Battery Spencer
Battery Spencer earns its reputation as one of the finest viewpoints in California by placing you at the precise spot where the bridge, the bay, and the landscape converge.
Battery Spencer sits on Lime Point in Marin County, built in 1897 for the Harbor Defense of San Francisco and once the Highest 12-inch Battery in the World. Part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area, it offers sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay, and skyline, with fog and crisp light creating dramatic conditions for photographers.
History of Battery Spencer
Constructed in 1895 to replace the 15-inch cannon-ball shooting guns of the earlier Cliff and Ridge batteries, Battery Spencer was named for General George E. Spencer and armed with newly developed 12-inch rifled guns. The site was built to position large-caliber artillery protecting the bay entrance from naval attack, but its weapons were ultimately deactivated and scrapped during the World War II war effort. Today the location is documented as offering panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Best Photo Spots
Five spots at Battery Spencer include the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, upper battery tier, hilltop viewpoint, and headlands.
Golden
Photographs of This Location
History of Battery Spencer
Battery Spencer was constructed in 1897 as a coastal defense fortification and remained part of the Harbor Defense of San Francisco Bay until 1942. During its active years, the battery operated and stored three 12-inch guns. The site is named for Major General Joseph Spencer, an officer of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Common Questions
Take Muni Route 76 across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Conzelman Road parking lot, then follow the path along Conzelman Road to the first turnout, where the path to Battery Spencer begins.
Fog at Battery Spencer is almost guaranteed a few times a week but unpredictable, and watching it roll over the bay can be as magical as sunset.
There is parking along Conzelman Road at Battery Spencer, but it is limited and often full, so visitors should be prepared to walk.
Battery Spencer History and Photography Subjects
Battery Spencer sits at Fort Baker in Marin County on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Construction of the concrete coastal gun battery for the U.S. Coastal Artillery began in 1893 and was completed four years later, with the site formally transferred to the Coast Artillery on 24 September 1897 at a total cost of $110,352.70. By the early 1900s the post had become one of the main protection points for the San Francisco Bay, and its multiple lookout positions and surviving generator and shell buildings offer varied foreground subjects for compositions.
Practical Information
Conzelman Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965; Sausalito, California; Driving from Southbound Highway 101, take the Sausalito Alexander Ave. exit just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, turn left onto Alexander Ave., and the first turnout is a short distance past the entrance to the Conzelman Road Parking Lot.
Conzelman Road; Parking at Battery Spencer is limited and can be hard to find because the spot gets crowded.; Limited (about a dozen spots)
There are no facilities on site, so visitors are expected to come prepared.; Anytime; Always open
free; Complimentary
Session Tips
- Pair your visit with a walk along the nearby Coastal Trail to extend your time in the Marin Headlands and take in additional views of the Pacific coastline.
- Arrive before 9 AM on weekends to secure one of the coveted parking spots at Battery Spencer.
- Photographers should pack a wide-angle lens, with 29mm recommended.
- Be careful at the viewing area: sloping concrete edges of the fort are six to twelve inches above the surrounding soil and can cause ankle-breaking falls.
- Take the left fork on the path from Conzelman Road for the great Bridge views, while the right fork is shielded by earthworks and leads down to the old fort.
What to Wear
- Bring a jacket regardless of the season, as the Marin Headlands channel strong, cold winds from the Pacific even on warm inland days.
- Photographers should wear shoes they can hike in and do not mind getting dirty.
- A windbreaker should be brought for the conditions at Battery Spencer.
Photowalk
Walk the Battery Spencer Photo Trail
2 routes through the same vantage points, from a quick loop to a full afternoon.
Battery Spencer offers the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:40 PM - 2:07 PM
2:07 PM - 3:07 PM
12:49 AM - 1:49 AM
1:49 AM - 2:15 AM
Best Season
weekday mornings
Avoid
holiday weekends at sunset
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:23 | 17:14 | 9h 51m |
| Feb | 06:58 | 17:48 | 10h 49m |
| Mar | 07:20 | 19:17 | 11h 56m |
| Apr | 06:34 | 19:45 | 13h 11m |
| May | 05:59 | 20:12 | 14h 13m |
| Jun | 05:47 | 20:33 | 14h 46m |
| Jul | 05:59 | 20:31 | 14h 31m |
| Aug | 06:25 | 20:02 | 13h 36m |
| Sep | 06:51 | 19:17 | 12h 25m |
| Oct | 07:18 | 18:31 | 11h 13m |
| Nov | 06:50 | 16:58 | 10h 7m |
| Dec | 07:17 | 16:51 | 9h 33m |
What to Expect During Your Session
Photographers are advised to arrive 15–20 minutes before sunrise at the small parking area off Conzelman Road, where two concrete pillars flank a wide path leading to the fort on a ridgetop bluff above the Golden Gate Bridge. Early morning light and fog clearing around the bridge often produce better results than the crowded sunset hours, and a 29mm wide-angle lens is recommended for the framing. When the turnout is full, parking along Conzelman Road or at the Vista Point lot is an option, with the left fork on the access path offering the clearest bridge views.
The guided Battery Spencer hike runs from 10:00am to 11:30am.
Arriving 15–20 minutes early is recommended to secure a parking spot and get settled before the shoot begins.
During the session, the first rays of sunlight kiss the bridge and illuminate the subjects.
“The hike ends with a staircase up to the viewpoint, where hikers are greeted with panoramic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.”
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Parking
- The best way to reach Battery Spencer is by car, with parking available along Conzelman Road.
- Public transit
- Muni Route 76; Golden Gate Transit Route 30 and Route 92; Bus 30 or 70
- Walking distance
- 10 minutes
- Bike friendly
- Battery Spencer can be reached by bike.