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Hike All of SF Post 7: Presidio Promenade


I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf. These are the stories of my hikes.
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Hike Name: Presidio Promenade
Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: 1- 2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash 

For this #hikeallofSF post, I decided to explore the Presidio Promenade, an easy 2.2 mile paved walk that starts at the Presidio’s Lombard Gate and ends at the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve hiked on many of the Presidio’s 25 miles of hiking trails, and was eager to see some new sites.
An early gift - a first view of the GG Bridge

This is a nice, easy walk suitable for hikers of all levels. The paved paths with minimal elevation are even great for people in wheelchairs or parents with children in strollers. When done as a roundtrip, the hike is 4.4 miles and leaves you in the Marina, an lively part of town for exploring restaurants and shopping.

This hike starts at the Lombard Gate, one of four official Presidio gates. Then you walk through a few buildings and make your way to the Presidio Main Post (pictured at right). From here, you can get your first view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
A paved path through the woods
After walking through the Main Post, you will pass the National Cemetery on your left and continue walking toward the bridge. You will enter a wooded area and then a clearing where you can see a pen that, depending on the time of day, can be filled with police horses. Further on your path, you can read informational plaques and learn the US military history like that of the Buffalo Soldiers. 

Next, cross over a wooden footbridge and continue toward the Golden Gate Bridge. You will pass under overpasses (under construction right now), and get views of downtown San Francisco.

View of Crissy Field - the sculptures have just been removed
After the overpasses, you will get stunning views of Crissy Field and downtown San Francisco. Toward the end of your hike, you will see unobstructed views of the bridge. You can end your hike at the Golden Gate Bridge Pavillion.

Making this a round trip hike
To make this a round trip hike, you can go back the way you came, or to change things up, you can follow the Battery East Trail (also and wheelchair/stroller accessible) to visit Fort Point and Crissy Field. From Crissy Field, you can the return back to Lombard and Lyon where you started your hike. You will see signs pointing you on the right path from the Golden Gate Bridge Pavillion.

Almost all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge

Happy trails!
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Location: Presidio Parkway, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, CA, USA

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