Travel I Local San Francisco

Off-the-Beaten-Path San Francisco: 5 Unique Outdoor Adventures

From hidden coastal trails to secluded urban forests, explore the wilder side of the City by the Bay

Photo by Author, taken from Fort Point

San Francisco is a fantastic destination. I am a San Francisco native; I absolutely love this city more than any in the world. If you are interested in seeing the city like a local, here are some of my all-time favorite outdoor places to visit.

Blue Heron Lake

Photo by Author

Located in Golden Gate Park on Blue Heron Drive, you will find Blue Heron Lake (formerly Stow Lake). It is a small man-made lake with a boathouse that offers rowboat and pedal boat rentals.

Golden Gate Park does get tourists, but they focus on other areas of the park. You may see some Segways traveling near Blue Heron Lake, but overall, it is usually free of big crowds.

Go on a weekday, early in the day, and it’s very peaceful. Rent a boat and go around the lake, enjoying the wildlife; ducks, geese, and turtles will likely accompany you.

Learn more

Strawberry Hill

Photo by Author

Located in the center of Blue Heron Lake is a little-known place called Strawberry Hill; you can access it via one of two bridges located on either side of the hill. Once across a bridge, walk along the path, and you will find a waterfall with a parallel staircase. This leads to the top of Strawberry Hill.

Take a break on the small bridge midway; it offers a great view of the lake below you. Continue on to the top to see fantastic views of the city. You can even see the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out from the trees if it isn't too foggy.

Keep an eye out for butterflies, as the area is a natural butterfly habitat; they are especially attracted to the coastal strawberries, when in bloom, that grow here.

It is a hike up to the very top; wear sensible shoes. Small children, the elderly, or anyone with walking difficulties should pass. There are many ground-level views in this area of the lake.

Learn more

Sutro Bath Ruins

Photo by Scarlet Spitzer-Silverstone

Explore the past at Lands End located off of Point Lobos Avenue, where windswept cliffs sit at the end of the Western world. In the late 1800s, Adolph Sutro developed Sutro Baths. Building a massive structure that housed seven pools fed from the ocean just on the other side of the building.

The Sutro Baths, sometimes called the Glass Palace for its high glass walls and ceiling, was built to impress. The pools were all various temperatures, some saltwater, others fresh water. In addition to swimming, Sutro’s had live music, talent shows, restaurants, and a museum with mummies Sutro brought back from his travels to Egypt.

Today the area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Trails run through the hillside, where you can view indigenous plants and animals as you walk from the top (where the sidewalk is) down to sea level. You can still see the remains of the pools and the foundation of the old building.

Learn more

Sutro Heights Park

Photo by Author

Located across the street from the Sutro Bath Ruins, explore what was once Adolph Sutro’s estate grounds. Twin stone lions from Sutro’s original estate still guard the entranceway. As you walk through the park, you will see the last two standing statues, a stag and goddess Diana.

View other Sutro-era leftovers, a gazebo-like structure called Wells House, and at the cliff's edge the remains of a parapet that boasts beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. If you look to the left, you can see the western edge of Golden Gate Park.

Imagine living here, perched up high with beautiful views of the ocean. Sutro converted both Sutro Heights and Baths from sand dunes to a park-like setting, planting trees to help break the strong winds off of the ocean and make it a more hospitable environment for people.

Learn more

Stern Grove

Photo by Author

You will find another park, located off of busy 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd. Stern Grove is best known for its free summer music festivals. Strolling through the park on a quieter day, you will see people walking their dogs or exploring the hillside paths behind the concert meadow.

Have a picnic in the park, throw a frisbee, or take a walk around Lake Pine. You can even rent out the clubhouse for events. This park offers a great alternative to Golden Gate Park; it makes you forget you are in a big city.

Learn more

Fort Point

Photo by Author

This National Historic Site is located in the Presidio on Marine Drive. Go back in time and visit this historic brick fort, situated right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Admission is free.

Fort Point is still a standing structure complete with cannons, a museum, and a gift shop. Bring a coat; it’s usually very chilly even inside the fort.

As you walk through the corridors and into the rooms, note the pictures on the walls of days gone by. Some rooms have been set up to reflect how things looked when the fort was in use.

If you climb the castle-like stairs to the rooftop, you will have the unique perspective of being under the Golden Gate Bridge. The fort was built long before the bridge; soldiers of the past would see an empty Golden Gate and Marin Headlands across the water.

Most days it is very windy (and chilly), especially on the rooftop of the fort; expect your hair to be windblown if you take a picture!

Learn more

No matter where you go in San Francisco, there is always more to see and learn. This city is truly one of endless fascinations.

You might like…

[embed]Pizza Around the World It’s not the same everywhere you gomedium.com