Golden Gate Headlands Marathon

Golden Gate Headlands Marathon is one of the more view-heavy trail options on the early April calendar. The race keeps the field relatively small, starts near Fort Barry, and sends runners through Marin Headlands terrain with Pacific, bay, and bridge views that make it a very different day from a flat road marathon.

The course uses a mix of single track trail and fire roads in the Marin Headlands. The marathon starts and finishes in Rodeo Valley, follows the half-marathon loop twice, and includes long climbs, exposed ridgelines, and enough narrow trail to make footing and passing part of the challenge.

Coastal Marin can hand runners a cool, damp start, but wind and sun exposure matter just as much here as temperature. Conditions can change quickly between sheltered trail, open ridge, and ocean-facing sections.