Hiking
Hiking options in and around San Francisco include everything from the easygoing Golden Gate Promenade along the city's waterfront to the more rigorous sections the Bay Area Ridge Trail. And there are plenty of great hikes to be had in the Presidio.
Bay Area Ridge Trail. Hills and mountains—including Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County and Mt. Diablo in the East Bay, which is thought to have the second-longest sight lines anywhere in the world after Mt. Kilimanjaro—form a ring around the Bay Area. In San Francisco the Ridge Trail winds through the center of the city to the Golden Gate Overlook in the Presidio, offering up the most spectacular views. The Bay Area Ridge Trail is an ongoing project to connect all of the region's ridgelines. The trail is currently 367 miles long, but when finished it will extend more than 550 miles, stretching from San Jose to Napa and encompassing all nine Bay Area counties. One of the trail's most impressive ridgelines can be found on Mt. Tamalpais, in Marin County. San Francisco, California. www.ridgetrail.org.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This huge, protected area encompasses the San Francisco coastline, the Marin Headlands, and Point Reyes National Seashore, perhaps one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It's veined with hiking trails, including the spectacular Coastal Trail at Lands End in San Francisco (access this from the parking lot near the western end of Point Lobos Avenue), and guided walks are offered in some places. You can find current schedules at visitor centers at Lands End, in the Presidio, and in the Marin Headlands; they're also online. San Francisco, California. 415/561–4700; www.nps.gov/goga.
Golden Gate Promenade. During this great walk you pass through Crissy Field, taking in marshlands, kite-flyers, beachfront, and windsurfers, with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. The 4.3-mile roundtrip trek (or bike ride) is flat and easy—it should take less than 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. Presidio, San Francisco, California. www.presidio.gov.
Presidio hiking trails. Hiking and biking trails wind through nearly 1,500 acres of woods and hills in the Presidio, past old redbrick military buildings and jaw-dropping scenic overlooks with bay and ocean views. The Bay Trail along Crissy Field to Fort Point, the steep Batteries to Bluffs Trail, and the winding forest stroll of the Ecology Trail are some of the standout hiking routes. Visit www.presidio.gov/trails for hiking and biking maps. Visitor Center, 210 Lincoln Blvd., near Montgomery St. , Presidio, San Francisco, California, 94129. 415/561–4323; www.nps.gov/prsf.
