Urban Hiker SF

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________     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 Lomba...

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________ The Lake Merced Loop at 4.2 or 4.5 miles Hike Name: Lake Merced Loop Distance: 4.2 - 4.5 miles Elevation: <100 feet Difficulty: Easy to moderate Time: 1.5 - 2 hours Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash Hike Description Lake Merced is located in the Lakeshore neighborhood in the southwestern corner of San Francisco. The Lake Merced loop is not the most scenic hike in San Francisco, nor it is the most peaceful. Despite these negatives, what I like about this hike is that it carries a certain sense of accomplishment with it. It’s a good enough distance that you’re going to be walking for an hour to an hour and a half, and you get to circle an entire natural lake and bird habitat. Much of this route is flanked with busy roads - namely Lake Merced Boulevard, John Muir Drive, and Skyline Drive, so expect to hear some leve...

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________ In February,  I wrote about my first #hikeallofsf hike, Fort Funston to the Cliff House .  Today, I'm writing about a second hike around Fort Funston. This hike explores the area's upper trails. Fort Funston Loop Distance: 2.0 miles Elevation: ~100 feet Difficulty: Easy Time: <1 hour Dog Friendly: Off-leash walking is permitted Hike Description A view of the Ocean from the trails This hike is a nice, easy loop that will guide you through a number of Fort Funston’s trails. On a nice day, you get stunning views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and Sutro Tower to the northeast. Even on a foggy day, you can still take in ocean air, and enjoy the sandy landscape littered with ice plants and Monterey cypress trees.   Route Details Battery Davis To embark on this hike, you will start on the Sunset Trail, a...

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________ Interior Greenbelt and Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Hike Name: Interior Greenbelt and Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Location: Twin Peaks Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy - moderate One of the best moments on our Urban Jungles tours is when our hikers enter a eucalyptus forest behind Sutro Tower. I love to see people's eyes widen when they discover a vast expanse of green space right in the center of the city. And this is just scratching the surface... Between the northwest end of Twin Peaks and the southeast end of Golden Gate Park are two parks that combine to form 80 acres of eucalyptus forest, the Interior Greenbelt (19 acres) and Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve (61 acres). About Adolph Sutro Eucalyptus Trees on the Trail These parks were once the private land of Adolph Sutro , the mayor of San Francisco from 1894 to ...

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. ____________________________ Hike Name: Philosopher's Way Location: McLaren Park in Visitacion Valley Distance: 2.7 miles Difficulty: Easy In the past week, summer weather has arrived in San Francisco. When you live here, you never know when the heat will suddenly come—or go—so I wanted to make sure to get outside while balmy temperatures prevailed. Philosopher's Way Hikes I decided to head to McLaren Park to do a hike called the "Philosopher's Way." There are Philosopher's Walks or Philosopher's Ways in many cities such as Heidelberg , Toronto , and Kyoto .Their goal is to provide an opportunity to walk, ponder, and meditate. About McLaren Park McLaren Park is the second largest park in the city after Golden Gate Park. It's less central, and as a result, less visited, however, it still houses a number of appealing points of interest including seven miles of walking trails,...

I'm on a mission to hike all of SF . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________ Area of detail in the Presidio My last hike all of SF post was about hiking from Fort Funston to the Cliff House . This post is about another great coastal hike, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail . This gorgeous bayside trail is short - 0.7 miles one way -  but still manages to pack a punch due to a large number of stairs. But don’t worry too much about the stairs, there is plenty to distract you. When you’re not staring at breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the Marin Headlands, you can learn about the historic gun batteries you pass on the cliffs.   S o what's with the gun batteries?   As a direct result of the Gold Rush, San Francisco's population exploded from 50(!) in 1844 to over 20,000 in 1850. With this mass influx of people and with San Francisco now on the figurative map, a joint...

So once again Valentine’s Day is upon us. And you’ve planned…..nothing. Don’t let yourself end up in this situation . If you’re in San Francisco and poor planning is your thing, you’re in luck - some of the best Valentines Day ideas here require neither reservations nor prior planning. If your special someone likes spending time outdoors, places like Twin Peaks and Ocean Beach are always crowd pleasers. However, if you want to go a little farther off the beaten path, here are 10 unexpected spots (in no particular order) to share with your love this February 14th. 1. Jack Early Park Vibe: Romantic, Classic SF  Neighborhood: Telegraph Hill   Details: What this park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in romantic ambience. After climbing a quick flight of stairs, you’ll find yourself on a small platform that is Jack Early Park. This pint-sized wonder has panoramic views of the Bay including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz. What’...