Raptors frequently soar overhead, and deer, coyotes, foxes and bobcats share the landscape with campers. The geology that underlies the Marin Headlands and Tennessee Valley is unique and world-renowned; for example, the outcrops of radiolarian chert that line the trails are frequently admired by visitors from near and far. There are multiple black sand beaches within hiking distance of the campground. Temperatures are mild year-round. Expect lows from 50-55 degrees and highs from 60-65. Fog is prevalent in the summer months from May-Sept. It is best to bring clothing that can be layered. Lightweight summer clothes are rarely comfortable to wear at Hawk Campground.
Recreation
Tennessee Valley and the Marin Headlands are noted for great hiking, and are often populated by hikers regardless of time-of-year. Consider hiking to Tennessee Beach (4 miles), the Marine Mammal Center (4 miles), Rodeo Beach (4.3 miles), or the Point Bonita Lighthouse (5 miles). Contact the Marin Headlands Rangers at (415)-331-1540 to inquire about a ranger-led program or guided hike during your stay.
Guidebooks for California
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Hawk Campground?
Sites at Hawk Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hawk Campground?
Check-in 01:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Hawk Campground have?
3 sites, including 3 hike-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Hawk Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Hawk Campground?
Tennessee Valley and the Marin Headlands are noted for great hiking, and are often populated by hikers regardless of time-of-year. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hawk Campground?
Sausalito, California. The San Francisco Bay Area has no shortage of fun and interesting things to do and see.
Source: Getting there
What if Hawk Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Haypress Campground (1.5 mi), Bicentennial Campground (1.6 mi), and Kirby Cove Campground (2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Hawk Campground in?
Hawk Campground is a Golden Gate National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.