Brian Smith's Photos

Back to the Marin Headlands for the Hill 88 loop — starting from Rodeo Beach, up the Coastal Trail, and returning down the Miwok Trail. A clear day for it, with views the whole way round.

The Coastal Trail climbs steadily out of the valley, and the higher you get the better the views back over Rodeo Beach and out along the coast.

At the top sits Hill 88, a Cold War radar station that once guided the Nike missiles based in the valley below. Abandoned since the 1970s, the concrete buildings are now covered in graffiti — an odd but photogenic contrast with the 360-degree views.

Down the other side on the Miwok Trail, swapping coastal cliffs for open rolling hills before looping back towards the lagoon.

Back at Rodeo Beach, the sand was scattered with these — Velella velella, the by-the-wind sailor. Each is a small ocean-going relative of the jellyfish, an oval blue float topped with a stiff transparent sail set at an angle, drifting wherever the wind takes it. When spring winds swing onshore they strand on Pacific beaches in their thousands, drying out into little cellophane-like discs. Harmless to pick up, though best not to rub your eyes afterwards.

A last stop at the overlook south of the beach for the Golden Gate Bridge before heading home.

A proper Headlands sampler: beach, ridge, Cold War relic, and a beach full of tiny sailors to finish.