Shelter in place in San Francisco may not feel as isolating as many other urban cities, as we are fortunate to be surrounded by the best scenic hiking trails within the confines of our 7×7 mile city limits. If there is one thing good to come out of this shelter in place order, it’s the amount of time we are spending outdoors exploring this city by foot. Here are some of our favorite trails we have been covering over the past few months:
Presidio Trails
This former Army Base, now National Park, is peppered with 24 miles of trails. The park offers options for the beginner hiker/walker and more challenging, heart rate elevating, hikes for those seeking serious exercise. The scenery ranges from coastal cliffs to Golden Gate Bridge views to luscious green rolling terrain with the city skyline as backdrop.
Baker Street Steps
Everyone knows the Lyon Street steps are a scenic and challenging way to stay in shape outdoors, but now more than ever they are overly crowded. If you are an avid stair stepping machine and want to avoid crowds per the SIP order, here is a little secret… one block away are the Baker St steps between Broadway and Vallejo. They are steeper, longer and 90% less crowded!
Land’s End
This four mile coastal trail is one of the most scenic hikes in San Francisco; offering views of Ocean Beach and the historic Sutro Baths, high bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The historic Land’s End, Sutro Baths and Cliff House are added bonuses along the trail. Visit the National Park Service website to compare landmarks to what they used to look like.
Fort Funston
Few parks in the city have such dramatic views as Fort Funston, a former military base whose 200 foot high cliffs are one of the nation’s premier hang gliding spots. Located on the city’s southwest coast, the park is reliably windy, teeming with birds and other wildlife and a favorite off-leash destination for dog lovers. There are enough trails and beaches to spend an entire afternoon exploring and taking in the fresh air.
Moraga Steps
The Moraga Steps are one of the hidden gems in the Inner Sunset with possibly the longest mosaic staircase in the world. This outdoor art piece is made from 2000 handmade tiles and over 75,000 tile fragments which glimmer in the sunlight from the West and East side of the hill and give breathtaking views of the city from its peak. In fact, from the top, you can see the entire Sunset and Richmond districts.
Strawberry Hill
In the middle of Golden Gate Park is Strawberry Hill, which rises up from the center of Stow Lake and is connected to the rest of the park by two stone bridges. The trails around the lake and up the hill are a favorite of joggers and picnickers because of its natural beauty. Beside the many types of birds, fish and turtles, there’s a 110 foot waterfall that leads into the lake and the Chinese “Peace Pagoda” Pavilion. No trip to Golden Gate Park would be complete without a visit to this beautiful treasure.
