Outdoor Activities in San Francisco

Road cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin

The classic San Francisco ride starts near Fisherman's Wharf, crosses the 1.7-mile Golden Gate Bridge on the west sidewalk (weekdays) or east sidewalk (weekends), and descends into Sausalito. From there, most riders continue north along Bridgeway to Mill Valley, or loop back via the Sausalito ferry ($14.50 one-way for bike and rider on Golden Gate Ferry as of 2025). The bridge sidewalk tends to get crowded on weekends by 11 AM, so an early start helps. Wind gusts on the bridge can reach 25 mph, and the fog makes the deck slippery. Worth noting, the return climb on the Marin side has a 5% grade that catches people off guard.

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

2-4 hours round trip depending on route

Best season

September through November, when fog is less frequent and winds tend to be calmer

Rock climbing at Glen Canyon Park

Glen Canyon sits in the geographic center of San Francisco, between Glen Park and Diamond Heights. The crags along Islais Creek offer about a dozen bouldering problems in the V0 to V4 range on chert and sandstone. The rock can be crumbly in places, so you'll want to test holds before committing. The canyon floor smells of eucalyptus and damp earth, and you might hear red-tailed hawks overhead. It's a low-key spot, mostly used by locals warming up for weekend trips to Castle Rock or Mickey's Beach. The park is free and open daily.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate bouldering (V0-V4)

Duration

1-3 hours

Best season

Year-round, though the rock is best when dry, typically April through October

Mountain biking in the Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, sit directly across the bridge and offer over 60 miles of fire roads and singletrack. The Coastal Trail from Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach covers about 3.5 miles of rolling terrain with ocean views down to the left. Marincello Trail climbs 800 feet over 3 miles from Tennessee Valley up to the ridge. The dirt gets slick after rain, and the descents on Old Springs Trail are rutted enough to rattle your teeth. You can smell the sage and coyote brush on the warm south-facing slopes. Mountain bikes are restricted to fire roads in many areas, so check the GGNRA map before heading out.

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous depending on route

Duration

2-5 hours

Best season

Late spring through early fall, May to October, when trails are dry

Surfing at Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach runs 3.5 miles along San Francisco's western edge, from the Cliff House south to Fort Funston. The waves here are powerful and inconsistent, with strong rip currents and cold water that hovers around 50-55°F year-round. You'll need a 4/3mm wetsuit minimum, and many locals wear 5/4mm with booties. The beach break shifts constantly, and the paddle-out can be punishing on bigger days. The south end near Sloat Boulevard tends to be more manageable for intermediate surfers. This is not a beginner wave. Stinson Beach, 30 minutes north, offers gentler conditions for learning. Ocean Beach picks up the biggest swells from October through March, when overhead days are common.

Difficulty

Advanced (strong currents, cold water, powerful shore break)

Duration

2-3 hour sessions typical

Best season

October through March for consistent swell, though rideable waves appear year-round

Trail running in the Presidio

The Presidio covers 1,491 acres on the city's northern tip, with over 24 miles of trails through eucalyptus groves, coastal bluffs, and former military installations. The Batteries to Bluffs Trail drops steeply from the coastal road down to Marshall's Beach, where the sand is coarse and the Golden Gate Bridge towers directly above. A popular 5-mile loop connects Lovers' Lane (the oldest footpath in San Francisco, dating to 1862), the Ecology Trail, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail segment along the ridge. The footing is mostly packed dirt and decomposed granite, though the Lobos Creek section gets muddy after storms. You'll hear foghorns on overcast mornings.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, with some steep sections on the bluff trails

Duration

45 minutes to 2 hours depending on distance

Best season

Year-round, with September and October offering the clearest skies

Hang gliding at Fort Funston

Fort Funston, perched on 200-foot bluffs at the city's southwest corner, is one of the most reliable hang gliding and paragliding sites on the West Coast. The prevailing northwest winds hit the cliff face and create consistent ridge lift. The Fort Funston Hang Gliding Club has been active here since the 1970s. Tandem flights with certified instructors run around $200-250 for a 15-20 minute flight. The launch area sits above a sandy beach where leashed dogs run and the wind carries the smell of salt and ice plant. Spectators gather on the observation deck near the parking lot off Skyline Boulevard.

Difficulty

Tandem flights require no experience; solo flying requires USHPA certification

Duration

15-20 minutes per flight; allow 2 hours total with setup and briefing

Best season

March through October, when northwest winds are most consistent

Tennessee Valley Trail to Tennessee Beach

This 3.4-mile out-and-back trail in the Marin Headlands starts from the Tennessee Valley parking lot, about 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The path follows a wide, flat fire road through a valley framed by coastal hills, then drops to a dark-sand cove flanked by 100-foot cliffs. The beach itself is small and the water is cold, around 52°F. Sneaker waves are a real hazard here, so stay well back from the waterline. The hike is flat enough for small children, though the last quarter mile to the beach has a mild descent. You'll hear red-winged blackbirds in the willows along the creek. The parking lot fills by 10 AM on weekends from April through October.

Difficulty

Easy (minimal elevation gain, about 100 feet total)

Duration

1.5-2 hours round trip

Best season

Year-round, though trails can be muddy December through March

Dipsea Trail from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley

The Dipsea is the oldest trail race in the United States, first run in 1905. The full trail covers 7.4 miles from downtown Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, dropping and climbing through Muir Woods and over rolling grassland ridges. Most hikers start from the Stinson Beach end and arrange a car shuttle or take the West Marin Stagecoach bus back. The climb out of Stinson gains about 1,400 feet over 2.5 miles, with sections of exposed switchbacks on the Steep Ravine side. The trail passes through dense redwood forest where the air cools 10 degrees and the light goes dim. You'll smell bay laurel leaves if you brush past them. The famous Dipsea Steps in Mill Valley, 688 stairs total, are the steepest section.

Difficulty

Strenuous (1,400+ feet elevation gain, uneven terrain, exposed sections)

Duration

4-5 hours one way

Best season

April through November, with September and October being the warmest and driest

Lands End Coastal Trail

This 3.4-mile trail stays entirely within San Francisco city limits, following the rocky northwest shoreline from the Sutro Baths to Eagle's Point near the Golden Gate Bridge. The path is mostly flat with a few short, rooty sections. You'll pass through stands of Monterey cypress that frame views of the Marin Headlands across the water. At low tide, the rusted ribs of old shipwrecks poke out of the rocks below. The trail can be slippery when fog drips off the trees, and a few sections have eroded cliff edges with drop-offs. Mile Rock Beach, accessible via a steep side trail, is a pocket cove where harbor seals haul out in winter.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate (mostly flat, some uneven terrain and short steep sections)

Duration

1.5-2.5 hours

Best season

Year-round, with the best visibility September through November

Mount Tamalpais via Steep Ravine to East Peak

Mount Tamalpais stands 2,571 feet above the bay, about 45 minutes north of San Francisco by car. The Steep Ravine Trail starts at the Pantoll Ranger Station and descends through a redwood canyon with a wooden ladder bolted to a rock face. Most hikers combine it with the Matt Davis Trail for a 7.2-mile loop that traverses open grassland ridges with views of the Pacific, Stinson Beach, and Point Reyes. The East Peak summit, accessible by a separate 0.4-mile paved path from the parking lot, has a fire lookout and a view that extends to the Sierra Nevada on exceptionally clear days. The temperature on the ridgeline can be 15 degrees warmer than the canyon floor. Parking at Pantoll costs $8 per vehicle.

Difficulty

Strenuous (1,500+ feet elevation gain on the full loop, wooden ladder section, uneven footing)

Duration

4-6 hours for the full Steep Ravine/Matt Davis loop

Best season

Late April through October, with wildflowers peaking in May

Muir Woods to Muir Beach via the Coastal Trail

This 5.5-mile point-to-point hike starts at the Muir Woods National Monument entrance and climbs out of the redwood canyon via the Ben Johnson Trail, gaining about 900 feet to the Coastal Trail junction. From there, you descend through chaparral and grassland to Muir Beach, a quiet cove with coarse sand and a creek outlet. The redwood section at the start is dark and cool, with ferns thick along the creek. The coastal section opens up to Pacific views and dry grass that turns golden by July. Muir Woods requires a parking reservation ($9 per vehicle, book at recreation.gov), though you can avoid this by taking the Marin Transit Route 66 shuttle on weekends from the Sausalito ferry terminal.

Difficulty

Moderate (900 feet of climbing, mostly on well-maintained trail)

Duration

3-4 hours one way

Best season

Year-round for the redwoods; April through October for the coastal section

Point Reyes, Tomales Point Trail

Tomales Point sits at the northernmost tip of the Point Reyes peninsula, about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco. The trail runs 9.4 miles round trip through open grassland along a narrow ridge between Tomales Bay and the Pacific. Tule elk herds graze along the route. At one point the peninsula narrows to maybe 200 yards wide, with water visible on both sides. The trail is mostly flat to gently rolling, but there is no shade and no water, and the wind can be fierce. On a clear afternoon the views stretch north to Bodega Bay. The trailhead is at the Pierce Point Ranch, a preserved 1850s dairy ranch with whitewashed buildings still standing.

Difficulty

Moderate (flat but long, no shade, exposed to wind)

Duration

4-5 hours round trip

Best season

September through November for warmth and elk rutting season; wildflowers peak in April and May

Kayaking in Richardson Bay and Sausalito

Richardson Bay, on the sheltered side of the Marin Headlands, offers the calmest paddling water near San Francisco. Sea Trek in Sausalito rents single kayaks starting around $30/hour and runs guided full-moon paddles for about $85 per person. The bay is shallow, rarely more than 10 feet deep at high tide, and harbor seals lounge on the houseboats near Gate 5 Road. Morning paddles before 10 AM tend to have the flattest water, before the afternoon westerly fills in. You'll see egrets in the mudflats at low tide and the Sausalito waterfront looks like a Mediterranean hillside from the water.

Difficulty

Easy (sheltered water, minimal current in the bay proper)

Duration

1.5-3 hours

Best season

April through October, mornings before the wind builds

SUP and kayaking at McCovey Cove and Mission Creek

Mission Creek Channel, running behind Oracle Park in the Mission Bay neighborhood, is a flat-water canal sheltered from the bay's wind and current. City Kayak, based at South Beach Harbor near Pier 40, rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards starting around $35/hour. On game days, kayakers and SUP riders gather in McCovey Cove beyond the right-field wall hoping for home run balls. That said, the cove gets choppy when ferries pass. The creek itself is calm and narrow, lined with houseboats and new apartment buildings. Water quality has improved since the 2012 restoration, but you still probably want to avoid a full submersion.

Difficulty

Easy (flat water, sheltered from open bay conditions)

Duration

1-2 hours

Best season

Year-round, though summer and early fall have the warmest air temperatures

Open-water swimming at Aquatic Park

Aquatic Park, at the foot of Van Ness Avenue near Ghirardelli Square, is the hub of San Francisco's open-water swimming community. The curved municipal pier creates a small, semi-protected cove about 400 yards across. Water temperature ranges from 50°F in winter to maybe 62°F in September. The Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club, both founded in the 1870s, share a building on the beach and welcome day-use swimmers. Most swimmers wear neoprene, though the club old-timers go without. The bottom is sandy and visibility is poor, maybe 3-4 feet on a good day. You'll taste salt and feel the tidal pull near the opening between the piers. Lifeguards are not on duty, so swimming is at your own risk.

Difficulty

Moderate to advanced (cold water, no lifeguards, tidal currents near the pier opening)

Duration

30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on cold tolerance

Best season

September and October for the warmest water; year-round for club swimmers

Sailing on San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay is one of the windiest urban sailing venues in the world. The slot effect through the Golden Gate accelerates westerly winds to 20-30 knots on summer afternoons. OCSC Sailing in Berkeley offers introductory lessons starting at about $99, and skippered charter boats out of San Francisco Yacht Club or South Beach Harbor run $400-800 for a 3-hour outing. The flood tide pushes northeast and the ebb pulls toward the Golden Gate, with currents reaching 4-5 knots near Alcatraz. You'll feel the temperature drop as you pass under the bridge. Even in August, spray over the bow is cold enough to make you flinch.

Difficulty

Varies. Crewed charters require no experience. Independent sailing demands strong skills due to current, wind, and commercial traffic.

Duration

2-4 hours for a typical outing

Best season

May through September for the strongest and most reliable afternoon winds; October for lighter winds and warmer air

Swimming and wading at Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach, 30 minutes north over Mount Tamalpais, is the closest thing to a warm-water swim beach in the San Francisco area. The water still only reaches about 58-62°F in late summer, but the beach faces south and the sand warms up nicely on clear days. The beach stretches about 3.5 miles, with the national park section near the village being the most popular. Lifeguards are on duty from late May through mid-September, weekends and holidays. Great white sharks have been spotted in the Red Triangle offshore, though attacks at Stinson are rare. The Parkside Cafe, a 2-minute walk from the sand, serves fish tacos for around $18 and local Lagunitas IPA on draft.

Difficulty

Easy for wading and calm-day swimming; moderate if swimming past the breakers

Duration

Half-day trip including the 45-minute drive each way

Best season

July through October, when fog is least likely to obscure the sun

Golden Gate Park stretches 3 miles from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to Ocean Beach, covering 1,017 acres. That makes it about 20% larger than Central Park in New York. The western half feels wilder, with sand dunes stabilized by Monterey cypress and a chain of small lakes. The eastern end is more manicured, with formal gardens, museums, and the 7.5-acre Stow Lake. On Sundays, JFK Drive is still closed to cars, and you'll find roller skaters near 6th Avenue and pickup soccer games on the polo fields. The park smells different depending on where you are. Near the Conservatory of Flowers it's humid and floral. Out by the bison paddock, about a mile west, it's grass and eucalyptus.

Highlights: The Conservatory of Flowers (1879, the oldest wood-and-glass conservatory in North America), the 55-acre Strybing Arboretum with over 8,000 plant species, Stow Lake with pedal boat rentals for $28-34/hour, and the herd of bison that has lived in the park since 1891

A former U.S. Army post turned national park site, the Presidio sits on 1,491 acres at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The forest here was planted by the Army beginning in the 1880s, mostly eucalyptus, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress, now totaling roughly 300,000 trees. Andy Goldsworthy's four permanent art installations are scattered through the woods, including Spire, a 90-foot tower of Monterey cypress trunks near the Arguello Gate entrance. The Officers' Club, built over adobe walls from the original 1776 Spanish presidio, currently houses exhibits on the site's history. Crissy Field, the restored tidal marsh along the bay, draws shorebirds and kite-flyers, and the wind there is relentless.

Highlights: Crissy Field's restored marsh and beach, Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Andy Goldsworthy's Spire and Wood Line sculptures, and the Walt Disney Family Museum ($25 adult admission)

Located inside Golden Gate Park at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, this 55-acre garden holds over 8,000 plant varieties from around the world. The Redwood Grove, planted in the 1930s, feels like a different climate zone. The air is cool and damp, the light filters green through the canopy, and the ground is soft with duff. The Mesoamerican Cloud Forest section uses misters to simulate highland tropical conditions, and on warm days you can feel the humidity shift as you walk from one garden to the next. San Francisco residents get in free with proof of address. Non-residents pay $13.

Highlights: The Ancient Plant Garden with species dating to the Jurassic era, the Succulent Garden, the California Native Plants section with 30+ local wildflower species, and the Moon Viewing Garden designed in the Japanese stroll-garden tradition

Lands End occupies the northwest corner of San Francisco, a rocky, wind-scoured stretch of coastline between the Cliff House and the Golden Gate Bridge. The 3.4-mile Coastal Trail runs along eroded bluffs above the remnants of three shipwrecks visible at low tide (the Ohioan, the Lyman Stewart, and the Frank Buck). The Sutro Baths ruins sit at the western end, concrete pools built in 1896 that could hold 10,000 swimmers at once. Now they're a roofless shell that fills with seawater at high tide. You might spot harbor seals on Mile Rock Beach, a scramble down a steep unofficial trail. Cypress trees lean sideways from decades of coastal wind.

Highlights: The Sutro Baths ruins, the Lands End Labyrinth (a rock spiral on a bluff near the 32nd Avenue trailhead), views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge, and the shipwreck remnants visible at minus tides

Twin Peaks, at 922 feet elevation, provides a 360-degree view of the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The two summits (Eureka Peak and Noe Peak) sit about 200 yards apart, connected by a paved loop road and a few dirt paths. The 64-acre natural area is one of the last remaining patches of native coastal grassland in the city. On clear days, you can pick out Mount Diablo 30 miles to the east, Mount Tamalpais to the north, and the Farallon Islands 27 miles offshore. Mind you, those clear days are somewhat rare in summer. The best visibility tends to come September through November. The parking lot fills up fast on weekends, but the 44-O'Shaughnessy bus stops within walking distance.

Highlights: Unobstructed 360-degree panorama, remnant native grassland with mission blue butterfly habitat, the Christmas Tree Point overlook, and night views of the city grid below

San Francisco's oldest park, established in 1867, covers 36 acres on a steep hill between Haight-Ashbury and the Castro. The summit sits at 569 feet, and the paths to the top are genuinely steep, with crumbling stone steps and tree roots crossing the trail. Old Monterey cypress trees, some over 100 years old, create a dark canopy that blocks most of the light in the upper sections. The bark smells resinous in the afternoon heat. From the top, you can see downtown, the Bay Bridge, and across to Oakland. It's a quieter alternative to Dolores Park, which gets packed on sunny weekends.

Highlights: Historic WPA-era stone gutters and stairways from the 1930s, century-old Monterey cypress grove, views of downtown and the Bay Bridge from the summit, and relatively uncrowded trails even on weekends