Mount Sutro is definitely a hidden gem. I felt like hiking one day but didn't want to travel far for a good trail so I asked my significant other to look for a place on Yelp. Mount Sutro seemed to fit our criteria so we decided to give it a try. This place is amazing! It's like a hidden forest in the middle of the city. It's very peaceful and not too crowded you almost forget you're in the middle of SF. We decided to try the historic trail since it seemed pretty low key which is what we wanted. I would definitely return and explore other trails/paths. read more

Mount Sutro - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fog or no fog this place is a keeper.If you like to take a walk,hike or love the sight of trees,well this is the place for you. My first time here it was raining and the guy I was with wanted me to see this gem. Amazing,for the active one. read more

Urban hiking is great. It is a lil easy to get lost/get off the trail, though--so as other Yelpers have suggested, be sure to bring a map!

Close, beautiful, superb. It is a great quick walk, great steps... beautiful and secluded feeling. No view from the top tho. read more

The number-one hill for sweet smells and calm, Mount Sutro has no views on account of the ginormous eucalytpus on top, and no people on account of it's privately owned by UCSF, but it's like a tour to the smell factory. I guess its all those herbs they planted in the meadow on top. Amazing. Also very interesting hiking. It's the only SF hill that I know that is all jungle all the way to the top. A couple access points: Walk up a road from 190 Behr ave. Go up. You'll cross a white chain laid across the road. Turns out you can pull the center post that holds this chain up out of the ground, in case you wanted to do a little illegal dirtbiking or jeep racing up there and disturb all the calm happy people. Scramble up the hill from a little bush path in front of 465 Crestmont. There's a welcome mat in front of some little tiny homemade wooden steps that run right up into the forest. Take a well-groomed path across the street from the UCSF overflow parking lot at 130 Medical Center Way. It's next to some big tanks of some kind. read more

As a member of the Mount Sutro Stewards (and a part time Yelper) it is wonderful to see not only the change in Sutro Forest, but more importantly to hear the fabulous remarks from people who are experiencing and enjoying an improved quality of life. Same goes for the wildlife and habitat, which continues to flourish. San Francisco needs more sustainable, multi use trails to connect our green spaces, especially if it continues to reveal and encourage our dormant native plant seed and root bed which is struggling to compete with the invasive grasses, ivy, and blackberry thickets. Please bookmark the official webpage to keep informed of future plans and events. http://sutrostewards.org/ Cheers ps- There are several new projects that are being discussed and approved and we will continue to need your support to make them reality. read more

Looking for: beautiful park? CHECK Awesome hiking trails: CHECK Convenient location: CHECK One of my favorite parks in San Francisco for obvious reasons. If you're looking for something fun to do outside in this wonderful city I strongly recommend Mount Sutro. Even if you don't take advantage of the hiking/exercise you can still come for a stroll or picnic to relax. read more

Best hike ever. The eucalyptus is breath taking-go ahead breath it in! The trailhead is a bit tricky to get to,but worth the adventure in a beautiful neighborhood. City views are fantastic-take lots of photos. Nice hike for a dog,a mix of different inclines. You're so surrounded by greenery- you won't believe you're in the heart of the city. Friendly vibe, not bad for beginners, surely a memorable adventure. This is the kind of place you tell stories about. It's dreamy:) read more

This crisp, autumnal weather of late has me on a sentimental path. For five years, Baxter-Boo and I lived between Twin Peaks and Forest Hill, so were within walking distance of the greater Mount Sutro area, as well as the reservoir on the opposite side of Clarendon (where the fugly tower looms). On a foggy weekend morning, I strongly recommend getting a little transcendental by wandering the winding road and trails and just inhaling those intoxicating eucalyptus scents emanating from the trees. Our start/return spot of choice is right there where the med student housing is ... although no future doctors ever asked us out on a goddamn date. Anyway, I'm now inspired to grab Child and head up there some Saturday morn soon and re-live this magic! read more

Do you know how lucky you are to live in a city that has parks like this? No really. Do you? Or if you're visiting, do you know how lucky you are to be visiting not only the most beautiful city in North America, but also the only city in the United States and maybe even the western world with city parks that actually make it possible for it to be impossible to believe that you're in the middle of a city? Because you are that lucky, each and every one of you. Swaying trees that heave sempervirence, a lush underbelly that sighs and undulates. A little like that forest world in 'Flash Gordon', without the scorpions and ridiculous tests of manhood. Even more beautiful than Glen Canyon, and yes, even Stern Grove. Entrance can be tricky, but you're smart and probably have an iPhone, you can figure it out. Trust me on this one; unless you've fully transmogrified into a human app it will be literally impossible to regret it. read more

A nice hike; came on a Saturday morning, the first sunny weekend in a long while and there was barely a soul here. I ran into a friendly cat who seems to patrol the woods here and heard an owl overhead. What a lovely space to have in the city! read more

Such a lush, lovely retreat from the city! It is at its sweetest when the plum blossoms are out, as they have been the last few weeks. The ferns, plums, blackberry brambles, eucalyptus, and occasional redwood make up this forest; not exactly a native mix, but pleasant and soothing nonetheless. The trails are lightly used and it often feels like you have the whole place to yourself. read more

Lovely low key hike. Very dog friendly. It's a bit challenging to park as the entry area is all private, but this is a great option if you want to stay in SF. read more

This beautiful forest grows on you. From most places inside it, you can't see the city, and barely hear it. It feels like being on a different planet - maybe Pandora. UCSF had a plan to gut a quarter of the forest, but that's been pushed back to 2011 to allow for an environmental review - see www.sutroforest.com for details. Meanwhile, enjoy this wild place where Great Horned Owls nest and birds twitter in the undergrowth and treetops. The trails are steep but accessible. Just be prepared for them to be damp - and if it's a foggy day, it could be raining in the beautiful Sutro Cloud Forest. There's a Native Plant Garden at the summit that looks pretty between Feb and April. read more

Pretty cool discovery in the middle of SF. Easy access at Stanyan and 17th. Parking wasn't too much trouble on a Sunday afternoon. At some points you have to cross a paved road to continue onto certain trails, however there are maps everywhere so its easy to find your way. And, if you get lost, there is reception, so you can reference maps online. Overall, it is a beautiful and short hike with really tall trees and green everywhere. Beware of fast bikers though! read more

No where to park w/o UCSF permit. Drove around and determine you need to park some distance just to get the gate trails. I will try to walk the trails when more time available to factor in walk time going to and fro to parked car. read more

As another Mt. Sutro Steward and the trail map cartographer, I'm so glad people are discovering this preserve and enjoying the trails. It's amazing how much the trails have improved, and I'm grateful that so many people have lent their energy to make things better in just a few short years. While there's no view from the summit of Mt. Sutro, here are several nearby views you can work into your visit. (I added "view" icons to our trail map). www.peasepress.com/sutromap.pdf. The best view is midway along the Historic Trail, a little west of the summit (on Yelp's map it's near the "e" of "Google"). Start down the Nike Road, turn down the South Ridge Trail, and at the four-way junction, turn right on the Historic Trail.* About 1000 feet down this trail, as you cross the West Ridge, the eucalyptus forest suddenly thins and you gaze north and west across the Sunset and Richmond Districts, Golden Gate Park, and Marin Headlands. It's particularly nice with a golden, late afternoon glow on the tree trunks (just leave yourself enough time to exit before dark!). There's also a mini view as you start down the East Ridge Trail, from the second switchback east of the summit. Other great views on adjacent public lands are partway up Farnsworth Stairs (off Willard), the campus stairways linking the UCSF Dental and Vision clinics, Twin Peaks, and Tank Hill. Buena Vista Park is another great place to enjoy "tree-filtered" city views. Lloyd C. noted that the Yelp map's red marker is a little out of place (for Mt. Sutro Stewards meeting place). The meeting place and the start of the Historic Trail are by the "M" of Medical Center Way on Yelp's map. Find the start of the North Ridge Trail by the "C." Lastly, if you come via Oakhurst Stairs, the West Ridge Trail isn't directly opposite these stairs; turn left (north) half a block on Crestmont to some funky wooden steps (by the "g" of Google). It's only for the sure-footed. *All these trails are as yet unsigned; see trail map for names. read more

This is a gorgeous spot for a quick hike. The trail itself is pretty short, but it's uphill and reasonably vigorous. The views from the top are beautiful. read more

It's not often that you find yourself on a piece of ground you never knew existed in a city you've lived in all your life. That's the way I felt visiting this park. You've got canyons, hilltops, a dozen little trails, and some really interesting terrain. The diversity of plant life is just stunning. I stumbled on this by accident and I'm glad that other Yelpers have already discovered it. If you like a nice light hike, and you want to see San Francisco from a slightly different vantage point, take a few hours and see these trails. Start at the UC medical center on Parnassus and just walk straight up the hill along the main road. Eventually you'll see trail markers. You can also download a PDF of the trail system from the UCSF web site and learn about the other approaches from the west and south. The trail can be a little muddy so boots would be a good idea. Other than that it's a really easy hike (easy enough for a 6-year-old). From breaks in the eucalyptus you can see stunning views (fog permitting) and there's great restoration projects underway at the summit. How refreshing to see a new, apparently well-funded public works project in the middle of SF during these bleak times... read more

Beautiful, misty little trek in the middle of the city. I had no idea it was there. Lots of very, very tall [eucalyptus?] trees, so I recommend making your way to neighboring Tank Hill for a view of nearly the entire Bay (Point Bonita/Golden Gate to Hunter's Point). Worth exploring! read more

I just hiked this yesterday for the first time after walking up Twin Peaks. It's incredibly beautiful here, I hiked every trail, and they were easy for my fat ass. This seems like a great trail to mountain bike as well, a few steep hills and some slightly muddy areas that I jogged through which must be quite delightful on wheels. Bring extra water as there are no public waterfountains that I could find, but the workers doing the construction at ucsf housing will let you fill up with their hose. read more

This place is great, the fresh air and the steep trails brought back memmories of science camp and the time I became a camp counselor. It was a bit chilly since we arrived somewhat at sundown so we had to make it quick. unfortunately we didnt complete the trail as it got too dark but we were still able to get up to a point where we saw the SF sky line. This is a great trail and a great experience to spend some quality time with that special someone. Check the websit and follow the map. The start of the trail should be on christopher street where there's plenty of open spaces to park. read more

We were lead here by sf city guides. I don't think we would have found this place otherwise. I remember going up these stairs and then up a walkway to the left with traffic going to the right and trees along the side. I also recall going through a short forest area with the eucalyptus trees to the right and being told of where Ishi's make believe cave was. I wanted to go see it but apparently it's covered with poison oak. I enjoyed the hike. It's not very long. I hope we'd be able to find it again next time. read more

A nice little walk thru the woods on my way to work. Nature in the city...

Glad to have gone before the new Villareal Arup Group bridge went up. Still have my negatives too.

The directions people listed in these reviews were such a huge help! Loved all the greenery on a beautiful day.

Mostly beautiful, dense forest, etc... Very very few people, even on a weekend. The ground is always a nice amount of slippery; enough to be fun, not so much that you, um, slip. The trek up to the top takes a while for my 16 year old (but lots to sniff, so he still loves it), but with so few people, I don't feel the need to rush/get away from everyone, so it's manageable for us both. Not the longest walk, but long enough to be nice/lots of other trails to zig-zag through if you don't mind walking through the surrounding neighborhood a bit to connect to other trails which can make it substantially longer. Lots of plums when in season. Some anise and blackberries. It's really lovely... one of the few good parks in SF. I suppose it's technically private property, so it's also nice because I don't get so enraged by cyclists since they're allowed there anyway (whereas elsewhere where it's illegal for them to ride on paths yet they do, I just wanna jam something into their spokes). I also love how they do minimal upkeep... the paths are all still dirt, when a tree falls they may or may not cut it out of the path and leave the remains, etc... It's relatively untouched (compared to other SF parks) which is just as a park should be (yes, I'm pointing my finger at you, Trails Forever/Presidio Trust... may you lose all your money and everyone who works for you forced to turn the bastardized Rob Hill into a Shanty Town, and may your volunteers have their own feces surgically implanted under their nose, as they obviously love smelling it... but I very much digress!) Also, I love the little shrine to the Native American guy. No idea who he is, but a subtle shrine is a nice touch in a park. Overall, a beautiful park. Very few people, dense trees, nice views, snacks along the way, mud caked on your shoes at the end. Lovely! Not the best ever, but by far one of the best in SF these days, so the rating is relative. read more

It is a dark and foggy night. Just the kind of night when Froggy likes to hop out and walk some favorite trails, and this mountain behind the UCSF medical center complex sure has 'em. In just a few minutes of steady uphill walking I reach a paradise of eucalyptuses gently swaying in the wind, meandering trails and utter safety and peacefulness. It's big enough to tire me out from walking, yet small enough so you're never very far from a MUNI line. Plus, after you get down from the mountain, you can explore charming neighborhood stairways. Some of the trails are steep, so you gotta be in reasonably good shape to hike here. On one particular night, when it was clear, I saw a HUGE yellow full moon hanging over the Sunset. On another, I came upon two fighting raccoons - didn't see them, just heard the shrieking and growling, and when I shone my light, two glowing pairs of eyes and then stomping and crunching of branches as they scuttled away to settle their differences elsewhere. I chuckled and continued on my way to the top. This mountain never ceases to amaze me. read more

hidden urban hike in the city! i love how you can walk 10 mins in SF and find yourself in the forest. i found it via yelp-thank you fellow yelpers! the vegetation is quite lush there and there's a lot of people walking their dogs. one thing i didn't enjoy was the aggressive bikers. and not particularly great for running as it's quite hilly. read more

4 stars for the forest. 1 star for the mud. the trail is muddy muddy muddy and I was so worried about slipping in the 2+ inches of mud that i spent most of the time trying to walk in the brush on the side of the trail instead of enjoying the scenery. so be prepared to get dirty. read more

Had a nice hike today, can see most in a couple hours. Views are mostly obscured by trees. But a nice get away in the middle of SF.

This place is gorgeous! I can't believe it's in the middle of the city. It truly feels like a relaxing little haven. It had just rained when I was there so we only passed a handful of other people, which was nice. It wasn't too muddy either. I loved the windy trails and occasional glimpses of the city spread out below. The incline was just enough that I felt like I was getting exercise without struggling. I highly recommend taking a walk here! read more