Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K

Saturday, April 6, 2024 • Sausalito, CA • Course Map

Run along a backdrop that combines gorgeous natural vistas with views of San Francisco’s urban skyline in the distance, as well as a hilly and challenging course, the Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 6-Mile race unfold over a course that features some dramatic changes in elevation — the half marathon course climbs and descends roughly 800 feet overall in elevation.

The race starts across the bay from San Francisco’s Presidio, in Sausalito at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where runners start the race at the spot known as Rodeo Beach.

From there, participants follow an out-and-back loop course through the area known as the Marin Headlands, which overlook the city and the Golden Gate Bridge, and take runners along a course that’s truly postcard-perfect, a combination of single-track hiking trails, fire roads, pavement and a beach crossing, running throughout along the lush Pacific shoreline dotted with vibrant wildflowers.

The course through Sausalito is a single 13.1-mile loop that runners in the half marathon run once, and those running the full 26.2-mile marathon run twice.

A view of the trails you’ll run through the Marin Headlands at the Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon. (Courtesy Enviro-Sports)

Though there are two aid & water stations laid out along the course — at mile markers 5 and 10 — race organizers strongly encourage participants to bring their own water with them for the run.

The race is virtually all trails, including Sausalito’s Coastal Trail, Wolf Springs Trail, Old Springs Trail, Marincello Trail and Rodeo Valley Trail, in addition to a brief stretch of the race along Conzelman Road.

After the start time of 8:00 AM, runners have 6 hours to complete the course, which means they’ll need to keep a pace of at most 13:45 minutes per mile (for the full marathon) and 27:30 minutes per mile for the half marathon.

Courtesy Enviro-Sports

Race Weather & Climate

Weather in the “city by the bay” can be unpredictable throughout the year, and is famous for its cool-to-cold fall weather. April temperatures in the Sausalito area average between the low 50s and the low 60s, while rainfall is typically low, with just over 2 inches for the month.

  • April 6 average low temp: 51ºF
  • April 6 average high temp: 62ºF

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

8:00 AM

Fees

  • $80 and up – half marathon
  • $100 and up – full marathon
  • $65 and up – 10K

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Sausalito’s Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon or 6-mile race, register online at Race Roster here.

Official Race Website

envirosports.com

See more races — Trail Races, California

2 comments… add one
  • Aidee January 20, 2024, 9:34 pm

    Is there a Facebook page where we can get more information or comments about this race?

    Reply
  • Samanta Elazzi January 6, 2020, 3:50 pm

    Hello! I was wondering if this run is considered difficult? Is there a lot of hills? Do we run across the golden gate bridge?

    Reply

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