Birding at Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands

Join us atop Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands for an afternoon of raptor spotting!

Every autumn, the Bay Area is bestowed with thousands of avian tourists flying through on their way south for the winter. The largest of the migratory birds are the raptors, which include up to 19 different species of hawks, falcons, eagles, ospreys, and vultures.

The eponymous Hawk Hill is so named for the density of raptors soaring overhead. Raptors look to minimize their flight over water, which means that they favor the shorter route between the Marin Headlands and San Francisco. In October, hundreds of raptors can be spotted soaring over Hawk Hill per day! (And for any data junkies, check out the latest daily counts by volunteers at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory).

Meet-up Information

• We will meet at 9:45 am at the Coastal Trail Parking Lot at the intersection of Conzelman and McCullough Roads [Map]
• From there, we will walk approximately 0.75 miles up Conzelman Road to the base of Hawk Hill (which is right next to Battery 129 and Nike Missile site SF-87). The overall elevation gain is approximately 800 feet and we will be walking along a narrow path along the road shoulder [Map]
• You are welcome to skip the short hike and look for parking closer to the base of Hawk Hill, but spots can be limited.
• Once we climb up Hawk Hill, we will find a spot to take in the views and look for raptors.

Please be prepared for the unpredictable weather on Hawk Hill and bring plenty of water, a hat and/or sunglasses, sunscreen, and layers. There is limited shade on the walk and on top of the hill, and it can range from very hot and sunny to windy and foggy, depending on the day.

Birders and nature enthusiasts of all levels are welcome! The group will be led by amateur birders and we will do our best to help identify our local avian friends. Please bring water and binoculars if you have them. If you are new to birding, a great app to download beforehand is the Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.