This article started as a series of questions on our Ask Annie Sausalito FAQ page, which led to our creating this article on walking each direction from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sausalito Ferry Terminal. From there you can take a ferry back to the Ferry Building (mear downtown San Francisco) or Pier 41 (by Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf). This parallels a popular bike route from San Francisco to the Ferry.
There are a couple of spots where extra precautions are required for safety, especially if you have kids with you. We have highlighted these in yellow.
If you start at the South Parking Lot of the Golden Gate Bridge (which you can reach by taxi or by Muni bus), it's about a 6 mile walk to downtown Sausalito and the Ferry pier, which is located in the central downtown area.
Once you've walked across the Bridge you'll reach the Sausalito Lateral, a connector where cars can be traveling at high speeds, that runs down the hill from the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Along this stretch of the road it has a narrow lane on the right that pedestrians and bike riders use, but there's no sidewalk. (See map below.) For this reason we recommend that you stay well to the right as you walk, and take the route through Fort Baker when you reach Bunker Road on the left.
Google Map Instructions: Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out, the arrow keys to scroll the map, and the SAT button to see the satellite view.
Walking to Sausalito via Fort Baker
At the first intersection you come to after leaving the Bridge and walking downhill on the Sausalito Lateral, you can turn left on Bunker Road to explore Fort Baker, and to get away from this traffic. Crossing the road requires patience and lots of care at high traffic times, since you have to cross the busy street and there is no stop sign to create traffic breaks in groups of cars going 45 - 55 mph (70-90 kph).
In California drivers are required to stop for pedestrians, but in this more isolated area you may have to wait a while for someone to do so. Just because someone stops in one direction doesn;t mean the opposing traffic sees you, so do not cross until you see that you are safe from cars in both directions.
Dogs need to be onleashes, kids need to be holding parents' hands, and... you get the idea. All the precautions you'd take crossing a high-speed street with no crosswalk anywhere should be taken here.
This turn onto Bunker Road will allow you to enter Fort Baker and walk downhill towards the Bay (and towards the Cavallo Point Lodge hotel). This gets you away from the speeding traffic. Following the hairpin turn shown in the satellite image above and following Bunker Road downhill connects with East Road along routes that run close to the Bay, with glorious views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll recognize spots where some famous photos were taken.
When you are walking inside Fort Baker you can always tell which way you're going with a simple trick: if the Bay is on your right you are walking towards Sausalito, and will eventually rejoin the Sausalito Lateral just before it enters town. If the Bay is on your left you are walking towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
The map below shows the route through Fort Baker that then rejoins the Sausalito Lateral just before it enters the town.
Google Map Instructions: Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out, the arrow keys to scroll the map, and the SAT button to see the satellite view.
Once you do reach the outskirts of Sausalito there will be one more narrow spot in the road (where traffic will be slower) and then you'll be on regaular city sidewalks. After you twist around a few corners you'll come to some of the most beautiful views in the world on the Bridgeway Promenade.
A fun stop along the way is the Farley Bar (adjacent to Murray Circle Restaurant) at the Cavallo Point Lodge, named after the Farley comic strip character created by the late local author and humorist Phil Frank. It's expensive, but they have what we've named "the best burger in Sausalito," as well as salads and sandwiches.
If you wait a little longer to eat, you can go to the first restaurant in Sausalito itself, Aurora (on the left after you make a sweeping right turn into town). They offer very good Italian food and super-thin-crust (Sicilian style) pizza.
If you just want a great deli sandwich to go with the great view: once you reach the edge of Sausalito look for Golden Gate Market two blocks past Aurora. The deli at the back of this small store makes great sandwiches, and the two guys who work there are pleasant and helpful to tired bike riders and walkers. As you walk along Bridgeway there are benches where you can sit, eat, and take in the great views of the Bay and San Francisco.
Downtown Sausalito and the Ferry Pier are about 1 mile to the north once you reach the area where the sidewalk borders the Bay. When you reach the park with the stone elephants and the fountain the ferry pier is one block to your right.
When you're done exploring Sausalito you can take the Sausalito Ferry to either Fisherman's Wharf or the Ferry Building... which is a lot easier than walking back up the hill to the Bridge!
