Going to San Francisco next week--very excited--have not been on a plane for two years! We are staying at a hotel just outside the Presidio entrance on the south side of the park. I have been to SF I think four times but have never really walked around inside the Presidio--what are tips for which trail/pathway to take to get a good exposure (Lover's Lane? Presidio Promenade? Ecology Trail?) In looking at the map it looks like I want to head north from the south end of the park toward the main waterfront/parade lawn/Lodge at Presidio/visitors center area. Not sure if we will have time to walk out to the beach at the west end. Cafe recommendation as well?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
There are two entrances on the south side. You can see them on this map:
https://www.nps.gov/prsf/planyourvisit/upload/2018-Presidio-Map-for-Web.pdf
We are usually coming from Golden Gate Park on the trail that connects the two parks—part of the Crosstown trail. It runs next to and parallel to Funston Ave. So we enter at Mountain Lake, loop anti-clockwise around the lake to the Park Trail, and head north. We really like the new Tunnel Tops park and visitor center there.
The Ecology Trail—Lovers Land Loopmis also great. Make sure you include the Andrew Goldsworthy “Wood Line” installation just east of Lovers Lane (it is not he map).
https://www.presidio.gov/places/andy-goldsworthys-wood-line
The only place we have eaten there is Sessions, where we met a friend for lunch. It is very nice, especially out on the deck.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, US
468 posts
Lola--thanks for that awesome map! We are staying a few blocks down Presidio Ave off the SE corner of the park so will enter there (close to Lover's Lane looks like).
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
Great. That map is a few years old and the Tunnel Tops is not on it. But it is in the open area just north of the parade ground (where it says “Main Post” on the map. Great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from there, and nice landscaping and good energy around there.
Enjoy the Presidio, and watch out for poison oak on the trails! We were there last week and I picked up a bit in a different park (McLaren Park).