Presidio of San Francisco

Welcome to the Presidio of San Francisco, a vast, nearly fifteen-hundred-acre tract of forested hills, rugged coastline, and deeply layered military history. Standing here among the towering eucalyptus and Monterey pine trees, it…

Our first destination is a brilliant example of twenty-first-century park design: the Presidio Tunnel Tops. This is a very new park, filled with good times, food, and ample seating, situated ingeniously above the southern portal…

Descending from the bluff and moving inland, we enter the deep, shaded canopy of the Presidio's historic forest. Here we find Lovers' Lane, the oldest established footpath through the Presidio. …

Emerging from the forest onto the northern waterfront, the landscape flattens dramatically as we enter Crissy Field. Bordering the sparkling waters of the bay, this field is a wonderful place to take a long walk, relax, and enjoy…

Moving westward along the rugged bluffs that approach the Golden Gate Bridge, we step back into a darker, more imposing era of military history. Here along the California Coastal Trail, you will discover the massive, concrete…

Continuing south along the Presidio's western, ocean-facing shoreline, the high cliffs eventually give way to a stunning, mile-long stretch of sand known as Baker Beach. Located just to the west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this…

To complete our exploration, we return to the historical and administrative heart of the reserve: the Main Post. This is the very location where the Spanish soldiers established their original, fragile adobe fort in the…

Our journey through the Presidio of San Francisco reveals a landscape of profound contradictions and beautiful resolutions. For over two centuries, this land was dedicated to the art of war, heavily fortified, heavily armed, and…