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    Glen Canyon Park

    4.5 (160 reviews)

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    Strava recording
    Scott F.

    It's great to drop into this Canyon. Nice trails, great for climbing stairs. The park is accessible from many side streets, so parking should not be difficult. See the Strava map. There are a lot of childrens groups who hike through here as part of school / day care.

    Lety G.

    Awesome park with trialing you can hike without leaving the city! There's a good amount of trails to choose from, all with different difficulties so there's something for everyone. And as you move up the hills you start to get some really great views of the city. My sister and I chose one that took us up to Twin Peaks and it was a really great work out! There's street parking but it's SF so make sure to read all the signs!

    Becky V.

    As a local I didn't know this was here. Sure we drive by the road all the time but didn't think there were trails in the canyon. If you start at the trailheads there is a map showing all the trails and difficulty of this whole canyon Dirt paths Many dog walkers along the way be safe and bring water!

    Entrance
    Lynn F.

    Beautiful surroundings, you can smell the fresh air & hear the birds singing. A lot of off leash good doggies & joggers. An amazing oasis in the city. I'm kinda jealous. I chose to get my steps in nature today instead of my usual dangerous retail therapy routes. Minus point for: Rec Center unmarked, no signage on various trails. Actually, I found one just before the Rec Center on my way out. Next time, turn right at the fork just past the Rec Center. No map to your left. Never got enough bars to look up city trail maps. No trail markers until well into woods. Unless you have a map, names of trails are meaningless. I wish the trails listed the degree of difficulty, length, & had some benches along the way. How about mile markers? The info boards along the way are interesting, one was so weathered it was unreadable. I think I look harmless, but 1/2 the people looked grumpy & didn't acknowledge my greeting. The other half super friendly. One woman told me that from afar I looked like a witch. I'm not sure why. Regular pants & T, long hair & a baseball hat. Frankly, I watch too many murder shows & imagined i'd be offed before I found my way out. I know there's coyotes here too. Should have carried a walking stick. I'm writing this review now in case I don't get home. Someone will find me eventually! Terrifying lack of guard rails on the narrow rocky upward trail I had no idea I was heading to. Again, where is the rec center? Yelp listing says "Easy walk" . Wrong, unless you know where you're going. So, lower trail lovely. The higher you go, the more treacherous, narrow passages, lots of large rocks & no guard rails. Now that I understand the layout I plan to return with a bag lunch & sit on a picnic table by the playground. Destination Worthy.

    City worker on phone at work, tried to scare my dog and wife.
    Matthew W.

    I've had repeated negative experiences at Glen Park Canyon, Rec, and Park. Ever since I stopped working for the city as a gardener, the visits here have become uncomfortable and unsettling. Staff often sit in their trucks or drive by on lawnmowers, staring at me and even frightening my wife and our dog. It feels harassing and completely unprofessional. I've also dealt with people making rude comments from their vehicles and even trying to speed past me while I cross the street. Photos have been provided as proof. To make things worse, aggressive off-leash dogs are a constant problem, and no one seems to address it. This park no longer feels safe or welcoming.

    Maya R.

    We've lived in SF for 8 years and have somehow never been to Glen Canyon Park. We came on a Sunday afternoon and there were quite a few people but it didn't feel too crowded. There were paths in the shade and some in the sun too! Dogs are allowed but are supposed to be on leash however, there were a good amount of dogs off leash. Parking was pretty easy/free which was nice!

    Shayla B.

    Glen Canyon Park nearly blew my mind. The park itself is great and all, and I will most certainly get to that part. But those hiking trails... dayum! Who would have thunk it?! Seriously though! I had no idea that there were hiking trails hiding BEHIND this park. Like, full on dirt paths between shady groves and aaaalllll of that. So UN-San Francisco-like... and that's what makes it even that much more likable. Decided to take a trip to SF one day to go hiking, and AllTrails lead me to this park. At first glance, I thought it was a mistake. The park is definitely gorgeous; large green grassy fields with tons of recreational space, walking paths, kids playground and all of that jazz. Like a mini Dolores Park or damn near any kind of nice SF park for that matter. But once the trail lead me to the back of the park, my eyes lit up. What in the hell was this?! This can't be SF. No way Jose! But it was and it is. Gorgeous little hiking trails that will connect you to several other parks. Ended up doing an 8 mile urban loop hike from Glen Canyon Park to Twin Peaks to Mount Sutro and back, and it was quite the journey but oh so enjoyable. Hiking through Glen Canyon was definitely one of my favorite parts. I literally walked through tall shady groves that were filled with beautiful ferns and wildflowers. A section of the trail is paved making it perfect for strollers and those who are handicapped to enjoy. There are stairs on a few of the trails that will allow you to connect to other parks and neighborhoods, but you can also just loop around the trails that are right in the park. I started my hike around 9 am and didn't see too many people on the trail. But once I made it back to the park in the afternoon, the park was bustling. People were out having picnics and playing field games. Lots of people walking their dogs, children, and themselves. The park itself is great for leisurely play and picnicking. But don't try to get there at high noon because it will already be packed. This was just a total surprise for me. I knew the park would be nice, but the fact that this park has hidden hiking trails made it special.

    Montage of images from Glen Canyon Park
    Ed U.

    ** The following review reflects my experience prior to the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** This is the very definition of an urban oasis and very San Franciscan in that most of it clings somewhat precariously on a steep hill. Believe it or not, I had never experienced this park myself until just before the shelter-in-place order took full effect but just as social distancing was being strongly encouraged. That necessary requirement became particularly challenging on the wooden stair-step trails that gradually take you down into the canyon adjacent to O'Shaughnessy Hollow. Still there were plenty of resting spots next to the more significant rock outcroppings. I noticed that was where most people stayed put. Otherwise, more casual visitors walked or jogged the central paved walkway. I came by way of the Turquoise Way Trailhead off Amber after an ambitious walk from the Castro, over the Swish Alps, and up into Diamond Heights. I made my way to the main entrance near Chenery. Glad I was able to enjoy it as I'd like to return someday when things normalize...hopefully. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and subsequently reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

    Short and easy hike along the higher ridge trail
    Greg S.

    Beautiful park with some interesting vistas and topography, tucked in the middle of Glen Park. There are lots of dogs on and off leash here. So be prepared for heavy canine encounters. Mossst people were courteous and wore face coverings. Thank you! We hiked briefly along a higher ridge trail. Down in the canyon where the path is paved, and on the level grassy knoll, it was pretty much a crowd for my comfort level. This is clearly a popular spot to get outdoor s.

    There's some information signs to read here
    Elaine N.

    It was a clear day outside, so we decided to check out a hiking spot or be around nature at a place we haven't been to yet. We found this spot online and turns out there's more than one trail here at Glen Canyon Park! We chose the Christopher Playground Trail. We went here around 3:30pm on Saturday and it wasn't crowded. I thought there would be more people because of the lack of activities to do during COVID right now. There were a few times where people passed by us hehe, but that's because we were busy taking pictures of this beautiful place at different elevation levels! I'd recommend this place! It's an easy hike with mostly flat trails and lots of good views. It didn't feel like we were still in the city, so that was nice. I also saw a few people bring their dogs here too.

    Glen Canyon Park  07.24.21|Saturday
    Korina Y.

    You can "hike " from this park to Christopher Park taking some nice uphill staircases and dirt trails with pretty views of the city ( on clear days ). Trails branch out in several different directions but , they are nicely marked so you won't get lost. Both playgrounds are spacious, nicely maintained and clean. Today , both places were pretty crowded but plenty of play structures and large grass areas for kids to run around. A warning sign says Adults must be accompanied by a child. Park code 3.02 . I thought that was cute.

    Jonathan C.

    Great local trail with lots of variety in the paths. There's lots of switchbacks and areas with trees and open areas with nice views. Doing a loop will take about 1-2 hours. Not ideal for individuals with mobility issues as there are uneven paths and areas with steps. The park itself is nice with lots of open green field for families and tennis courts and baseball fields. Plenty of street parking near Turquoise Way Trailhead

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    10 months ago

    Just the most wonderful park to bring your kid. The trees are unreal. Grass is so well maintained. So so serene and lovely

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    2 years ago

    Very nice walk with girlfriend and pup. Super quiet neighborhood, easy parking, good views. Perfect to start off my spring!

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    Review Highlights - Glen Canyon Park

    The trails lead up into the neighborhood or towards Christopher park where you can go to Safeway or Walgreens for whatever need.

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    Mount Tamalpais State Park

    Mount Tamalpais State Park

    4.8
    (433 reviews)
    14.1 mi

    My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

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    Golden Gate Park

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    4.7
    (1.4k reviews)
    2.7 mi

    We were visiting the de Young museum which is right by Golden Gate Park. After we finished at the…read moremuseum we had a picnic lunch in the park at the music concourse area. The park is huge and museums, lakes, and cultural attractions like the Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. There are lots of park benches for sitting and beautiful water fountains to admire. There is a parking garage close by called the music concourse parking that costs $5 per hour. It's a lovely place to take a nice walk. The gardens are beautiful.

    Today I entered the park at 19th Avenue/ crossover and took the pedestrian path up to stow lake,…read moremeandered up and around back to the rose garden and continued through Hero's grove. Then I kept going! When I got to the conservatory of flowers, I turned around and went all the way back and down past rainbow falls, Lloyd lake, past Hellman hollow to Spreckle's lake, said hello to the Bison and took a left and exited just past chain of lakes. What an adventure! I saw red tail hawks, blue jays, blue herons, all kinds of ducks, two turtles and of course the Bison. There are some beautiful views, art exhibitions, interactive displays and tons of photo worthy spaces. There are these beautiful pianos set up throughout the park for the public to play which I enjoyed practicing on. So many of the local plants are blooming so the flowers and trees sing with life. I stuck to the pedestrian trails but there are so many options off the beaten path for both hike vibes and bike rides. With the unique variety of San Francisco weather, it can go from overcast to sunny in a matter of moments, so it's always nice to have layers.

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    Golden Gate Park

    Glen Canyon Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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