The Best Hikes in San Francisco

Not sure where to hike in San Francisco? Not comfortable with trying to find your way to a trailhead? Have no fear. Just head to the clock tower at the piers and look for Eric Kipp. Then prepare to have your hiking butt kicked.
Eric will you lead you on a hiking and yoga combo workout through some of the most beautiful vistas the city has to offer. There is a price, but for $20 you won’t find a better tour that also gives you a great workout.

Smack in the center of over 1,000,000 people sits Twin Peaks. Be forewarned that Twin Peaks is a bit of a tourist trap, but if you stay to the south side you’ll get some quiet trails while most of the buses unload their tour groups to the north side.
Enjoy the unmatched vistas of the city while burning calories on the steep hills.
Plus you can get up close and personal to the beast that makes television in San Francisco possible. He’s quite charming for being metal and giant.

Even though the hike is short, the wildlife inside is worth it. From raccoons to skunks to goats to hawks you’re sure to come across something. Actually, maybe I should scratch skunk out of that list. Who really wants to come across a skunk on a hike? Unless of course you really like tomato baths.

At one end of the Lands End Trail is the Sutro Bath. It’s most interesting sections are cordoned off for your protection (but trust me, people get around the cordoned areas). According to the Sutro website, here’s the playground for those who love crumbling stone clubhouses, jutting pipe monkeybars, stairways that lead you off cliffs and shifting sandboxes that get swallowed by surf.

When I lived in the Richmond neighborhood I ran this trail everyday. I miss this trail more than any other neighborhood in the city.
The trail runs from the upscale Sea Cliff neighborhood all the way over to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths. The grade is mostly flat with a steep hill in the middle. Have no fear though, the steep hill is covered in stairs.
The best parts of Land’s End are the ample free parking, the complete lack of tourists and driving by Robin Williams’ house.

If you happen to be here on Halloween, feel free to ring the doorbell and get some goodies from Robin.

What do you need to spell Fort Funston? Give up? You need a big fat helping of F. U. N.
Fort FUNston is a dog’s paradise. The park is extremely dog friendly and our little girl (Willa) eats it up. Dogs are allowed off leash as long as they remain under voice control.
With so many different trails running over each other you’re bound to start on one and end up on another. But no worries, everything is well marked so you can find you’re way back.