Guidebook for San Francisco

Paddy
Guidebook for San Francisco

Parks & Nature

The park has great introductory trails, with a mixture of terrain—fire roads, singletracks, and some steeper ridges. On a clear day, there are pretty spectacular panoramic views. On one side of the mountain, you can see the southern part of the bay, and on the other side, you might be able to see all the way up to San Francisco and the Bay Bridge. Within a matter of minutes, you can go from crystal clear views to being shrouded in fog, so definitely bring a light jacket.
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San Bruno Mountain State & County Park
555 Guadalupe Canyon Pkwy
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The park has great introductory trails, with a mixture of terrain—fire roads, singletracks, and some steeper ridges. On a clear day, there are pretty spectacular panoramic views. On one side of the mountain, you can see the southern part of the bay, and on the other side, you might be able to see all the way up to San Francisco and the Bay Bridge. Within a matter of minutes, you can go from crystal clear views to being shrouded in fog, so definitely bring a light jacket.
Tucked away between the UCSF campus and Twin Peaks, the Historic Trail at Stanyan and 17th is a little hidden wonder. Mount Sutro sits just over 900 feet, and it feels like you’ve left the city and entered a fairy tale. You’re on the side of this hill in the heart of SF, you can see eucalyptus trees above and below you, and it’s simply beautiful. There are a few things to watch out for on this trail: Be aware of mountain bikers coming down the singletrack, and also be careful of the poison oak.
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Mount Sutro
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Tucked away between the UCSF campus and Twin Peaks, the Historic Trail at Stanyan and 17th is a little hidden wonder. Mount Sutro sits just over 900 feet, and it feels like you’ve left the city and entered a fairy tale. You’re on the side of this hill in the heart of SF, you can see eucalyptus trees above and below you, and it’s simply beautiful. There are a few things to watch out for on this trail: Be aware of mountain bikers coming down the singletrack, and also be careful of the poison oak.
The Lands End Trail in the western end of the city runs along the Pacific from the Sutro Baths all the way to the Sea Cliff neighborhood. It’s about a mile and a half to two miles long and includes singletrack trails and wooden steps. It gets quite busy because it’s a popular tourist destination, but it’s a great place for a sunset run. There’s a beautiful little surprise about halfway through. Keep an eye out for the steep set of steps on the ocean side that lead down through the trees to the “Labyrinth” art piece above the water.
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Lands End Trail
Lands End Trail
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The Lands End Trail in the western end of the city runs along the Pacific from the Sutro Baths all the way to the Sea Cliff neighborhood. It’s about a mile and a half to two miles long and includes singletrack trails and wooden steps. It gets quite busy because it’s a popular tourist destination, but it’s a great place for a sunset run. There’s a beautiful little surprise about halfway through. Keep an eye out for the steep set of steps on the ocean side that lead down through the trees to the “Labyrinth” art piece above the water.
Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a more technical trail, with lots of climbs, descents, and switchbacks. Even though it’s less than a mile long, it’s a challenging run. It takes you through the historic military batteries that used to protect the entrance to the city, and it has the most amazing views of the Marin Headlands. If you turn off the trail about halfway through and head toward Marshall’s Beach, you’ll get to one of several nude beaches in San Francisco.
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Batteries to Bluffs Trail
Battery to Bluffs Trail
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Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a more technical trail, with lots of climbs, descents, and switchbacks. Even though it’s less than a mile long, it’s a challenging run. It takes you through the historic military batteries that used to protect the entrance to the city, and it has the most amazing views of the Marin Headlands. If you turn off the trail about halfway through and head toward Marshall’s Beach, you’ll get to one of several nude beaches in San Francisco.
This run featuring a stop at rocky, dramatic Pirate’s Cove starts at Muir Beach, heading south on the Coastal Trail. Expect steep stair climbs and descents that drop you almost down to the Pacific. It’s a popular trail, but few take the rugged singletrack spur down to Pirate’s Cove to see waves crashing on sea stacks. This is an out-and-back. Once you reach Tennessee Valley Beach, about three miles south of Muir Beach, turn around and head back to finish up with a swim at Muir Beach, where you might see some porpoises or dolphins.
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Pirates Cove
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This run featuring a stop at rocky, dramatic Pirate’s Cove starts at Muir Beach, heading south on the Coastal Trail. Expect steep stair climbs and descents that drop you almost down to the Pacific. It’s a popular trail, but few take the rugged singletrack spur down to Pirate’s Cove to see waves crashing on sea stacks. This is an out-and-back. Once you reach Tennessee Valley Beach, about three miles south of Muir Beach, turn around and head back to finish up with a swim at Muir Beach, where you might see some porpoises or dolphins.
This famous 7.4-mile trail that runs from downtown Mill Valley to Stinson Beach is home to the oldest trail race in the United States. It takes you up the famous Dipsea stairs, down through the redwoods of Muir Woods, and provides spectacular views across the Pacific, the entire Marin Headlands, and the west peak of Mount Tamalpais. They’ve recently put a water fountain along the aptly named Cardiac portion of the trail, which is very useful when you’re on a long run up there.
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Dipsea Trail Head
98 Cascade Way
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This famous 7.4-mile trail that runs from downtown Mill Valley to Stinson Beach is home to the oldest trail race in the United States. It takes you up the famous Dipsea stairs, down through the redwoods of Muir Woods, and provides spectacular views across the Pacific, the entire Marin Headlands, and the west peak of Mount Tamalpais. They’ve recently put a water fountain along the aptly named Cardiac portion of the trail, which is very useful when you’re on a long run up there.
The Matt Davis Trail goes from Stinson Beach, up over the west peak of Mt. Tam, and down to the Mountain Home Inn, which is on the south side of Tam’s east peak, just above Mill Valley. It has a mixture of everything—clay-based singletracks and some wooden stairs up a whole lot of switchbacks. It’s a fun run on a rocky, technical trail. Once you cross the Coastal Trail and Pantoll Campground, keep an eye out for the Old Mine Trail or Easy Grade Trail, which lead up to one of the coolest sites on Mt. Tam: the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, which was built in 1913 and still hosts outdoor events during the summer.
Matt Davis Trail
Matt Davis Trail
The Matt Davis Trail goes from Stinson Beach, up over the west peak of Mt. Tam, and down to the Mountain Home Inn, which is on the south side of Tam’s east peak, just above Mill Valley. It has a mixture of everything—clay-based singletracks and some wooden stairs up a whole lot of switchbacks. It’s a fun run on a rocky, technical trail. Once you cross the Coastal Trail and Pantoll Campground, keep an eye out for the Old Mine Trail or Easy Grade Trail, which lead up to one of the coolest sites on Mt. Tam: the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, which was built in 1913 and still hosts outdoor events during the summer.
One of the most famous routes within the Marin trail-running community is a run from Mill Valley to the 2,572-foot summit of Mt. Tam’s east peak. It’s one of the few trails in Marin with a lot of climbing on technical, rocky terrain, so it’s not for the fainthearted. Views of Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Alcatraz, East Bay, and SF make it worth it, though. Start at Old Mill Elementary School and follow Summit Ave. until it merges with Fern Canyon Rd., which becomes Old Railroad Grade. That becomes Fern Creek Trail, which will take you to the peak. Make sure to touch the wooden door of the fire lookout when you reach the top—it’s tradition.
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Πάρκο Πολιτείας του Όρους Ταμαλπάις
3801 Panoramic Highway
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One of the most famous routes within the Marin trail-running community is a run from Mill Valley to the 2,572-foot summit of Mt. Tam’s east peak. It’s one of the few trails in Marin with a lot of climbing on technical, rocky terrain, so it’s not for the fainthearted. Views of Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Alcatraz, East Bay, and SF make it worth it, though. Start at Old Mill Elementary School and follow Summit Ave. until it merges with Fern Canyon Rd., which becomes Old Railroad Grade. That becomes Fern Creek Trail, which will take you to the peak. Make sure to touch the wooden door of the fire lookout when you reach the top—it’s tradition.
Clocking in at about 10 or 11 miles, this is a nice, long run in the Marin Headlands. You’ll have some of the nicest views of San Francisco from here. The Miwok loop is an extremely popular early morning route. Try to time it to see the sun rising over the East Bay, which is pretty spectacular. At the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, head up the SCA Trail into the Marin Headlands. You’ll drop down into Rodeo Valley on the Coastal Trail, then climb up the famous Miwok Trail. That brings you up to the radio tower—from there, you can cross the top of Alta Trail, and return to the SCA Trail.
KABL-FM San Francisco
Clocking in at about 10 or 11 miles, this is a nice, long run in the Marin Headlands. You’ll have some of the nicest views of San Francisco from here. The Miwok loop is an extremely popular early morning route. Try to time it to see the sun rising over the East Bay, which is pretty spectacular. At the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, head up the SCA Trail into the Marin Headlands. You’ll drop down into Rodeo Valley on the Coastal Trail, then climb up the famous Miwok Trail. That brings you up to the radio tower—from there, you can cross the top of Alta Trail, and return to the SCA Trail.