TRAIL 44 Peninsula

Presidio of San Francisco

TRAIL USE

Hike, Run, Bike, Child Friendly, Dogs Allowed

LENGTH

4.1 miles, 2–3 hours

VERTICAL FEET

±300'

DIFFICULTY

– 1 2 3 4 5 +

TRAIL TYPE

Loop

SURFACE TYPE

Dirt, Paved

FEATURES

Shore
Wildflowers
Birds
Historic
Great Views
Photo Opportunity

FACILITIES

Restrooms
Phone
Picnic Tables
Water
Concessions

This guide’s only urban route is both an enjoyable walk back in time and a hopeful look forward at efforts to reclaim developed lands for public enjoyment. The US Army transferred the Presidio to the National Park Service in 1994, ending more than 200 years of military history dating back to the Spanish era. On this route you pass military buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, vantage points with views of San Francisco Bay, a famous orange bridge, and a popular waterfront path.

Best Time

All year; expect fog in summer.

Finding the Trail

From the west end of Marina Blvd., get in the right lane and stay straight, heading west on Mason St. through the Presidio’s Marina Gate. After two blocks, turn north into the Crissy Field parking area. The trailhead is on the west end of the parking area, due west of the restrooms.

From southbound US Hwy. 101 heading east on Doyle Dr., get in the left lane and take the Marina Blvd. exit. After one block, turn right on Baker St., left on Jefferson St., left on Broderick St., and left on Marina Blvd., now heading west. In the right lane, stay straight on Mason St. into the Presidio as Marina Blvd. veers left toward the Golden Gate Bridge. Then follow the directions above.

The Golden Gate Promenade/Bay Trail follows the north shore of the Presidio, connecting the Golden Gate Bridge with Marina Green and Fort Mason.

Trail Description

From the trailhead,1 start southwest across a lawn on a gravel path. Soon you cross a curving footbridge over the east end of Crissy Field Lagoon, an artificial tidal lagoon that attempts to recreate the original marshes here. The effort has been successful, at least from an avian standpoint, and you may spot wading birds, shorebirds, ducks, gulls, and other species.

Birds

On the far side of the bridge, cross Mason Street2 and go straight on Halleck Street with Crissy Field Center on your right. After passing under US Highway 101, traverse the wooden porch of Building 201 and climb past the old Sixth Army Headquarters.

Before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, Crissy Field was a landing strip for US Army airplanes.

At the end of Halleck Street,3 turn left across it, turn right across Lincoln Boulevard, and then go left 100 feet to Funston Avenue, where you turn right. Climb gently past the old Post Hospital and a row of Victorian cottages, then meet Moraga Avenue.4 Cross to the south side of Moraga Avenue and turn right. Amble past Pershing Hall, a small chapel, and the Officers Club, a corner of which incorporates adobe walls from the original Spanish military post.

Historic Interest

Beyond the Officers Club,5 cross Moraga Avenue and go north one block on Graham Street. Cross to the north side of Sheridan Avenue and turn left. After about 100 feet along the edge of a lawn, regain the sidewalk. The Parade Ground, right, is flanked by the brick Montgomery Barracks on the west. From here the view north to San Francisco Bay is splendid. (The Presidio Trust intends to remove the nearby paved parking lot and make the Parade Ground more parklike.)

In a few blocks, Sheridan Avenue merges with Lincoln Boulevard. Continue west on the north side of Lincoln Boulevard.6 With noisy Highway 101 on your right, the orderly rows of white gravestones march up the hillside of San Francisco National Military Cemetery, left. Passing Crissy Field Avenue, stay left on Lincoln Boulevard. An old road (a future link in the Presidio Promenade) descends right toward the slate-roofed Cavalry Stables, built in 1914, visible in the wooded valley below.

At Halleck and Lincoln,3 go east along the stone wall a few steps to overlook a restored section of Tennessee Hollow Creek. The US Army filled this valley from the 1950s to 2006.

Soon you come to an intersection with McDowell Avenue, right, and Park Boulevard, left.7 Carefully cross Lincoln Boulevard (cross-traffic does not stop). Follow Park Boulevard about 50 yards, then angle left on a red gravel path that rises steadily through a forest of Monterey cypress and eucalyptus, planted in the 1880s. Meeting Park Boulevard again and crossing it, go right on Kobbe Avenue8 past Officers Row, beautiful homes built in 1912. Just beyond Barnard Hall, an imposing brick guest house with white columns, turn right on Upton Avenue,9 following a sidewalk on its left side. After one block, cross Ralston Avenue and enter Fort Winfield Scott.10

Turn left in front of the tile-roofed barracks, keeping the parade ground on your right. This sidewalk, shared by the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail, has views from the Golden Gate Bridge to Angel Island and Mt. Diablo. Just past Building 1208, turn left to the intersection of Ralston and Lincoln avenues, then turn right on the shoulder of Lincoln Avenue to a four-way intersection with Storey and Merchant roads.11 Here, cross Lincoln Boulevard and go west on the sidewalk of Merchant Road. As the road curves right, stay straight on the Anza and Ridge trails to a junction with the Coastal Trail,12 on which you turn right. All three trails now share a single route north to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The gravel path bends west between Batteries Boutelle and Marcus Miller, two of several gun emplacements built to defend the Golden Gate from the 1890s until the 1940s. (There may be a short, clearly-signed detour here.) Now the footpath ambles northward along the windswept bluff, with dramatic views left toward North Baker Beach and Point Bonita, and ahead to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Presidio Pet Cemetery is located beneath the Doyle Dr./US Hwy. 101 bridge.

The Presidio Visitor Center will eventually relocate from the Officers Club to Building 102, one of the Montgomery Barracks.

Soon you come to a paved path,13 the bike route to the west sidewalk of the Golden Gate Bridge on afternoons and weekends. Go left beneath US Highway 101. (Be alert for cyclists and strolling tourists from here on!) Here a busy bike path ascends right toward Vista Point, but you stay left on the lower bike path, which is part of the Bay Trail and the Presidio Promenade. On a clear day you may enjoy a panoramic view from Point Bonita to the East Bay hills. Pass a brick path leading right to Vista Point and the toll plaza. The level bike path overlooks Battery East, a Civil War–era brick gun emplacement, left.

Great Views

Near Lincoln Boulevard, turn left down a gravel path signed for Fort Point.14 Veer slightly right across a wide junction, cross the lip of Battery East, and descend gently via S-curves through coastal scrub. Turn left down a long flight of wooden steps15 through a verdant gulch. Carefully cross Marine Drive, the busy road to Fort Point. At the seawall, pause a moment to gaze west toward Fort Point, then turn right on the Golden Gate Promenade, a paved path that is part of the San Francisco Bay Trail.16 Opposite an old fishing pier, you pass restrooms, water, and the Warming Hut, which has a cafe and bookstore, right.

Fort Scott is named for Winfield Scott, who served in the army from before the War of 1812 until the Civil War. He is best known as a commander during the US–Mexican War.

Continuing east on the wide, gravel path, you pass a large picnic area and Long Avenue, then bend left along the edge of Crissy Field, the site of a historic Army airfield. An old Coast Guard station, left, includes a visitor center for Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Soon the lawn ends and you follow the edge of Crissy Field Lagoon, enjoying views of Angel Island and Alcatraz. After crossing the lagoon outlet on a wide bridge, bear right to reach the parking area.17

OPTIONS

Regional Trails from the Golden Gate

From the Golden Gate Bridge, the Coastal Trail goes south and then west to Baker Beach, Lands End, and the Cliff House. The Ridge Trail goes south into the city. Eastward, the Golden Gate Promenade/Bay Trail extends past Fort Mason to Aquatic Park. Northward, the Bay, Ridge, and Coastal trails follow the bridge’s east sidewalk to Marin County.

View of Golden Gate Bridge and Marin from Crissy Field (Trail 44)

MILESTONES

Trail 44

1 0.0 Southwest on gravel path to footbridge over east end of Crissy Field Lagoon.

2 0.2 Cross Mason St., straight on Halleck St.

3 0.4 Left across Halleck St., right across Lincoln Blvd., left on Lincoln Blvd. 100 feet, right on Funston Ave.

4 0.7 Cross Moraga Ave. and turn right to Officers Club

5 0.8 Cross Moraga Ave., right on Graham St. one block, then left on Sheridan Ave.

6 1.1 Merge with Lincoln Blvd. and follow it west; stay left on Lincoln Blvd. past Crissy Field Ave.

7 1.8 Cross Lincoln Blvd., left on Park Blvd. for 50 yards, then angle left on red gravel path

8 2.0 Cross Park Blvd., go right on Kobbe Ave. past Officers Row

9 2.3 Right on Upton Ave.

10 2.4 Cross Ralston Ave., enter Fort Scott, go left beside parade ground

11 2.6 Just past building 1208, go left to intersection of Ralston and Lincoln avenues, then turn right on Lincoln Blvd.

12 2.6 Cross Lincoln Blvd., go straight on Merchant Rd., then straight on Anza and Ridge trails to Coastal Trail; turn right.

13 2.9 Left on paved bike path under Golden Gate Bridge, then left on lower bike path

14 3.1 Left on gravel path signed for Fort Point

15 3.2 After S-curves turn left down wooden steps

16 3.3 Right on Golden Gate Promenade past Warming Hut and old Coast Guard Station

17 4.1 Back at Crissy Field east parking area