I suspect that a few 49ers do not know about this one. 16.5 miles, from Lands’ End in the northwest corner of the City to Candlestick Point, in the southeast. Many have hiked some part of it, connecting many of the City’s green spaces, most likely without knowing their hike was part of something bigger, a larger ecosystem, of sorts.
Section 2 is Glen Canyon Park to the Foresthill Station. 3 miles, uphill, then down, behind Laguna Honda Hospital, before emerging from an urban forest, replete with gum eucalytpus, pine, cypress, and acacia baileyana, a spectacular yellow in January to March, but muted in December. Grey skies, cool, (with gratitude) rain on the way, wind picking up on the way back, a Hazy Shade of Winter, for any Bangles’ fans. Perfection.
I hiked part of Section 2 in the beginning of the pandemic. Growing up in the avenues, I have hiked (or more precisely, walked) most of Sections 3-5. Section 1 (Candlestick Point to Glen Canyon Park) beckons. Probably time to put it all together. Who’s in?
Glen Canyon Park can be somewhat crowded. Once you cross Portola, it’s smooth sailing. A quiet residential neighborhood. Lots of hills. Small cars. Smaller parking spaces. Mount Davidson to the south, the mighty Pacific to the west, the venerable (and seemingly obsolete) Sutro Tower to the northeast. A few cyclists. Seemingly fewer hikers, on the Cross-Town Trail, of course, experiencing San Francisco in the best possible way. “Cross-Town Trail?”, I would ask a group of hikers heading my way, knowing the answer in advance. “Which way to Section 3?” Let me point the way.
San Francisco has always had an artistic flair. See below. Once in a while, the “art” gets in the way of posted directions, but with reasonably good cell phone service, or a local guide, you will find your way around.
Last, but not least, this looks to be the last hike of 2022. Quite a year, and one that many do not mind putting behind them. I considered publishing a hiking “year in review”, but you can read the posts from 2022 and arrive at your own conclusions. More ground to cover in 2023. See you on the trails.
The Peninsula Hiking Club 