Urban Hiker SF

While doomscrolling on Instagram late one night, I saw something that made me pause in my tracks. My friend Guy had shared a post about Bisbee, Arizona — a city I had never heard of before — and a stairway event there called the Bisbee 1000 . The Bisbee 1000, I learned, was an urban hiking route throughout the city featuring 9 stairways and 1000+ stairs over 4.5 miles and about 700 feet of elevation. I was sold — I knew I had to go.  I got my chance to visit Bisbee in mid-March 2026 with a few girlfriends. We ended up planning a short trip around Arizona, flying into Phoenix and out of Tucson with a stop in Bisbee on the way. Phoenix was a great time, and we spent 4 hours at the Musical Instrument Museum , but that’s another post for another time! But after Phoenix, we drove a little over three hours southeast to Bisbee. By the time we got there, we were about 12 miles from the Mexican border. It was dark out when we arrived, but we could already sense the allure of this old coppe...

In October 2025, I did the 38-mile Roundabout Trail in one day . When you're facing a 14-hour endurance hike, what you wear isn't just clothing — it can mean the difference between smooth sailing and show-stopping blisters.   In case you don't want to read the full post, here's a quick summary: 🥾 Category Recommendation Why it Went the Distance (38 Miles) Shoes Merrell Women's All Out Blaze Aero Sport Lighter low-top design saved my knees from lifting heavy shoes 80,000 times. Socks Wrightsock single-layer quarter socks These prevented me from getting a hike-stopping blister. Pants (cool weather) Affordable leggings The perfect weight for long days in standard SF weather. Pants (warm weather) Moosehill quick-dry zip-off cargo pants Lightweight insurance against rain or unexpected heat. Base Layer REI and Smartwool are both great Keeps the core dry and allows for easy temperature changes. Arm Sleeves (cool weather) Fleece sleeves No need to stop and de-layer! Matc...

If you know me, you know I love dogs. And my love of dogs doesn’t stop there, but extends to all canids. So when I heard about Wolf Connection , a wolf sanctuary tucked away in the mountains just an hour outside of Los Angeles, I knew I had to go.  I booked my visit through Airbnb Experiences , and while it wasn’t cheap, it was worth it, and the money goes straight to supporting the sanctuary and its animals. The day of my visit, I made the drive from Santa Monica deep into the Angeles National Forest. After about an hour, I arrived at the sanctuary, perched at 4,000 feet of elevation. The temperature was a perfect 86 degrees (perfect for me at least), a welcome break from the scorching 100+ degree heat I passed through in the Valley. The elevation means the sanctuary can also get coldy and snowy in the winter! Petting Wylie and a group howl   During a brief orientation, the 10-15 other visitors and I were offered some light snacks and water before the tour began. ...

On October 5, 2025, five of us met before dawn at the corner of John Muir Drive and Sklyine Boulevard. Our goal: Complete the new 38-mile Roundabout Trail . To walk the route in one day, we’d have to keep our bodies moving for over half a day with minimal stops, witnessing the sunrise, the full day, and the sunset. I’d walked up to 34 miles in a day on the NYC Shorewalkers Great Saunter , but 38-miles was terra incognita for me. Internalizing my learnings from the Great Saunter, I popped some “vitamin I” — or ibuprofen before we even started walking.   Stats:  Distance: 41.67 miles — 3 miles longer than predicted. Every extra step hurt. Steps: 81k steps — and I felt every single step beyond 60k. Time: 14 hours on the dot (6:30 am - 8:30 pm including all stops). Company: Started with 5, picked up 4 en route, and ended with 4   The Roundabout Trail is broken into five sections, and we decided to start somewhere in the middle of section 4 w...

FYI — A map of the locations mentioned in this blog post is here:   Treasure Island Google MyMap ! San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the US. But this city also has an often-overlooked experience  $5 and that delivers joy every time. Allow me to introduce you to the Treasure Island Ferry .   Launched in 2022, the ferry offers a quick, 8-minute trip  across the bay, whisking you from the historic Ferry Building to the burgeoning downtown of Treasure Island, right in front of the Treasure Island Museum. Instead of taking a bus or driving, you could spend a few minutes on the water, feeling the wind in your hair and appreciating the San Francisco skyline.  The ferry ride is enchanting, and then there's also so much to do on Treasure Island. Here are five fantastic ways to make the most of your time there:     Eat Treasure Island has a number of delicious restaurants. I like walking to brunch and dining at the outdoor areas at A...