Hiking in San Francisco

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Hiking

Hills and mountains -- including Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County and Mt. Diablo in the East Bay, which has the second-longest sight lines anywhere in the world after Mt. Kilimanjaro -- form a ring around the Bay Area. The Bay Area Ridge Trail (ridgetrail.org) is an ongoing project to connect all of the region's ridgelines. The trail is currently 300 mi long, but when finished it will extend 500 mi, stretching from San Jose to Napa and encompassing all nine Bay Area counties.

But you don't have to leave the city for a nice hike. In the middle of San Francisco, you can climb to the top of Mt. Davidson, Bernal Heights, Corona Heights, or Buena Vista Park. Little more than undeveloped hilltops, they offer spectacular views of the city and beautiful shows of wildflowers in spring.

In the Presidio, hiking and biking trails wind through nearly 1,500 acres of woods and hills, past old redbrick military buildings and jaw-dropping scenic overlooks with bay and ocean views. Rangers and docents lead guided hikes and nature walks throughout the year. For a current schedule, pick up a copy of the quarterly Park News at the Presidio Visitor Center (Presidio Officers' Club, Bldg. 50, Moraga Ave., in Main Post area. 415/561-4323. www.nps.gov/prsf) or go online.

Stop by the Warming Hut (Bldg. 983, off Old Mason Rd., facing water just east of Fort Point. 415/561-3040) to refuel on snacks and to browse through the extensive selection of books (including good ones for kids) and the many ingenious gifts made from recycled materials.

The Presidio is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) (415/561-4700. www.nps.gov/goga), which also encompasses the San Francisco coastline, the Marin Headlands, and Point Reyes National Seashore. It's veined with hiking trails, and guided walks are available. Current schedules are available at GGNRA visitor centers in the Presidio and Marin Headlands; you can also find them online at www.nps.gov/goga/parknews. For descriptions of each location within the recreation area -- along with rich color photographs, hiking information, and maps -- pick up a copy of Guide to the Parks, available in local bookstores or online from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (415/561-3000. www.parksconservancy.org).

The Golden Gate Promenade is another great walk; it passes through Crissy Field, taking in marshlands, kite-flyers, beachfront, and windsurfers, with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. The 3.3 mi walk is flat and easy -- it should take about two hours round-trip. If you begin at Aquatic Park, you'll end up practically underneath the bridge at Fort Point Pier. If you're driving, park at Fort Point and do the walk from west to east. It can get blustery, even when it's sunny, so be sure to layer.

Hikers head to Angel Island State Park (415/435-1915. www.angelisland.org) for access to 13-plus mi of sometimes steep foot trails and fire roads that wind through the wildlife preserve. The Northridge/Sunset loop trail to the 788-foot summit of Mt. Livermore rewards with fantastic views; the Perimeter Road gives access to the island's beaches and historical sites. Blue & Gold Fleet (415/705-8200. www.blueandgoldfleet.com) operates a ferry to the island from Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf. The $14.50 round-trip fare includes park admission. Schedules change frequently, so call for specifics; at this writing, ferries leave at 10 AM weekdays and 10:30 AM weekends, returning around 3:30 PM.