Blog Archives

Canyon Floor

5/30/2017

From the main canyon stairway that descends from the west side of Christopher Park in Diamond Heights (93 steps): 1 thru 5

Trailing down: 6 thru 9

61 steps on the south side of the climbing rocks: 10, 11, 12

A short up-n-back on the eastside trail: 13 thru 22

Back up again: 68 steps, 23 thru 32

Climbing up the same way I came, but another stairway (79): 33 thru 46

Short N-S hightrail just below Christopher Park: 47 thru 50

Back up to Christopher Park - and out to Diamond Heights Blvd. for the #52 bus: 31

1 View from the west edge of Christopher Park in Diamond Heights

2 Starting down

5 93 steps for this part

10 Turning left for more stairs down

11 61 steps down to the canyon floor

14 Passing the foot of this one for now. Will climb it on the way back up.

23 Starting back up the steps passed earlier

24 68 steps

36 Love this tree!

37 Starting up another stairway

38 79 steps for this one

47 Trail just below Christopher Park

51 Christopher Park, Diamond Heights neighborhood

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Climbing BV

5/29/2017

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From Haight, starting up on the west side of Buena Vista Park’s slightly elevated walkway: 1 thru 3

Other parks have coyote-awareness infosigns. This park has Don’t Feed the Coyotes signs.

Just before reaching the main paved trail on the SW side, an old wood stairway invited me to climb thru the tall grass into the forest: 4

The trail ended so scrambled up alongside a huge log, following dirt trails, a few more ancient wood stairways, more big logs, and a stand of wild fennel: 5 thru 10

This particular area reminded me of Mount Sutro Forest in its wilder days before all the trailwork when I’d lose a trail, step in holes, slide down steep parts, feel occasional spiderwebs brush across my face, and almost get “lost.“

In my perfect hiking-world, all parks would at least have certain areas that are untamed and on the “wild side” for both urban nature lovers and wild critters. Like Glen Canyon’s north trail (now up to Portola Dr.) before it was widened and the tree limb obstacle course eliminated, or the Balboa Natural Area on the south slope of Sutro Heights Park.

So very enjoyable wandering up here near BV’s summit on the south side, but above the paved trail where the main newer southside stairway starts.

Hope they don’t try to overly “tame” this part of the park with all its beautiful old trees and interesting off-trail spots that are excellent “hidden” areas for wildlife.

Could stand/sit/wander around, occasionally seeing others on the main trails and hearing their voices, but feeling nicely secluded while forest-bathing or eating lunch on one of the logs. And birds - lots of birds/birdsong.

Scrambling down to the top of the main stairway and E-W walkways. 171 steps total with 79 down to the firs6t landing and the best of the newer walkways. Various heights of low wood walls to sit on: 11 thru 26

Down to the foot at the street: 27, 28, 29, 30

Descnding on the east side for two supersteep blocks. No stairs on the south side until just below Divisadero, then 92 Du Boce sidewalk steps to Castro and a bus stop for the #24: Last three

1 Haight St. entrance to the paek

2 Around the west side

3 Elevated walk all around the park

4 Up into the forest

7 Wild fennel

11 Top of the main south stairway

12 171 steps

27 Now on the south side

31 Du Boce sidewalk sidewalk steps below Divisadero

33 Du Boce at Castro

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Corona Fenced

5/27/2017

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The old Henry stairs (up to Roosevelt in the Corina Heights neighborhood) is mow a minipark with green park signs: 1, 2

Continuing to Corona Heights Park from the east side, up De Forest (16 steps) and out to the garden that’s still here at the edge of the park: 3 thru 7

The two park entrance paved trails have been improved upon since last visit: 8, 9, 10, 11

But then, however, as I continued up the trail into the park, saw that the main walkway still has its potholes and is unimproved since last rant about this potentially dangerous spot: 12, 13

The trail here could be repaved and a stairway added, with rails as it’s steep.

This park has more dry, dead grass than other parks tend to have right now (Lands End’s El Camino del Mar Trail, for example), as in the cheery wild mustard and wild radishes in bloom.

You can still access the main up-n-over stairway from its east trailhead with its 130 steps up to a bench; more curving round just below the rocky summit; and 99 more down for the main west stairs: 14

Assumed the Randall Museum’s renovations were still not completed (as the Randall DOES have an online infoletter), but also hoped by now there’d be at least an access trail around the east side and that some of the building might be open. Nope.

The GGNRA and city parks don’t advise enough, or at all, of trailwork, closures, reopenings, construction, etc. Online newsletters that include such info would be greatly appreciated.

Back down and around past the south tennis courts, the small field, and the old playground just above States: 15

Then, as last time, used the steep ziggy-ramp, but this time climbing. All along the ramp was more dry vegetation.

Aa before, months ago, the top of the ramp led out to the street, Museum Way, not into the park (17). West on Roosevelt to the top of States St. in the Corona Heights neighborhood.

States/Levant stairs down from Roosevelt: 18

Descending States all the way down to Castro, surprised to see so many tall, solid wood fences on the south (viewside). Some were possibly privacy fences for homes, but others were definitely construction fences.

Is this street the new trendy place for the rich to construct mini-mansions or give existing older houses huge makeovers?

States still has interesting older houses. The Castle is still here: 19 thru 24

A favorite tiny house has been demolished. This was 53 States in 2012, pic 25. Last year it looked like this, pic 26. Now there’s one of those fences there.

More States: 27 thru 39

Top of the stairs down to the north dead-end of Douglass in Eureka Valley and the long-loved house across States from this: 40, 41, 42

Castro near 16th: 43

1 Henry stairway is now a minipark

2 Top of Henry at Roosevelt

3 De Forest

4 Garden at the side of the park

6 De Forest to right

8 Into the park

12 Needs work here

13 Repave me please!

14 Trailhead for first 130 steps up on the east side

15 South tennis courts, small grassy field and older playground on the SE side

16 Steep zigzag ramp

17 Top of the ramp leads out to Museum Way, not into the park now

18 States/Levant up to Roosevelt

19 A guardian of the Castle

25 53 States in 2012

26 53 States in 2016

36 South Corona Heights Park tennis courts above

37 A chainlink fence for a change

40 Down to the north dead-end of Douglass in Eureka Valley

42 Across from top of Douglass/States stairs

43 Castro & 16th

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Forest and Garden

5/24/2017

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Uphilling rom the south side of the Presidio, a wide paved trail with the golf course on both sides for part of the distance. Signs advise that the trail is closed to dogwalkers due to coyotes in the area: 1, 2

Into the forest: 3 thru 8

Down a short trail at the east edge of Rob Hill Campground to the Fort Scott neighborhood: 9, 10

The “hidden” Fort Scott neighborhood garden: 11 thru 24

Back up again, another route: 25 thru 29

1 Uphill, north

2 Golf course on both sides for part of the way

3 Into the forest

10 Downhill from the east edge of Rob Hill Campground

11 Fort Scott neighborhood in distance

12 Fort Scott Community Garden

24 Up ahead to the left is a trail

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Eastside Forest

5/22/2017

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Eye candy on Baker in Pacific Heights on my way up to the Presidio from the bus stop: 1 thru 4

West on Broadway to the top of the Lyon St. stairs (290 steps): 5, 6, 7

Thru the Broadway Presidio Gate and into the forest: 8 thru 15

Thru another gate and out to a residential area: 16, 17, 18

Down the 62 steps for upper to lower all-brick Simonds Loop: 19 thru 27

5 Lyon stairway down from Broadway

6 290 steps

8 Broadway Gate into the Presidio

11 View east

19 Upper to lower Simonds Loop

20 62 steps

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Baker and Lobos

5/20/2017

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interesting trees and dunes just above the Presidio's Baker Beach: 1 thru 14

Crossing for the Lobos Creek boardwalk trail: 15 thru 24

Up into the forest: 25 thru 36

Out to the Lobos Valley Overlook: 37 thru 42

1 Above Baker Beach

7 Baker Beach. Lands End in distance

15 Trailhead for Lobos Valley Trail

25 Into the forest

27 Looking back at Lobos Creek Trail

34 The old Public Health Hospital is now residences

41 Lobos Valley Overlook

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Gorgeous Greenspace

5/19/2017

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The Athens-Avalon Greenspace minipark in the Excelsior neighborhood has had a huge makeover. 100 colorful steps and a beautiful garden: 1 thru 30

At the top, Athens & Valmar, circling round to Athens & Peru for the 77 Peru steps: 31 thru 46

Back down the first stairpark: 47 thru 66

Recently posted a few pix of the clouds-and-blue-sky mural on Grace Cathedral's (Nob Hill, Taylor & California) center stairway. They've REMOVED this for some reason. Why they'd do this beats me ... but in case anyone was planning to go see it in person, it's gone now!

2 100 steps

31 Foot of the Peru stairs

32 77 steps

47 Back at the Athens-Avalon Greenspace, descending now

50 McLaren Park water tower center, distance

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Not Fixed Yet

5/18/2017

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This was my third attempt in a month or so to hike the Batteries to Bluffs Trail in its entirety without any trailblocks. The barrier was about a half mile along the trail. No notice at the east trailhead, probably because there was access to Marlshall’s Brach from this side.

This is the sort of thing that would be good to see in online park newsletters. As in notices re parts of trails that are closed for repairs or construction - and when they are reopened.

Not as rustic-looking, but maybe a kind of steel footbridge like the one between the GG Bridge and GG Overlook would be a good idea in an area prone to slides during rainy season.

It was the wood footbridge that got damaged.

So the trail from east to west was minus several steps up to the footbridge. Will do a stair recount after it's repaired: 1 thru 32

It has probably been reopened as of this post, but if interested in hiking this .07-mile trail, check the west trailhead at Lincoln first, or where the trail turns into steps and descends from Battery Crosby, as these did have trail-closed signs.

At the west trailhead, crossing Lincoln (33, 34) for the Connector Trail (208 steps) up to Immigrant Point Overlook. The grass was taller since last hiked: 35 thru 66

Looking across at another short footbridge just below Rob Hill Campground: 67

Battery Caulfield Road, curving down: This street has speedbmps, sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks: last pic

1 Batteries to Bluffs east trailhead

2 Both east and west trailheads now have a trailmap

11 Marshall's Beach Trail center

12 Slide damage to the footbridge steps

25 West trailhead down from Battery Crosby

27 Top of westside steps at Battery Crosby

28 16 steps down from Battery Crosby

30 Baker Beach below

31 Winding up to Lincoln

32 And another trail closed sign at Lincoln

33 Trail up Lincoln, right

35 Starting up the Connector Trail from Lincoln

36 Trailheads for Batteries to Bluffs, Sand Ladder and Connector

37 208 steps up to Immigrant Point Overlook/Rob Hill Campground

67 Another footbridge just below Rob Hill Campground

68 Battery Caulfield Road curves downhill

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Out to Stanyan

5/4/2017

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Up the 136 steps to the UCSF parking lot. Permits only: 1, 2

Mount Sutro Forest invitingly ahead as seen from the parking lot: 3

Along the road: 4 thru 7

Edgewood Trail to start, continuing to the lower Historic - out to Stanyan: 8 thru 28

2 136 steps

3 The forest awaits

4 East trailhead for the upper Historic

12 Rough trail to left leads up to Belgrave

13 Lower Historic Trail

22 16 steps down to Stanyan

28 Belgrave is one steep block uphill on upper Stanyan

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Cemetery Forest Trail

5/3/2017

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Under the two El Polin Spring willow trees (first two) and thru a Presidio residential area.

Up 36 steps to the MainPost area: 3, 4

West, past the Officers Club: 5

Up the 56 Post Chapel stairs: 6 thru 10

From the east side just above the Post Chapel, trails thru the forest alongside the cemetery and out to the cemetery overlook: 11 thru 22

Onto the Bay Area Ridge Trail: 23, 24, 35