The entire California Coastal Trail stretches from Mexico to Oregon, but San Francisco houses a portion of the trail on the northwest side of the city.

Found in San Francisco’s Presidio, this trail is perfect for enjoying SF’s natural splendor.

Try to get a peek at the Golden Gate Bridge while on your excursion.

Best for dogs: Sand Ladder at Baker Beach

Distance: 0.25 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Trail type: Out and back

Elevation Gain: N/A

Parking: Yes

Dogs?: Yes

Starting Point: Sand Ladder, San Francisco, CA

Part of the Pacific Coast Trail, Baker Beach Sand Ladder is a great spot to head down to the beach with your dog—one of the most popular places San Francisco dog owners bring their pups.

Run your dog on the beach to get them a good workout—and if you live in the area, you can walk to the beach to add in some extra mileage!

MORE:

How bad is San Francisco traffic?

Best for Instagram: Batteries to Bluffs Trail

Distance: 0.7 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Trail type: Loop

Elevation Gain: 449 ft

Parking: Yes

Dogs?: Yes

Starting Point: Battery to Bluffs Trail, San Francisco, CA 94129

This easy hiking trail is an ideal spot to get some great photos for your grid. The trail, located in San Francisco’s Presidio, is a hotspot for birding—but you’ll also get stellar views of the Pacific Ocean.

Take a hike during sunset for some top-tier photos or go at sunrise to avoid crowds.

Pro Tip Try to spot dolphins in the ocean. if you’re lucky, you might even get an orca sighting!

Best for families: Ecology Trail

Distance: 1.7 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Trail type: Loop

Elevation Gain: 249 ft

Parking: Yes

Dogs?: Yes

Starting Point: Arguello Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129

Another spot in the Presidio, the ecology trail is moderately strenuous and great for families. Just note that the trail is not paved, so if you have small children, you’ll need a trail-friendly stroller or a baby carrier.

Pro Tip Watch out for coyotes on the trail! If you bring a dog, keep them leashed.

MORE: San Francisco to Yosemite road trip

Best for a challenge: Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve

Distance: 2.0 miles

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Trail type: Loop

Elevation Gain: 495 ft

Parking: Yes

Dogs?: Yes

Starting Point: Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco doesn’t have a lot of mountains, which can make it hard to find a particularly challenging hike. If you want a challenge, we recommend going for a trail run at Mount Sutro and taking an extra loop or two to get in more mileage!

Pro Tip Want even more of a challenge? Try heading over the bridge to
Mount Tamalpais
for some mountain trails by the coast!

Best for dates: Lands End Trail

Distance: 3.4 miles

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Trail type: Loop

Elevation Gain: 538 ft

Parking: Yes

Dogs?: Yes

Starting Point: Lands End Trail, San Francisco, CA

Lands End will take you along the west coast, giving you a view of the roaring ocean and San Francisco’s natural beauty, from eucalyptus trees to rocky cliffs. You’ll also get a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge!

For the perfect date, we recommend hitting Lands End in the late afternoon for a sunset hike, then grabbing a drink and dinner nearby.

Tips for hiking in San Francisco

Before you hit the trails in San Francisco, check out our tips for hiking in SF:

Layer up! San Francisco is windy and can get especially chilly on hikes in the shade and by the ocean. Wear a light sweatshirt or jacket, but layer underneath in case it’s a warm day.

Bring lots of water. Many of SF’s hikes have limited water stations. Bring water to avoid dehydration—it can happen any day!

Watch out for coyotes. Coyotes are all around San Francisco’s Presidio and even south in Golden Gate Park. Avoid hiking alone if possible, and always keep dogs on a leash, since encounters with coyotes can be deadly for animals.

Read parking signs. If you are parking on the street for your hike, read all the signs! SFMTA is notorious for giving out parking citations relentlessly, and they typically run around $100 a pop.

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