Mount Sutro Hike - A Hidden Forest in the City If you're looking for a peaceful, nature-filled escape in San Francisco, Mount Sutro is a fantastic choice. This lush, forested hike offers beautiful views, misty trails, and tons of mushrooms for those who love foraging or just admiring nature. Pro Tip: Get dropped off at the parking lot near the top rather than at the base--this way, you start in the woods and avoid hiking up along the road, which isn't as scenic. What to Expect: * Gorgeous groves and moss-covered trees * Plenty of mushrooms and plant life after rainy weather * Sweeping views of the city from certain points * A serene, quiet hike with fewer crowds than Twin Peaks The trails are well-maintained but can be muddy, so wear good hiking shoes! This is one of SF's best hidden gems for nature lovers who want a woodsy, foggy escape without leaving the city. Must-do: Take the trails through the trees at the top Perfect for: Nature lovers, mushroom hunters, and anyone wanting a peaceful city escape Highly recommend this hike--it feels like stepping into a fairy tale forest right in the middle of SF! read more

Mount Sutro - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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3.34 mile hike taking the East Ridge Trail to the top. Street parking on Clarendon Avenue. Some flowers were blooming but lots of poison oaks too. View of the city is blocked by tall eucalyptus trees but a clear view of Sutro Tower. Good place for trail running. Hikers : about 20 Mountain bikers : 3 Trail runners: 2 No wheel chair access No stroller access Level : easy read more

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Gee, I didn't know this is the third highest point in San Francisco. It's also the only one of the city's seven hills that I had never trodded much to my chagrin. However, I've seen fit to address this lapse by taking the 2-1/2-mile trail through the eucalyptus forest tucked between Cole Valley and UCSF. After walking up from the commercial center at Cole and Carl, I started the real hike at the near-hidden entry point for the Historic Trail on Stanyan at 17th. Often enshrouded in fog, the path was definitely woodsy with a lot of exposed tree roots - so be mindful as you take your steps. The incline to the summit was moderated by a series of switchbacks that made it quite manageable. Well, except for the occasional mountain biker who barreled through and yelled at me to get out of the way. So much for sharing the trail. A broad field of wildflowers greeted me at the summit along with a few benches and picnic tables. The thick forest didn't allow for much in terms of scenic views. A solution for that gap was making my way down to Clarendon where I walked over to Tank Hill to get the genuine panoramic views. Hill #7 conquered. Check. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU read more

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Mount Sutro is an excellent place to visit when you're in the city and want to get outdoors. The overall hike is moderate intensity, but it's a long winding one with great forest vibes throughout. If you plan to walk your dog here please plan ahead and do not leave your poop baggies along the trail like so many inconsiderate people have done in the past. ProTip for 2023, there is a detour on the Historic trail. If you're heading from the Stanyon trailhead and hit the road at Medical Center Way, you'll see a map board with the updated detour route. You go down to your right and then cross over the road and up a gravel hill. The hill is not hard, but be careful, the gravel is loose. There isn't a great view from the peak at this hike, which is why I gave it a 4. Places with better views get 5s. :) I spent about 2 hours here recently winding around the entire Historic trail and exiting by the base of Sutro tower. I suggest going up to the tower after if you have the time as well. It's so worth it and the views are fabulous. read more

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Redwoods and eucalyptus trees... in San Francisco?! Say it ain't so! I didn't believe it either. Well, that was until I hiked Mount Sutro. What a gorgeous open space reserve! Who would have thought that something like this would be hidden amongst the city?! Did an 8 mile loop hike from Glen Canyon to Twin Peaks to Mount Sutro and back, and the Mount Sutro portion was definitely my favorite part of this loop. The two main entrances to this open space reserve can be found off of Claredon Ave and/or Stanyan Street. Parking is limited to street only if you're planning on parking near the trailhead, and it seems to fill up pretty quickly. However, there's lots of street parking in the neighborhood if you don't mind walking a bit more to get to the trails. There are several little trails that you can connect together to make into a cool little hike. I started on the Fairy Gates trail and then connected to the historic trail, then the North Ridge trail, and then looped back on the Mystery trail. All of these trails are short but beautiful. The Fairy Gates trail was my favorite of the bunch. It's almost completely shaded and lined by beautiful Redwoods and Eucalyptus trees and vibrant shrubbery. This trail (and this park in general) seems to be very popular for mountain bikers too. Luckily they're polite here and will let you know when they are coming your way. Dogs are also permitted in this park but they must be leashed. The trails are pretty easy and are perfect for families and young children to enjoy too. I connected to the top of Mount Sutro through the North Ridge trail which affords you a beautiful view of the city. A gem of place in the city, and super easy to connect to from many different other parks and trails. read more

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Beautiful scenery with heights! A nice place to do some hiking. I happened to go along the west route starting from 7th and Warren Dr- big mistake on my part. Unless you want a super intense workout do not go this way lol. Before even getting to the mountain I had to climb a pretty steep hill AND flights of stairs. The entrance from this side is also pretty steep. Once you get to the trails, some areas are pretty muddy/ slippery and also have many rocks and branches on the ground. Be careful and do not check your phone as you walk. I'm not great on balance or steep inclines so personally this was more of an intermediate hike. Depending on your experience, you may find the difficulty varies. I saw people walking their dog, biking, running, etc. I was only able to go along the Historic Trail but I would definitely have to come back to try their other trails. read more

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I have come back to Mount Sutro for hikes. I went on a hike last year. Then last year I did gardening events with Bay Trail and Sutro Stewards. This year I visited Mount Sutro again with a Meetup. read more

Mount Sutro - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Our Out-and-Back route was a one and half hour round trip including a 15 minutes restroom break at The Aldea Center - thank you UCSF for the clean one stall flushing toilet.  Parked on Warren Dr, took the Oakhurst Lane steps to Crestmont Dr (there were much more avail street parking on Crestmont), entered West Ridge trailhead -- Nike Road to the summit -- East Ridge trail to The Aldea Center then returned by East Ridge trail -- Mystery trail -- North Ridge trail -- Nike Road -- West Ridge trail.   The Mystery trail was full of cool exhibits: Carved chair from tree stump Garden gnome Shrine for Dalai Lama and Tibet Carved tree from tree stump Had a great time with family on this short but strenuous hike. read more

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Went hiking with my friends to Mount Sutro Open Reserve. Great hiking trails but must watch out to poison oak there were a lot along the trails. Also part of historic trail is closed off due to lots of construction work being done there. Parking is residential street. It's a nice place to feel like a get away from the city life but you are actually still in the city. read more

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Nice hike near UCSF. Probably most people will walk 2-3 miles taking 1-2 hours. There are multiple points of entering the area from the surrounding neighborhoods with free street parking. The trees and flowers were very beautiful especially the leaves that draped the many trees. You also get a good view of the Pacific Ocean, part of the Golden Gate on the North side of the historic trail. Didn't see much wildlife other than birds. The one thing that was a bit annoying was that the trails on the East side don't connect but are essentially one way to a neighborhood so make sure to take a look at the map ahead of time. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous and green natural oasis right in San Francisco. There are so many winding trails in the park, which makes for a perfect day hike. We had no problem finding a free residential parking spot at the Fairyland Trailhead (past the Historic Trailhead) and spent about an hour and half going up to the summit and finding our way back down to the Cole Valley area. The Fairyland trail is definitely a steeper hike and we happened to traverse it the day after a heavy rain, which made for a muddy time. I definitely wouldn't recommend this trail if you're looking for an easy and relaxed hike. A bunch of a small trinkets are scattered around the mountain to make for an amusing hike and there are some gorgeous views of the city. This was a perfect day trip during COVID times since there weren't too many other hikers around and almost everyone was masked. read more

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Surprisingly good place for a moderate hike in San Francisco. I would recommend parking around 17th and stanyan. Google Maps takes you to the university parking that's restricted. It's near the Cole valley neighborhood too. It's not much of a view at the top but still a nice short hike. read more

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Hiked here it was so beautiful and a pretty nice trail. Easiest way in in my opinion it off Stanyan and 17th street. Maybe we were lucky, but we went 3 times through tour trip to SF and always found a spot either on stanyan or 17th. There is a good entrance off that corner. But you can also take stanyan all the way up and there's an entrance up there as well. A couple cool little Easter eggs along the way. Definitely worth the trip! read more

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Feels like a total rainforest the moment you gain some elevation. The air is foggy like in a movie thriller. It can also be pretty muddy if you're visiting in the spring and winter, but honestly we went in July and it was still so misty the ground was actually had to get traction on! Try to get there in the morning so the fog is at its peak- but be warned, it's actually chilly year round! The afternoon can be warmer if that's an alternative you prefer, and you'll have plenty of shade from any sun. There are multiple trails to try- you really can't go wrong with any of them! read more

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It's been many years since I've come here, and I was lucky enough to go on a docent-led hike to learn about some of the projects in place (done through a San Francisco non-profit that I volunteer for). There are a lot of new trails being built and native plant restoration happening. There is a beautiful board (done by an artist) showing you all the native flora/fauna at the peak. Note that unfortunately, there aren't great views at the peak as it's a clearing surrounded by trees, but generally throughout the park you get great views of Sutro Tower and the western part of the city! There are a lot of mountain bikers on these trails as well. They are trying to encourage bikers to hang bells on their handlebars so hikers can hear them coming; they are creating a program with free bells that bikers can borrow and then leave for others to use. Plenty of parking on a Wednesday at 5pm. I got a spot right in front of the trailhead! Dog-friendly is a major plus (as it is for all SF hiking trails!). Note there is a new trail head, the only one from a public street (without having to go through UCSF campus): Clarendon Trailhead. Our docent let us know that this was made by bikers and hikers. We did a short ~1 mile loop: Clarendon Trailhead South Ridge Trail North Ridge Trail Fairy Gates Trail At the end of this route, you can see the entrance to the Chancellor's house (of UCSF). It has a beautiful Japanese style garden. About half a block away is the Aldea center, which is newly built and has restrooms (we did have a code and with that could access these after hours, around 6:30pm). read more

Mysterious, romantic, and interesting trails. We went on July and thankfully were bundled up. It gets muddy from the fog. The park is gorgeous and smells amazing. I cannot report if there is a view as it was fogged in the day we went, which had its own quiet beauty. read more

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Ahh, Mount Sutro! You are truly the reason why San Francisco has a very special place in my heart. The nice hikes, beautiful scenery, tall green trees and the lovely unusual things you will see along the way (like goats!) HA. I had a chance to hike Mount Sutro on a lovely Saturday morning and it was such a perfect day to do so. Mount Sutro takes you to a whole new place that you never knew existed. While I walked down the trails into the forest, I forgot for a moment that the park is in the middle of the City! Mind you, these trails were built in the 1800's (cough cough), talkin' 'bout a long time ago! However, they were rediscovered a few decades ago and now while you walk through, you quickly notice that you are deep in the trails when you begin hearing the car noises being replaced with the lovely sounds of the chirping birds and the tall Eucalyptus. Some of the trails lead to many cutbacks going towards Stanyan St. I saw some people bike riding through the trails. I feel torn to write a review of this place as I regret telling everyone about this lovely beauty; it's a place like no other! A great way to escape the hectic, busy life in SF and replace it with lovely greenery as you meditate and take it all in. It seems like not everyone is aware of this place. It's a place tourist don't flock to and seems like more locals know of it. And if you haven't heard of it, you JUST found out! Go ahead, bookmark this place. You will wake up one morning and want to venture to it; it's well worth it- trust me! read more

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If you're on Stanyan just above 17th, and looking closely, you'll see a quaint little sign pointing you towards a forest. A forest? That's pretty much how my friends reacted when I suggested hiking here ("What's that?"), validating my hypotheses that the City's wonderful surprises are never-ending. If I were writing a children's fantasy book I'd make the entrance to the magical place just as it is on Stanyan: a small, unassuming sign that reveals nothing of the magic that beholds those who seek to enter. Up some steps (leashed dogs allowed) and past some homes lies (spoiler alert) an 80-acre, 125 year old temperate cloud forest filled with towering eucalyptus trees and 93 other plant species. A series of well-marked trails wind through the forest, looping back and forth and around. On a clear day some remarkable views can be had from scenic vantage points with which many of us aren't familiar. On a cloudy, foggy day, things can be even better. The clouds and fog provide 30% or more of the moisture here and exploring in those conditions puts your spidey-sense on high for gnome and hobbit sightings. This is surely where they live. Your hike here won't be lengthy but if you're a diligent, competent map-reader you might be able to cover every trail in the forest. None go on very long and they're all interwoven. If you've covered all of the trails and find yourself exiting the forest at a place different from where you entered, all the better. The area is chock-full of beautiful homes that create a second thing to marvel at as you hike back to your starting point. UCSF owns 75% of the land here and has plans to "thin" things out. Depending on sources, this could result in the felling of more than 30,000 trees. I hate to end things on a bum note, but now is likely the time to experience Sutro Forest. So go. Go now, and let me know if you see a gnome. read more

Take the N Judah to the Stanyan and Carl stop and walk uphill 5 blocks to 17th Street. A few feet further is the entrance between two houses. read more

Wanted to hike somewhere with my son and decided to hike up Mt Sutro..thanks to yelpers . As advised we drove to Stanyan and lucky for us, we found parking on 17th. Then we searched for the brown painted staircase. Apparently it's very discreet and it's just slightly left in front of 17th, with a sign to be very quiet as it is a residential neighborhood and it's tucked in between two houses As we went up the stairs, we soon found ourselves in a very green and tall forest. Just loved the easy hike up. Be careful as the paths can be narrow. Best to walk one by one. Also, it can be muddy and slippery, so avoid hiking when it's been raining. Seems we were on the Historic trail. The signs are confusing but just go up and you can't go wrong. You will be walking on a ledge, so no horse playing and focus on your path. Definitely will go back again and will bring visitors to visit this beautiful secret forest. There's been talk about chopping these trees down, so enjoy them while it's still here. read more

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If you are looking for a quick hike in the city, the Mount Sutro paths are a good start. With fairly accessible street parking around the multiple entrances to this place, it is easy to get to and easy to hike. We parked on Edgewood avenue and walked straight up to the Edgewood trail. After that we wrapped around and followed the historic trail all the way down until it connected with the south ridge trail which we took up to the summit. After that we took the north ridge trail back down to where we came in. The entire area has a sort of enchanted forest type feel to it. The fog, the high canopy, the damp ground and lush vegetation throughout makes this hike a wonderful experience. It is a bit short to get a good sweat up but it is enjoyable nonetheless. read more

Mount Sutro - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beautiful nice hike! I took my dog here and it is defiantly dog friendly but, I wouldn't take her back for 2 reasons: 1) no parking around the area 2) poison oak EVERYWHERE!! It was stressful trying to make sure we didn't touch any because it was literally everywhere. I think this would be a better hike for adults, I would also wear pants just in case so you don't brush against it. read more

Awesome hiking trail in SF. Don't use Yelp for directions ... it doesn't take you to entrance. Entrance is on 17h and Stanyan. It's next to UCSF. Lots of berries and cherry plums on trail. Narrow trail and bikers use them as well. read more

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This is easily the city's best kept secret & it feels like it's in the heart of SF. Barely anyone here hiking when I went on the weekend. Once you start climbing up to the summit, you almost immediately smell all of the wild eucalyptus, that smell is really the highlight of this hike. ALSO do this hike near sunset, the trees filtering that low sun make for a beautifully surreal experience. Really windy up here so make sure you pack a hoodie or jacket. Enjoy! read more

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I love this hidden park! We parked on the street and walked in from the UCSF housing area. There are multiply entry points and we even walked by the Chancellor's home. You hit the top of the hill and while it's nothing spectacular, it's a nice break/hike in the woods. read more

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This is one of those reviews you post hoping it won't ruin a good thing. This is a great place for an urban hike. It is used very sparsely. There are trails in the woods. You could easily spend an hour in here. A few mountain bikers are the only risk, especially if, like me, you are walking a little dog. The access I use is from Crestmont, and you have to climb a bit. There used to be a rope you could use. I'm not sure if it's always there. It's rappelling about fifteen feet, so if you are ambulatory it's not difficult. It does get quite muddy after a rain. That's nature. read more

I love it here. I feel like I am away from everything and everyone in a forest far far away. Mt Sutro is perfect in all weather. When it's hot it's an escape from the heat because it's so shaded. When it rains the canopied trees protect you from the rain (unless it's a downpour) and when it's foggy and misty it has a cool eerie, mystical feeling. It can get pretty windy on the western side. It kind of reminds me of the show Lost when they looked into the jungle and could hear the trees rustling and hear the whispers of the Others. The trails can be a little narrow and it seems that more people mountain bike here than hike so you kinda always need to pay attention to that and move aside. There are a few different entrances but the most popular one is on Stanyan street. Technically you are going through the Interior Greenbelt there and once you pass Medical Center way Mt Sutro Starts. They sort of blend in together. read more

Great for a quick hike! We started off with the Historic Trail and took the Fairy Gates Trail afterwards. It took a little less than an hour. It's a very surreal location since the city is almost entirely hidden by the tall trees and greenery of this place. I read a Yelp review that said this would be a hard to navigate place, but I think as long as you stick to the trails, you should be fine and will stumble upon a sign eventually, directing you to which trail is which way. Anyways, if you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving it, this place is the one. But if you're looking for striking views of the city, I'd go elsewhere (Twin Peaks, Bernal Heights Hill -- to name a few). read more

Gorgeous hike in the middle of the city. There was so much unexpected greenery and it was so tranquil and peaceful being there and hearing the trees ruffle in the wind. Tbh though, I didn't go in as far as I wanted to; I read too many reviews about the poisonous oak trees and I wasn't entirely sure what they looked like, so as the path got more and more narrow, it'd be impossible not to brush by the branches and leaves and that freaked me out :$ Also, it's a pretty discreet spot, so look for a small sign with a few red steps and it'll take you right in! Enjoy! read more

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Sunny SF days call for a trip with Mother Nature! It won't be the longest hike of your life (that would be Half Dome for me!) but all the interwoven trails behind UCSF's backyard make for a nice getaway during lunch or for the residents, a short walk around the neighborhood. Who knows where you'll end up? while walking the trail, enveloped by the canopy of trees, you'll faintly hear stirrings of urban life. We did our warm up here prior to running the tracks at nearby Kezar Stadium. But if you're entering the woods through 17th street (and Stanyan) it's a fun introduction to Mount Sutro. Get off the couch, stop yelping and start walking. read more

Completely magical. Completely transformative. There is nothing quite like a hike in the gentle nurturing expanse of mother nature - to help you gain focus, gain perspective, and gain enlightenment. Mount Sutro is what's up. Trust. read more

Mt. Sutro has a Gorillas in the Mist/Fairyland feel to it. It's tall hillside forest of ivy-wrapped trees that beckons you to explore the second you breathe in the intoxicating scent of Eucalyptus wafting in the moist air. The trails were a bit slick due to recent rain. Each bend had some new magical view, and has you half-hoping to discover some lost civilization. Beware of the long and prickly blackberry vines trying to claim back the trails and also poison oak. The hillside was ultra lush and uber green as in lucky charms green, with many different flowers in bloom from bleeding hearts to roses as well as a whole hillside of giant nasturtiums. We explored for a fair bit before high tailing it to the beach for sunset, but not without the promise to return and explore more trails to nowhere and somewhere. We loved the views of the city from between the trees and admired the lovely homes in the neighborhood! This is a splendid place that takes you away from the bustle of the city and is worth exploring. read more

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Such a magical gem, hidden away in the heart of SF. Seeing the tall eucalyptus trees hugged by ivy and colorful flowers on the trail just makes all your troubles melt away. The fog that gently rests upon the canopy makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale. I found this link to be very helpful in terms of parking, what to expect, and how to be prepared. It's worth a read before you go. But if you want to wing it, you will still have a great time :) There are so many trails! http://mntsutro.com/hiking/ It's usually easy to find parking near 17th and Stanyan. The trailhead there is just an inconspicuous wooden staircase between two residential houses! Within a few steps, you are immediately transferred to a quiet, serene natural world without the sounds of the city. It's pretty amazing how quick the transition is. As you hike on, you can see a view in the distance, but you don't really see or hear any streets or cars, which makes it very calming and close to nature. This experience is so unique to SF; just 15 minutes outside of downtown, you can step inside this forest and immediately forget that you're in the heart of one of the busiest cities in America! read more

Mount Sutro - the serenity! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've had Mount Sutro bookmarked for quite some time but finally made it there yesterday for some urban hiking. Having taken Muni to the Castro station, it was about a 1 mile walk up 17th Street to the entrance on Stanyan. Turn left on Stanyan and you will see the short set of wooden stairs to enter. Once on the trail, the noise and bustle of the city faded away. There was the whisper of the trees and the chirps of the birds, as I felt far away from the city. Everything was blanketed in green and while it was not muddy on the day I ventured in, I can imagine the trails getting slippery if there is any rain at all. The fog was rolling in and the forest took on a magical quality. Trails seemed well maintained and were easy to follow with sign posts at regular intervals. I took the Historic trail up from Stanyan to the Northridge and up to the Summit. The summit itself has an open meadow but none of the sweeping views of the other hills in the city you might come to expect. That's okay-the Sutro forest is more about the journey than the destination. Coming down, I took the Eastridge trail, to the Mystery trail, then somehow connected with the same path I took up to get back to Stanyan. On the way down I took a short detour on the Fairy Gates trail-it featured some unique rock formations and ended at a residential area. It was worth a short out and back walk from the main trail. Easy paths but narrow in some areas. The only time it's an issue is when you encounter a mountain biker. They sometimes come down fast and there's not a lot of room to move over for them. Although, overall, everyone was friendly, cautious and respectful of each other on the trails. All in all, this is a wonderous little forest right in the middle of the city and worth a trip if you want to enjoy a short, peaceful hike. If you're up for additional urban hiking, you can easily combine it with a trek up to Corona Heights park and the Randall Museum, which is what I ended up doing. Or, if you're super ambitious, you can also find your way up to Twin Peaks. Loved every second and every path I ventured on in the Sutro Forest. read more

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Quite possibly the best Eucalyptus forest in the whole city, and only 3 reviews (and one of those was really just a Sutro Tower review). Pretty lame, San Francisco... Actually, it's not your fault. There is very little documentation or word-of-mouth about Mt Sutro. Even I was led to believe that there were no maintained trails up there. Only when I went jogging into the UCSF housing complex one foggy morning did I discover a trail that led me into a magical elf-kingdom. One of the houses (perhaps the RA?) was even set well into the forest, so that looking out the window it would be impossible to believe that you were actually in a city. Lucky bastards. Anyway, all park-lovers in SF owe it to themselves to get out here! As Lloyd C points out, there's even a trail restoration group you can join. I'll have to sign up for that one of these days. read more

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This is a beautiful, dog-friendly place to hike which is little-known and therefore not crowded. The trails are lush and green, with towering trees, some over 200 years old. A hike to the top of this 909-ft mountain and back is just under 2 miles, and the trail snakes gently around the mountain so it's not too strenuous. There are some interesting rock formations on the trail, and you can even catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Treasure these views because unfortunately there isn't much of a view from the peak, (unlike at Mount Davidson). However, it's still a beautiful hike and definitely worth checking out. We did not have any problems with poison oak despite the signs. We parked for free on Clarendon Ave at about Johnstone Drive, and walked into the Aldea San Miguel (UCSF) housing on Johnstone Drive, then walked up the first small hill and took the Fairy Gates Trail to the right. There are Porta Potties and a hand wash station at this entrance. After 1/3 a mile, we took the Historic Trail to the left. You will soon have to cross a UCSF road, with a road barrier on the side. The trail continues directly across the road. I did not see any cars on the road during my hike, but still be careful crossing. The Historic Trail snakes around the mountain, and at one mile, take the South Ridge trail to your left, which will take you on a briefly paved trail, and then leads you to the summit. From here I took the North Ridge Trail back down, and once again crossed the road to the Fairy Gates Trail, which led me back to where I started and cuts off about 0.2 miles. You can also head back the way you came. There are a few other trails in the Open Space to explore, and if you are looking for a longer hike, you can start at the Stanyan Trailhead (off of Stanyan St. near 17th St.). Unfortunately UCSF is in the process of cutting down thousands of trees on 25 acres. In 2014 they cut down over 200 trees! You can find an online petition to sign to Save Sutro Forest. read more

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Wow, really nice and quiet SF urban hiking! I can't believe this is in SF city. We found the new Stanyon Trailhead entrance near the intersection of 17th st and Stanyon St, marked by a wooden fence and walkway. Stanton Trail is a fairly steep winding ascend for about 20 min, not wheelchair friendly or those with bad knees should go right to the flatter Historic Trail by the UCSF medical center. But you are rewarded with a spectacular city sight at the apex with GG Park with the city skyline in the background shows you the contrast of nature vs city. Beware, bring a map to print out (Hit the + on Visiting Mount Sutro and you can see a link to print a PDF map, low res in my uploaded photo.) http://www.ucsf.edu/about/cgr/current-projects/mount-sutro-open-space-reserve it is possible to get a bit lost in here because of the tall trees and winding trails. We started straight west on the new Stanyon Trailhead onto Lower Historic Trail that just opened in June of 2011. The trails were well maintained, but I don't think the loose dirt and hanging branches will survive a storm, so watch your weather reports before heading here or you will get very muddy and wet. Dogs welcome on leashes, MANY dogs are unleashed (SHAME ON YOU), all nice dogs, but with narrow single track trails with the occasional speeding mountain biker and running toddler, could cause a nasty situation. Lots of poison oak, so keep your kids from touching the green ivy like plants that surround you! Long pants is suggested or shower well immediately after hike. And no garbage cans or bathrooms except at the end of East Ridge Trail (Community Center across the street). If you are stuck in the north end is the UCSF Medical Center but most is not open to public, a bit of a walk to the 2nd bathroom location across the street of Parnassus Ave by the Library has another bathroom, but limited service hrs. In a pinch Historic Trail walk a few min in you can take a quick squat or drain the snake without many visitors even on a Sunday early afternoon the tall trees hide any naughty parts, so bringing soft tissues with water bottle is highly suggested. Enjoy! read more

Mount Sutro - MAP - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a totally cool urban hiking trip that's work checking out. I ventured there by taking the 43 Muni and getting off at 7th Ave and Warren Drive (btw, check out the great public garden at that corner - it's open to the public.) Wander up Warren Drive and look for the REALLY big flight of Oakhurst stairs that reach up to Crestmont Drive. Take a left at Crestmont and walk to the corner and find the trail. From there, you have several options to walk, so I'd check the trail maps mentioned in the other reviews here. After a short walk to the top, I wandered back down and took the Historic Trail north and ended up walking through the UCSF surge parking lot and down to Parnassus. I veered right and found the Farnsworth stairs down into Cole Valley. Grab a bite in Cole Valley or Inner Sunset around 9th and Irving and it's a perfect day! It's a fun, somewhat out-of-the-way hike that combines views of the ocean and surrounding SF vistas. Get out, take your camera and go for it! read more

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Who knew there was a forest here in the city! Such a nice nature area hidden away. Listened to some other reviews that advised us to take the wooden stairs entrance on 17th and Stanyan. Didn't have to pay for parking, just parked on the curb of houses nearby. We went on a super windy day so the trees looked like they were gonna topple over any second. Branches were constantly falling off the trees and sometimes hit us (bulls eye!). We attempted to search for the Fairy Gates trail but it started to get dark so we turned around. I'd like to come back again and explore more. Overall, beautiful scenery. I'm sure it looks prettier on a sunny day or even a foggy one. But nonetheless, managed to get some cool photos and had a great experience. Generally easy hike. General rule: never touch any plants! Poison oak is in the area so be watchful. read more

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Hiking this trail, make sure you bring a map and not rely solely on the path markers. Without our map, it's pretty safe to say we would have been lost for a while. With that said, this is a nice, easy hike that feels very secluded from the rest of the city. Do keep in mind that the trail gets very muddy in some areas and there is no way to avoid having to sludge through the mud. As far as a whole hiking experience, the place is pretty nice. However, given that you can find this kind of secluded hiking in the middle of San Francisco, makes it particularly special. read more

Mount Sutro - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California