Viewed from the Bay Area, the direction of the sunset varies from 240.2° at the Winter Solstice to 300.7° at the Summer Solstice. These bearings are measured in degrees east of true north; in the winter, the sun sets more towards the south, and in the summer it sets more towards the north.

Between the 6th of September and the 4th of April each year, the setting sun can be seen right in the center of the Golden Gate from a series of viewpoints around the central bay. On October 5th and 6th the viewpoints are on Treasure Island; from October 7th to October 16th the viewpoints are on Alcatraz. Then between the October 17th and February 23rd, for 130 days each winter, the viewpoints march up and back along the East Bay shoreline. The exact spot from which the show can be seen moves by a few hundred feet per day.

You can use this map to figure out where to go. Look for the date you want in the side panel, and then click there and zoom in to find the corresponding marker. Or just browse the map for locations you're interested in and click the nearby markers to find out what days you can catch the sunset from there. ]]> ]]> CS NB SB O CS 37.819703, -122.47865]]> 37.819703 -122.47865 NB 18:28 PDT

South of here the viewpoints are on Alcatraz.]]> 37.84903 -122.30058 NB 18:27 PDT]]> 37.85039 -122.30016 NB 18:25 PDT]]> 37.85144 -122.30004 NB 18:24 PDT]]> 37.85270 -122.30028 NB 18:22 PDT]]> 37.85367 -122.30052 NB 18:21 PDT]]> 37.85492 -122.30088 NB 18:20 PDT]]> 37.85616 -122.30121 NB 18:18 PDT]]> 37.85713 -122.30148 NB 18:17 PDT]]> 37.85812 -122.30175 NB 18:16 PDT]]> 37.85936 -122.30209 NB 18:15 PDT

South of here the viewpoints are on the Bay Trail between University and Ashby.]]> 37.85957 -122.30575 NB 18:14 PDT]]> 37.86055 -122.30604 NB 18:12 PDT

South of here the viewpoints are on the Brickyard peninsula.]]> 37.85932 -122.31637 NB 18:11 PDT]]> 37.86023 -122.31664 NB 18:10 PDT]]> 37.86110 -122.31687 NB 18:09 PDT]]> 37.86206 -122.31717 NB 18:09 PDT

End of the pier.]]> 37.85951 -122.32705 NB 18:08 PDT]]> 37.86295 -122.31756 NB 17:07 PST

Inside Skates!]]> 37.86376 -122.31818 NB 17:06 PST]]> 37.86488 -122.31779 NB 17:05 PST]]> 37.86587 -122.31784 NB 17:04 PST]]> 37.86800 -122.31396 NB 17:03 PST]]> 37.86766 -122.31853 NB 17:02 PST]]> 37.86848 -122.31916 NB 17:01 PST]]> 37.86908 -122.31973 NB 17:00 PST]]> 37.86984 -122.32051 NB 16:59 PST]]> 37.87040 -122.32109 NB 16:59 PST]]> 37.87118 -122.32186 NB 16:58 PST]]> 37.87196 -122.32254 NB 16:57 PST]]> 37.87257 -122.32303 NB 16:56 PST]]> 37.87316 -122.32352 NB 16:56 PST]]> 37.87374 -122.32405 NB 16:55 PST

North of here the viewpoints are in Golden Gate Fields and the Albany Neck.]]> 37.87450 -122.32476 NB 16:54 PST]]> 37.88008 -122.31147 NB 16:54 PST]]> 37.88071 -122.31199 NB 16:53 PST]]> 37.88139 -122.31244 NB 16:53 PST]]> 37.88184 -122.31274 NB 16:52 PST]]> 37.88259 -122.31371 NB 16:52 PST]]> 37.88306 -122.31404 NB 16:51 PST]]> 37.88374 -122.31440 NB 16:51 PST]]> 37.88411 -122.31487 NB 16:51 PST]]> 37.88474 -122.31539 NB 16:50 PST]]> 37.88543 -122.31579 NB 16:50 PST]]> 37.88596 -122.31592 NB 16:50 PST]]> 37.88650 -122.31593 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88709 -122.31592 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88767 -122.31590 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88817 -122.31607 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88859 -122.31642 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88876 -122.31660 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88922 -122.31699 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88932 -122.31805 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88929 -122.31877 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88930 -122.31941 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88927 -122.32016 NB 16:49 PST

South of here the viewpoints are on the Albany Neck and Golden Gate Fields.]]> 37.88796 -122.32435 NB 16:49 PST]]> 37.88789 -122.32515 NB 12Dec 16:49 PST
13Dec 16:50 PST]]> 37.88798 -122.32558 NB 16:50 PST]]> 37.88812 -122.32589 NB 16:50 PST]]> 37.88828 -122.32613 NB 16Dec 16:50 PST
17Dec 16:51 PST]]> 37.88841 -122.32642 NB 18Dec 16:51 PST
19Dec 16:52 PST
20Dec 16:52 PST
21Dec 16:53 PST

This is the furthest north the viewpoints get, because 240.2° is the furthest south the sun gets.]]> 37.88855 -122.32678 SB 22Dec 16:53 PST
23Dec 16:54 PST
24Dec 16:54 PST

This is the furthest north the viewpoints get, because 240.2° is the furthest south the sun gets.]]> 37.88861 -122.32678 SB 25Dec 16:55 PST
26Dec 16:56 PST]]> 37.88847 -122.32642 SB 16:56 PST]]> 37.88834 -122.32613 SB 16:57 PST]]> 37.88818 -122.32589 SB 16:57 PST]]> 37.88804 -122.32558 SB 30Dec 16:58 PST
31Dec 16:59 PST]]> 37.88795 -122.32515 SB 17:00 PST

South of here the viewpoints are on the Albany Neck and Golden Gate Fields.]]> 37.88802 -122.32435 SB 17:00 PST

North of here the viewpoints are on the Albany Bulb.]]> 37.88912 -122.32116 SB 17:01 PST]]> 37.88936 -122.31941 SB 17:02 PST]]> 37.88935 -122.31877 SB 17:03 PST]]> 37.88930 -122.31745 SB 17:04 PST]]> 37.88902 -122.31679 SB 17:05 PST]]> 37.88882 -122.31660 SB 17:06 PST]]> 37.88839 -122.31623 SB 17:07 PST]]> 37.88795 -122.31593 SB 17:08 PST]]> 37.88738 -122.31591 SB 17:09 PST]]> 37.88679 -122.31592 SB 17:10 PST]]> 37.88623 -122.31593 SB 17:11 PST]]> 37.88569 -122.31587 SB 17:12 PST]]> 37.88522 -122.31562 SB 17:13 PST]]> 37.88449 -122.31533 SB 17:14 PST]]> 37.88391 -122.31460 SB 17:15 PST]]> 37.88350 -122.31425 SB 17:16 PST]]> 37.88278 -122.31392 SB 17:17 PST]]> 37.88229 -122.31305 SB 17:18 PST]]> 37.88161 -122.31256 SB 17:19 PST]]> 37.88093 -122.31218 SB 17:20 PST]]> 37.88027 -122.31164 SB 17:21 PST

South of here the viewpoints are in Cesar Chavez Park and the Berkeley Marina.]]> 37.87985 -122.31130 SB 17:22 PST]]> 37.87428 -122.32463 SB 17:24 PST]]> 37.87353 -122.32387 SB 17:25 PST]]> 37.87277 -122.32318 SB 17:26 PST]]> 37.87216 -122.32271 SB 17:27 PST]]> 37.87158 -122.32220 SB 17:28 PST]]> 37.87080 -122.32146 SB 17:29 PST]]> 37.87002 -122.32070 SB 17:30 PST]]> 37.86945 -122.32011 SB 17:31 PST]]> 37.86887 -122.31955 SB 17:33 PST]]> 37.86792 -122.31858 SB 17:34 PST]]> 37.86719 -122.31844 SB 17:35 PST

There's a nice view through the marina to the Golden Gate from here. There's even a bench to sit on.]]> 37.86776 -122.31300 SB 17:36 PST]]> 37.86537 -122.31782 SB 17:37 PST]]> 37.86439 -122.31775 SB 17:38 PST]]> 37.86340 -122.31767 SB 17:39 PST]]> 37.86230 -122.31723 SB 17:39 PST

End of the pier.]]> 37.85957 -122.32705 SB 17:40 PST]]> 37.86133 -122.31695 SB 17:42 PST]]> 37.86045 -122.31677 SB 17:43 PST]]> 37.85976 -122.31655 SB 17:44 PST

North of here the viewpoints are in the Berkeley Marina and Cesar Chavez Park.]]> 37.86102 -122.30618 SB 17:45 PST]]> 37.85981 -122.30586 SB 17:46 PST

North of here the viewpoints are on the Brickyard peninsula.]]> 37.85962 -122.30215 SB 17:47 PST]]> 37.85837 -122.30183 SB 17:48 PST]]> 37.85763 -122.30161 SB 17:49 PST]]> 37.85640 -122.30130 SB 17:50 PST]]> 37.85517 -122.30093 SB 17:51 PST]]> 37.85419 -122.30066 SB 17:52 PST]]> 37.85294 -122.30032 SB 17:53 PST]]> 37.85195 -122.30009 SB 17:54 PST]]> 37.85066 -122.30011 SB 17:56 PST]]> 37.84930 -122.30052 O 18:21 PDT

Clark Kerr track]]> 37.86512 -122.24676 O 18:21 PDT

top of Panoramic Way]]> 37.86719 -122.23897 O 18:18 PDT

Grizzly turnout - lineup with Farallons!]]> 37.87446 -122.22168 O 18:13 PDT

Campanile steps.]]> 37.87203 -122.25793 O 18:13 PDT

LBNL Guest House parking lot.]]> 37.87491 -122.25006 O 18:11 PDT

Vollmer Peak.]]> 37.88377 -122.22230 O 18:11 PDT

LBNL Building 50 plaza.]]> 37.87688 -122.25260 O 18:09 PDT

Lawrence Hall of Science plaza.]]> 37.87929 -122.24698 O 17:04 PST

1310 Summit Road.]]> 37.88676 -122.24899 O 16:55 PST

Indian Rock.]]> 37.89223 -122.27300 O 16:52 PST

Euclid Ave.]]> 37.89901 -122.26728 O 16:50 PST

Hillside Ave.]]> 37.89065 -122.30484 O 17:10 PST

Hillside Ave.]]> 37.89064 -122.30483 O 17:18 PST

Euclid Ave.]]> 37.89901 -122.26728 O 17:22 PST

Indian Rock.]]> 37.89222 -122.27300 O 17:35 PST

1310 Summit Road.]]> 37.88676 -122.24899 O 17:41 PST

Lawrence Hall of Science plaza.]]> 37.87927 -122.24697 O 17:41 PST

LBNL Building 50 plaza.]]> 37.87688 -122.25260 O 17:42 PST

Vollmer Peak.]]> 37.88377 -122.22230 O 17:44 PST

LBNL Guest House parking lot.]]> 37.87491 -122.25006 O 17:45 PST

Campanile steps.]]> 37.87203 -122.25793 O 17:48 PST

Grizzly turnout - lineup with Farallons!]]> 37.87446 -122.22168 O 17:51 PST

top of Panoramic Way]]> 37.86719 -122.23897 O 17:51 PST

Clark Kerr track]]> 37.86512 -122.24676