Dominic Pascucci
You can park at the end of the campground but be sure to pay. We chanced it and didn’t pay. When we got back to the car the park employee was coming through collecting money. We got close and didn’t get a ticket. If you don’t want to pay park on 8 (which is tricky and can be hard to find on weekends). In the winter 89 is often closed. Pretty easy hike. Not a ton of elevation but there are some big steps and roots to watch out for. The waterfalls are worth the hike. Bring a lunch and enjoy the views. Expect some other folks on nice weekends.
5.0
We came in winter and there was a very light dusting on the ground so we were able to drive about 100yards from the lookout. Later in the season the lookout is on accessible by foot, snowshoe, or skis. It seems that calpine gets less snow that truckee typically does The lookout has a propane heater which kept us super toasty. There are a couple flights of stairs to get to the sleeping area. And the bathroom is back down them. Stairs can be a little slippery. Great place to go. Hard to get reservations but worth it.
5.0
This is one of my favorite hikes in truckee. It’s so different I just love it. You hike through the old train tunnels and they’re covered in graffiti but it’s just so different it makes it great!! Through the third tunnel, the long one, there’s an opening where you get great views of donner lake.
5.0
From the parking lot above this is a very easy hike down. When I did this hike I actually started at Rodeo Beach to add some mileage. The beach was a little dirty with debri, not sure if it was from people picnicking or from the ocean. Don’t tire yourself out too much on the beach because you’ll have to hike up at some point.
5.0
Devils postpile is freakin awesome. The hike isn’t too hard, mostly flat. If you want to get to the top of the postpile you’ll gain some elevation. The top looks like a dinosaur skin. You can take the bus down to red’s meadow or if you have a handicap placard you can drive down. Not sure if all private vehicles are allowed to drive down or not.
5.0
This is a great beach. On weekends, especially nice warm ones, the beach can be very crowded. You’ll be able find a spot to call your own as the beach is really long. Parking may fill up and traffic can be heavy in town. But if you can go weekday or don’t my some fog, you can have days when you’ll pretty much have the beach to yourself. Fries from the parks use cafe are a must before or after benching.
5.0
One of the best parks in SF!! Crane Cove is a great place to paddle at. Even on super windy days, the cove offers a good amount of protection. Here you'll paddle right in front of Chase Arena with views of the Bay Bridge off in the distance. I usually find street parking and get out on the water for an hour or so. It's just a great and convenient place to go after a day of work or even for a midday escape.
5.0
Parking is just off the road but if you drive a little past the cypress tree tunnel road there’s a pull out. This is also the best place to turn around on sir Francis drake blvd. it’s a quick stop but the photos are cool. The couple times we’ve stopped here, there has always been another group or two. So you may have to wait to get your photos.
5.0
If you are a dog person this is the place to go. If you’re just out for a hike or stroll, you’ll still have a good time and see lots of doggies. If you’re up to it take the sand ladder down to the beach but remember you’ll have to hike back up it. Or you can hike along the beach and take the more gradual Funston Beach Trail just south of the great highway. Expect winds here as this is popular hang-gliding location.
4.0
This is an easy hike from the road side parking area or you can make it longer by hiking from the campground. Pothole is a good place to catch the sunset or do some stargazing. During the day the views are great of the meadows.
5.0
Angel island is a great destination for a night or two of island camping. Note to get here you’ll need take the ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon. Or you could take your own boat or try to paddle over but do research if you chose those options. There are a few campsites on the island. Can’t tell which the best is but all are good for different reasons. You can plan to camp here like a backpacking trip or bring a wagon with you and haul a bunch of gear. You can also bikepack! Watch out for raccoons. One time the ranger told us to leave our tent door open when we left camp otherwise the wagons would rip your tent apart. Not sure if this true. 4th of July and new years would and are great nights to camp!
5.0
This is probably the hardest campground reservation there is. I’ve tried for years to get one and it wasn’t until recently that I’ve been able to go. Winter weekday will be easiest. Every weekend seems to book up right away. Be prepared for fog horns (luckily they have never gone off while I was here), bone chilling dampness, and raccoons. The campsites are only a hundred yards or so from the ocean so temps can drop quick and even a clear night can lead to gear getting damp. But it’s all worth it. You can sit on the beach and just watch ships come and go from the golden gate. Catching sunset from the beach is also amazing. Seeing the city and bridge light up is a great experience. There are food lockers in the campsites. Be sure to use them and keep them closed when not actively eating or cooking. The parking lot is a short distance to all the sites. Kirby cove is a bucket list campground for sure. If you get out of the campground be sure to explore the headlands; rodeo beach, mammal sanctuary, black sand beach, and Hawk hill to name a few.
5.0
Not many places you can get a nice crack climb in the middle of a city. Compared to other crags this wouldn’t be a 5star but again this is in the middle of the city. You can make this a pre or post dinner activity. I’ve only ever climbed here at night, if you do, be respectful of neighbors and park hours. I’ve heard you needed a permit to climb here, not sure if that was short lived or still going on. When climbing, the real shiny stuff is super slick. Even with climbing shoes, you won’t have much traction. And for setting up an anchor, some folks have backed things up with the tree at the top.
5.0
There’s a multi use path/sidewalk that runs the entire perimeter of lake Merced. One can easily spend a day here. Go for a run, walk, or bike ride around the lake. There are multiple parking lots and lots of street parking. Afterwards you can grab a bite to eat at the Harding Park Golf Course. Then you can go for a paddle in the North Lake (just don’t fall in). You’ll need to bring your own boat but it’s free to launch here. Over the last couple years the RV/homeless crowd has grown. They currently fill Lake Merced Blvd from Winston. Everyone seems to keep to themselves so it isn’t really an issue but I still prefer to avoid that section.
5.0
This is a great place to get your fix, work on technique, or to just give bouldering a try. This is mostly a long traverse. Start at the side closest to O’shaughnessy Blvd and work your way up the rock face. That’s the most common route. The stand alone Boulder can be used for footwork practice such as edging and smearing. Start by the Glen park neighborhood to grab some food before or after. Good burritos!
5.0
This is right next to a bunch of homes so be mindful. Just of the slides is a neighborhood garden. And if you continue down corwin st, you’ll hit kite hill. Great area to spend an afternoon.
5.0
We chose to camp here because of the proximity to Santa Cruz. So much less expensive and only 15 minute drive to town. Plus it’s so peaceful up in the hills. The campground had showers which was great after a day of hiking and hanging out on the beach and boardwalk. There are also lots of trails right of camp. Great location!
5.0
The further you get from the parking lot, the less people you’ll see. Lots of day hikers. And because of that the pit toilets will be a little nasty at the first few campsites. It’s really hard to dig a proper hole off trail because the moss is so thick and there are so many fallen branches. You just have to hold your breath and do you business. Some of the sites have food cables to hang food but all do not. Be sure to research. We knew this and so had bear cans with us. Lots don’t do this and just rely on the hangs. We knew we were making more stops than most. Be ready for rain! Umbrella, good waterproof shell, extra socks, a tent you are familiar with (setting up & taking down in the rain), and keep your TP in a water tight container.
5.0
Weather report shows 5 inches of rain overnight. The night before we leave. Does that mean the HOh River is going to flood? Does that mean the trails and roads will be impassable? Nope definitely not. It’s a rainforest. When we saw that report we called and talked to a Ranger, their response was you may get some rain drops down you back as you hike! When we pulled in to camp it was pouring, luckily we brought two tents and a tarp so we could start our backpack with dry gear. Amazingly all the standing water was gone when we woke up the next day. It was as if the 5inches of rain never happened. Once our backpack started we had rain nearly every day. Luckily we had umbrellas! Bring an umbrella and figure out a good way to fasten it to your shoulder strap. We hiked in shorts and l/s tech shirts and were dryer than anyone else we came across. Plus the umbrella works as a pack cover and helps to keep the tent dry when you get in and out in the rain. Also be sure to practice setting up your tent rainfly first if you have a traditional double wall tent. And practice taking it down inner mesh first. Doing this will save you time and keep your stuff as dry as possible.
5.0
This might be the best state park in California. Facility wise, it’s the cleanest. Bathroom and shower house are so nice! Heated too!! And any time you can camp amongst the giant redwoods, you know you’re in for a treat! This campground is on repeat for sure. It’s about 6 hours north of San Francisco. The drive north 101 is gorgeous. You can easily spend the entire day making the drive with stops in Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Willits, the Avenue of the giants, and Eureka. Since this state park is a long drive from the Bay Area and from Portland to the north, I’d give yourself a few days to explore the area and really enjoy your time as this amazing campground.
5.0
I’ve camped here a few times. When booking your site pay attention to tree coverage. Some sites are in wide open meadows with very little shade. So during a hot summer day, you’ll want to bring a sun shade. Also note the bathrooms are centrally located so at most you’ll have to walk a couple hundred yards to get to them. The camp store is fully stocked in case you forgot anything. And there’s a small pool which is great to jump into after a day of hiking or climbing. There are also showers!!! And there are new canvas tent cabins that you can rent. I haven’t stayed in one yet, but those would be great for the wet season. Again summers are hot here, so these could feel like ovens mid summer. Before becoming a national park this was a national monument so the upkeep wasn’t on par with the likes of Yosemite. But the park has been making improvements.
4.0
We came on a nice weekend. It was so busy. Don’t expect this to be a private beach environment especially on a warm Northern California weekend. The beach is a short walk from the parking lots. Great beach to people watch, try some body surfing, or building some sand castles.
4.0
Glen Canyon Park is a great place to hike! There are actually 3 main trails with several connectors so you could easily put in a 5 mile day! This is a very popular place for dog walkers as well. If you continue up the Canyon you’ll come to a rock cropping that’s used by local climbers for some bouldering practice. Keep going up the canyon some more and you’ll eventually hit Portola Ave and the base of Twin Peaks. If you want to add some miles and elevation do a loop up to the peaks and back. And be sure to stop by Glen park retail district on Diamond St for some great post hike snacks!
5.0
To get to the top you’re going to be hiking uphill no matter what but the views of the bay and the city are worth it. On a clear day you’ll see Mt Diablo off in the distance. Wether you live in the neighborhood or are just visiting SF, this is a must do hike for unforgettable views.
5.0
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