Golden Gate Bridging 2026: What to Expect

Registration Information 

Who 
Juniors (5th-graders), Older Girl Scouts (6th–12th grade), and their troop leaders and family of Girl Scouts 

Cost 
In-Council: $90 
Out-of-Council: $135 

Payment 
Registration and payment must be made on ActiveNet.  

General Participant Information 

Join us as we walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and celebrate an important Girl Scout milestone. Celebrate with Girl Scouts from across the country in true Northern Californian style on the Golden Gate Bridge on a day just for you. On Crissy Field play games, do crafts, and partake in activities that reflect the adventures that lie ahead of you as an older Girl Scout! 

This packet contains general event information and answers to frequently asked questions. For the most up to date information, please check our website at Golden Gate Bridging. Also, please make sure to check your email as we may communicate with you on event-specific information. A final Adventure Packet will be e-mailed a few weeks before the event with maps, detailed check-in information, and lots of other information you will need for the day of the event.  

Golden Gate Bridging is a great opportunity for Girl Scout-led activities, even for troops from outside the Bay Area. Girl Scouts are able and should help with planning the trip including travel to and from the event, where to stay, and what to do. Have them set up a budget and use the internet to research and make a plan. While it is tempting to use a travel agency or have adults do all the planning, Girl Scouts will get a lot more out of the experience if they are actively involved with making it happen.

WHAT TO EXPECT 

Participant Guidelines and Ratios 

· This event is for 5^th grade bridging Juniors and 6^th-12^th grade Girl Scouts who missed their bridging years during the Covid years or for other reasons in 2019 and their active adult Girl Scout members to meet ratio.  Any person at the event is considered a participant and must pay the full event fee. 

· There is NO free “viewing area” for this event. Please do NOT have family or friends who are not registered participants joining your group at the event.

· This is a permitted event. And as Girls Scouts, we must abide by the number of guests we guarantee to all of our permit holders. Do not bring more guests than are registered. This event requires an adult chaperone to accompany their registered youth for the activity. Please refer to the Adult-to-Youth Supervision Ratios below:

Level	Grades	Youth	Adults Required	Ratio Rule
Juniors	5	1–16	2	2 adults for first 16 youth
		17–24	3	+1 adult per 1–8 additional youth.
Cadettes	6–8	1–20	2	2 adults for first 20 youth
		21–30	3	+1 adult per 1–10 additional youth
Seniors	9–10	1–24	2	2 adults for first 24 youth
		25–36	3	+1 adult per 1–12 additional youth
Ambassadors	11–12	1–24	2	2 adults for first 24 youth
		25–36	3	+1 adult per 1–12 additional youth

Registering 

All participants who attend Golden Gate Bridging must be a registered participant.  The registration link is released to In-Council members on November 1st and for Out of Council members on November 17th. The registration links can be found here. To register for this event, you must have an ActiveNet account. GSNorCal members can activate their ActiveNet accounts by following these steps. Last day to register is April 10th, 2026.

Out of Council members will need to request an ActiveNet account by filling out the ActiveNet Account Request: Out-of-Council Girl Scout Members form. To add their girl scout, they will need to submit the: PROG_ActiveNet Profile Request: Out-of-Council Girl Scout Members form.

Travel and Where to Stay 

San Francisco is an international tourist destination and there are many resources available online (start with 511.org) to assist you in planning your trip, including where to stay. We suggest that you do not book hotels or travel prior to registering for the event in case the event sells out and you are unable to register. We have reserved a limited number of hotel rooms in a popular tourist area of San Francisco. We also offer a hostel like experience (open only to GSNorCal members) at one of our properties, Camp Bothin in Fairfax (separate registration required on ActiveNet). 

Also, we have secured a group rate at Hotel Riu Plaza, Fisherman’s Wharf that can be reserved by all council members.  We encourage you to take advantage of the group rate. Please use the following link to reserve your room at Hotel Riu Plaza, Fisherman’s Wharf: https://www.riu.com/en/riuplaza/formularios/girl-scouts-2026.jsp. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, March 24, 2026. 

Check-in 

Check-in happens on the day of the event as well as several days prior to the event. All troops have the option to check in ahead of time at their own convenience. This helps to save time on the day of the event. We strongly encourage you to check in prior to the day of the event.  Information on the dates, times and locations of early check-in will be in your Adventure Packet. 

Arrival and Parking 

Due to very limited parking, we highly encourage troops to carpool or take public transportation to the event. While we reserve as much parking as possible, we cannot guarantee a spot, and parking is on first-come-first basis. Troops may arrive to the event in several different ways including by car, taxi/rideshare, public transportation, or bus. Shuttles to Marin Vista Point depart every 15–25 minutes from the starting point at the Claire Lilienthal Elementary School and Marina Middle School to transport participants to the Marin Vista Point on the north end of the bridge. Shuttles also depart from near Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman´s Wharf. Please note that participants may experience delays in the morning during rush hours, as most attendees arrive around that time. Shuttle service is included in the Bridge & Field registration only.  Please do not park at Marin Vista Point.  

The Walk 

Upon arrival at the Marin Vista Point, participants will walk southbound across the Golden Gate Bridge on the San Francisco side of the bridge (east sidewalk).  Girl Scouts will be greeted by older Girl Scouts and receive their Golden Gate Bridging pin. Participants will continue down the hill towards the party on Crissy Field. After the event, participants will walk to the Stilwell Hall Parking Lot, located right next to Crissy Field, to board charter buses back to following locations (Claire Lilienthal Elementary School, Marina Middle School and Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf). Many people are surprised and overwhelmed by the distance so make sure to get out and prepare by walking 2-3 miles several days a week prior to the event. 

Crissy Field  

There are a variety of ways to celebrate on Crissy Field.  Enjoy lunch in the grassy picnic area, do a craft project, dance along with great music, and explore dozens of activity booths, all designed to introduce Girl Scouts to older Girl Scout opportunities. Activities on Crissy Field are self-paced to allow you to arrive and depart at your convenience. 

Lunch 

We will have lunch available for pre-purchase. When registering, you’ll have the option to add lunch to your registration. Lunches must be picked up between 11am to 2pm at Crissy Field in the picnic area. Full lunch menu can be found here.

Departure 

All participants must walk to the Stilwell Hall Parking Lot, located next to Crissy Field, for departure. Charter buses will transport participants from Stilwell Hall Parking Lot back to their original starting points (Claire Lilienthal Elementary School, Marina Middle School, and Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf). 

Merchandise and Apparel 

T-shirts, hats and hoodies will be available to order on our online shop in advance of the event. Items may be ordered in advance to guarantee sizing.   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. Eligibility & Participation 

• Is this a family event? Can my younger child or infant attend? 

Golden Gate Bridging is a family event. However, the Bridge & Field registration is limited to Girl Scouts and Girl Scout troops and their registered adult Girl Scout members (i.e. adult/troop leader/volunteer) to meet ratio.  To accommodate as many Girl Scout youth as possible to this girl/youth focused event, we limit the number of adults that may attend therefore not every Girl Scout will be able to have a parent or guardian attend with them. Younger children and infants may only attend with a Field Only registration and an adult must supervise them at all times.  Also, if you are attending with younger children and infants, then you may not count towards the ratio for a troop.   

• Can I be a volunteer for the event and also be a participant?   

No. Being an event volunteer requires that you are available to carry out the duties you signed-up for.

2. Registration & Badges 

• How do I register for the event?  

Registration will be located on ActiveNet. GSNorCal members can review these steps if they have not yet activated their account: activenet-account-mgt-login.pdf.

Out of council members will need to request an ActiveNet account by filling out the ActiveNet Account Request: Out-of-Council Girl Scout Members form. To add their girl scout, they will need to submit the PROG_ActiveNet Profile Request: Out-of-Council Girl Scout Members form.

• What are the different registration options?  

The Bridge + Field registration includes the shuttle service to the Marin Vista Point (north end of the bridge), the bridge crossing, receiving your Golden Gate Bridging pin & patch and the Crissy Field celebration.

The Field Only registration provides access to the Crissy Field festivities only and does not include the shuttle service to Marin Vista Point, bridge walk or the Golden Gate Bridging pin & patch. 

• Who can register for the different event experiences? 

The Bridge + Field registration is for 5th grade bridging Juniors, 6th–12th grade Girl Scouts who missed their bridging years due to COVID and for other reasons, and their registered adult Girl Scout members (i.e. adult/troop leader/volunteer) to meet the ratio.

The Field Only registration is for families, siblings, and Girl Scout members who wish to just participate in the celebration at Crissy Field.

• Can I transfer my registration or badge to someone else? What if I lose my badge? 

Your badge serves as proof of registration and grants access to participate in the event. Registrations are non-transferable; badges for Golden Gate Bridging are non-transferable and may only be used by the person registered.  Participants who lose their badge will be required to repay the event fee in order to receive a new badge and continue with the event. 

• What is the cancellation/refund policy?

A full refund will be issued if you cancel your registration on or before March 26, 2026 (30 days prior to the event). No refunds will be issued for cancellation if you withdraw from the event 29 days or less prior to the event date.  No refunds will be issued for non-attendance. Refunds for medical reasons must be submitted in writing to registration@gsnorcal.org. A physician’s note must be submitted within 7 days from the date of the event in order to process the refund. 

• Why is there different pricing for in-council and out-of-council participants? 

Golden Gate Bridging is a wonderful but labor-intensive and costly event.  GSNorCal is excited that we are able to offer this event to Girl Scouts nationwide. However, to accommodate out of council Girl Scouts, various operational steps must be processed to accept out of council registrations.  In addition, Girl Scouts who are registered with GSNorCal participate in product sales (Fall & Cookies) which help to support this event.  

3. Event Logistics 

• How long is the walk from Marin Vista Point Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field? 

The walk from Marin Vista Point to Crissy Field is about 2.6 miles and typically takes around 1 hour at a steady pace without stops. Once you cross the bridge, the path leading down to Crissy Field is mostly downhill. 

We strongly recommend wearing comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes—open-toe shoes are not recommended for this route. To help prepare, Girl Scouts and adults planning to do the walk may want to start taking practice walks ahead of the event, so the distance feels more manageable on event day. 

• What will the weather be like on the day of the event?  

Since weather patterns have become less predictable in recent years, it’s hard to know for sure what the day will look like. Typically, mornings at the Golden Gate Bridge start off cool and often foggy or overcast, with temperatures warming up if the fog burns off by midday. We recommend that participants dress in layers, for example, a light jacket or sweatshirt over a t-shirt, so you’ll be comfortable whether it stays cool, or the sun comes out. 

• Can our troop walk with banners on the bridge?   

No. It is prohibited by the Golden Gate Bridge District and Authority.   

• I use a wheelchair. Can I still cross the bridge? 

Yes! The Golden Gate Bridge itself is ADA accessible, and participants using wheelchairs are welcome to cross the bridge. Please note, however, that the path leading from the south end of the bridge down to Crissy Field is not ADA compliant. We will have accessible transportation options available for participants in wheelchairs or individuals with limited mobility to travel from the south end of the bridge to Crissy Field. Please indicate your needs under the “Health Restrictions & Accessibility” field during registration.

• Will there be security at the event? 

Yes, Golden Gate Bridge, National Park Service, and Presidio will all be monitoring the event. Additionally, the California Highway Patrol and San Francisco Emergency Services are notified in advance and ready to respond if needed. We will also have additional private security on site to help ensure the safety of the participants. 

• Is the bridge shut down to cars on the day of the event?  

No, the bridge is not shut down for the event. The east side of the bridge has a 10-foot sidewalk with a fence to keep the pedestrians safe from the traffic and is open 24 hours a day. For this event, we are required to get a special permit for the number of pedestrians crossing the bridge.  

• Is there a place to buy food at the event? 

Due to the location of the event and the nature of our permits, food availability is limited. GSNorCal with a local catering company, will provide boxed lunches to participants who purchase them through our registration in advance of the event. Please pack a reusable water bottle, and if you are not purchasing lunch through the event registration, we recommend bagged lunch and plenty of snacks. 

4. Travel 

• Where can I find helpful tourist info? 

San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination with excellent resources available online. Here are some great sites to start with: 

San Francisco Travel | Official Visitor Information

San Francisco Bay Area | Visit California

511.org Homepage | 511.org

• How can we get around San Francisco?  

Public transportation, ride shares, and walking are all common ways to get around San Francisco. For routes, passes, and trip planning, 511.org is a great resource. 

• Where should we stay?  

There are many options for lodging in San Francisco, from hotels to vacation rentals. We recommend using travel sites and the resources above to find the best option for your group’s size, budget, and preferences.

Also, we have secured a group rate at Hotel Riu Plaza, Fisherman’s’ Wharf.  We encourage you to take advantage of the group rate. There will be shuttle service leaving near the hotel to take you across the Golden Gate Bridge to do the bridge walk. Please use the following link to reserve your room at Hotel Riu Plaza, Fisherman’s Wharf: https://www.riu.com/en/riuplaza/formularios/girl-scouts-2026.jsp. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, March 24, 2026. 

Have more questions? Please email us at info@gsnorcal.org.

Last updated on November 4, 2025