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Belgrave Trail on Mount Sutro

6/19/2015

Commenced this vigorous hike in the Twin Peaks neighborhood by climbing the three-block-long Pemberton stairs (around 210 steps, Clayton up to Crown, pix 1 thru 6).

Around the foot of Tank Hill to a short, steepish “secret” dirt trail west of the main Tank steps (pic 7) with no street sign called Bigler “Avenue” that descends from Twin Peaks Blvd./Clarendon at the west side of Tank Hill to near the east dead-end of Belgrave. Seven steps: 8 thru 12.

There’s no street sign but you can see a small opening between residences just to the left of the main Tank Hill stairway (one of two). At 36 Belgrave (Google Maps Streetview) you can see a bit of the trail and the several steps that will take you down to Belgrave without using the west Tank Hill steps (also steep). So this is an alternative way to get down to Belgrave from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd.

A couple of blocks west on Belgrave, just past the top of Stanyan, will take you to the west vehicle dead-end of Belgrave where there’s a way up into Sutro Forest that has never had a trailmarker.

A little way downhill on Stanyan, however, is the trailhead for the lower Historic Trail, this one plainly marked and very popular, with signage and a short wood stairway entrance between homes.

I’ve used the unnamed trail at the end of Belgrave for years. It’s a steep uphiil trek that zigs up to one of the main Aldea streets, Johnstone. Immediately next to the top of it is the east trailhead for the Fairy Gates Trail, this clearly marked, pic 13.

To the right when you first start up from Belgrave is another unmarked trail, rougher, that turns right (north) first behind, then higher above homes on Stanyan. It comes out partway along the lower Historic. To my left was another trail to the south.

However, I usually just follow the trail climbing straight ahead, so scrambled over a huge log (pic 14) across the trail.

Noticed a few articles of clothing on the forest floor and someone’s obvious shelter. This sort of thing is to be expected if you try to discourage people from using a forest trail. You thus encourage homeless encampments, the opposite from what “they” have in mind I’m sure.

Apparently they’d like to discourage hikers from using this particular trail as the foot of an Aldea residence is partway up the slope, its back steps descending to the trail. This trail, however, part of the “Interior Greenbelt,” is also plainly and accurately marked on Google Maps as through. It used to be even more of a trek to ascend years ago, but near the top it’s now easier to walk out to the street; no more pulling myself up at the edge of one of the buildings. More of this beautiful still-untamed forest trail: 15 thru 23.

After this, uphilled to the trailhead for the East Ridge (pix 24, 25, 26) and hung a right for the Mystery Trail (pic 27). Onto the North Ridge Trail (28 thru 36) and back down to the curvy road (Medical Center Way) that divides the mountain’s upper and lower trails.

Crossing over directly from the foot of the North Ridge onto the Fairy Gates (37, 38), then down to the Edgewood Trail that will take you out to Edgewood Ave. Pix 39 thru 46.

After a few blocks north on Edgehill Ave. the Farnsworth stairs (149 steps) descend to Willard, last seven pix.

1. Up from Clayton

2. First block up

3. Between Clayton and Villa Terrace

4. Villa Terrace looking back down

5. Villa up to Graystone

6. From Graystone ascending to Crown Terrace

7. Steps to Tank Hill Park on the south side

8. Down from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd.

9. Bigler "Avenue" is a short dirt trail

10. Steeply down to Belgrave

11. This comes out near Tank Hill's west steps

12. Foot of Bigler at Belgrave

13. Fairy Gates east trailhead at Johnstone, top of the Belgrave Trail

14. A little way up the Belgrave Trail, a big log to scramble over

15. Just past the top of Stanyan into Sutro Forest from Belgrave

16. A few steps up for the old Belgrave Trail

17. Untamed forest trail

18. Step over and continue up

19. Forest bathing

20. Steepish but worth it

21. Easier now than it used to be

22. Nearing the top

23. Out at Johnstone. Small parking area to right.

24. East Ridge trailhead is across from the Aldea Community Center

25. East Ridge Trail

26. East Ridge continues up to the summit

27. Mystery Trail

28. North Ridge Trail

29. North Ridge Trail

30. North Ridge Trail

31. North Ridge Trail

32. The road below is Medical Center Way

33. Continuing down the North Ridge

34. North Ridge Trail winds around

35. Medical Center Way curves round below

36. Nearing the foot of the North Ridge Trail

37. End of the North Ridge Trail with Fairy Gates trailhead across the road

38. Fairy Gates trailhead

39. Onto the Edgewood Trail

40. Edgewood Trail

41. Edgewood Trail

42. Hikers on the Edgewood

43. Edgewood Trail continues

44. Out at Edgewood Ave.

45. Below, center, part of the lower Historic Trail

46. South end of redbricked Edgewood Ave. and north end of Edgewood Trail

47. Near top of the Farnsworth Lane steps

48. Farnsworth Lane

49. Farnsworth flowers

50. A Farnsworth gate

51. 149 steps

52. Edgewood Ave. down to Willard

53. Foot of Farnsworth Lane at Willard, just above Parnassus

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Some Reasons to Love Lands End

6/16/2015

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Down from the lower parking lot overlook, first pic, 127 steps.

Up the trail for the cavetop view area (pic 2) and westernmost trailhead for the Coastal Trail: 3 thru 7, 142 steps.

To the upper parking lot overlook from the main trail (59 steps) and a trail ascending from the El Camino del Mar Trail to check for ripe berries, one of my favorite “secret” spots in the park. This is a thick-sand zigzaggy trail that climbs to a short trail just above the old Fort Miley buildings. It is way harder to trek up this, short as it is, than it is to sorta slide down in the sand; did both: 8, 9, 10, 11.

Continuing east on the El Camino del Mar Trail to the 89 steps (pix 12, 13) that descend to the main Lands End/Coastal Trail.

When signs say no bicycles are allowed on certain parts of the trails, there’s a good reason: There are long stairways! I’ve seen people carrying their bikes up and down.

If you continue to the east end of the El Camino Trail, there’s a way up to the west edge of the Legion of Honor parking lot (49 steps, pic 14).

Main Lands End Trail: pic 15.

Up the curvaceous wood “Painted Rock” stairway (part of the main Lands End Trail, 138 steps), with its two stone benches alongside: 16 thru 20.

Partway down the other side (east stairs, about 120, pix 21 thru 24), a detour for another “hidden” trail, the top of this just below the golf course: 25, 26. Lots of wild nasturtiums bloom up here with parts of the trail delightfully overgrown.

Back down to continue out the east side: 27, 28, 29, 30.

Crossing the street for a couple more blocks on a dirt trail just below the east side of the golf course, and down the gorgeous Lincoln Park/California St. tiled stairway: 31, 32.

1. Lower parking lot overlook area to a trail. Turn right.

2. Cavetop viewplace

3. West trailhead for the Coastal Trail

4. 142 or so steps

5. A view down

6. Cavetop viewspot below

7. This part's also known as the Sutro Baths Upper Trail

8. Just off the El Camino del Mar, a sandy trail ascends

9. Thick-sand trail up to short trail above Fort Miley buildings

10. More difficult to climb up than descend

11. Top of the sandy trail

12. Connector steps partway down to the main trail

13. Foot of the connector steps at the main trail

14. El Camino del Mar Trail to Legion of Honor parking lot

15. Coastal/Lands End Trail

16. Long west steps on the main Lands End Trail

17. About 138 steps

18. The first bench

19. Second bench is about 101 steps up

20. Nearing the top

21. Now starting down the east side

22. Some steps are wood, some concrete

23. Near the foot looking back up

24. About 120 steps for this east side

25. A detour south from the east steps

26. Up to the golf course

27. Back on the main trail again, continuing east

28. Coastal Trail

29. Part of the bridge

30. Near end of trail and Eagle's Point Overlook benches

31. Down the California St. tiled stairs

32. Love these benches!

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Black Fencing is Gone

6/14/2015

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(Glen Canyon Park with some THEN pix included in this post.)

After a stop-in at Glen Park’s Canyon Market (highly recommended: healthy stuff and super-friendly people), uphill-hoofed it to the digital-times MUNI shelter on Diamond. But at 34 minutes until the next #52 Excelsior — nope. Up I continue to Diamond Heights and the upper canyon for another good hike even before I get to the park. Sorta like the trekking I do to get up to the Crocker trailhead of San Bruno Mountain Park (but the latter because the #43 refuses to climb into Daly City).

And then when I try to cross Diamond Heights Blvd. at Elk (a stairway into the canyon is here), the cars just keep coming. Would like to see more crosswalks and definitely some speed bumps on curving DHB for easier pedestrian crossovers into the park. This time delighted to see some school crossing guards at this corner who effectively paused the traffic so a few of us could safely get across to the canyon’s east rim. Thanks guys!

Passing the long Onique stairway at Berkeley Way in Diamond Heights, first pic.

Love descending the park’s longest stairway (184 steps) that drops down from an opening for walkers at the dead-end of Crags Court in the Diamond Heights ‘hood (pic 2). This is at the community garden, another treat to behold.

The short stairway that used to be here was replaced with this longer one. It winds around scenically to the main paved trail just before the entrance to the gorgeous tree-canopy trail that begins with the boardwalk and little wood footbridge over Islais Creek. You can detour onto other trails, also with some steps, like the one that will take you up to Christopher Park and the shopping center: 3, 4.

Just before reaching the foot of the stairs, continued on a short offshoot trail: 18 steps directly to the boardwalk. Pix 5, 6.

A bit further along, noticed that they’ve finally removed that unsightly black plastic construction fencing alongside the stairs to the south of the climbing rocks. Thank you! Looks better now: 7, 8.

Pic 9: Steps on the north side of the climbing rocks.

Some THENS — these before all the park changes of the last few years:

THEN: This is how I used to cross Islais Creek to what’s now the Portola Trail: From 2010, pic 10.

THEN: The Portola (northernmost) trail before it was widened and when it dead-ended at impenetrable brush: From 2009: 11, 12.

THEN: Older stairways leading up to the rocks area: 13 thru 18. 2004, 2005, 2009.

THEN: End of steps from Turquoise in Diamond Heights before the park-rules signs. Near what’s now the trailhead for the Portola Trail. From 2005, pic 19.

THEN: Before this narrow upper eastside trail was widened and some steps added: From 2009, pic 20.

THEN: A groupwalk from 2005: 21, 22.

THEN: From 2003, pic 23.

THEN: The main trail (with the much-loved viewbench) leading down on the eastside from the edge of Christopher Park before the streps were extended: 24 thru 30 (2006), 31 (2009).

At the end of the main canyon floor dirt trail, now up to a slightly higher trail (pic 32), to again descend (easier now) for the now extended and widened Portola trail, long my own favorite in the park.

This used to be a truly “secret” trail. I’d rarely see anyone else on it; a fun wiggle-and-scramble under and over treelimbs. Love that kinda thing. It was best in the park for blackberries. Still is, even with all the hacking-back of the bushes. Even though I’d need to carefully push aside the biting brambles that reached out into the trail, could also reach the berries more easily; they were all right there in my face.

Still no steps on the steep now-out-to-Portola Trail, this part starting at the end of the playing field gate. People and their dawgs are scrambling up and down it anyway though. If they ever needed to create new steps in this park, this is the place where they're most needed. So I keep checking. Anyone know? Pix 33, 34, 35.

Out at Portola, just across from Midtown Terrace’s Glenview, a stop was marked for the #44 and #52 but no shelter-with-time. So after waiting a few minutes got impatient and turned back into Diamond Heights, finally ending up at the bus shelter near the Safeway at Gold Mine. But this one said 20 minutes for the next #52; didn’t wish to wait that long either. So a steep descent into Noe Valley to wait for the more frequently running #24 Diviz. First necessary to inch my way a block down 28th, then a right turn for the Valley stairway.

The first flight is 69 steps: 36, 37. At the foot of these, Valley dead-ends as a divided street with a center median. The uphill part leads after a few yards to the second flight: 52 more steps alongside homes. So 131 for both the main stairs and north sidesteps on the upper (west) block of Valley.

Castro between the foot of the Castro steps and 29th has certainly changed a lot in the last decade. Such a turnoff to see so many newer residences around here, but also cheered to still see oldies, especially some cottages on 29th between Castro and Noe. Last pic: Castro near 29th.

1. Onique steps up from Berkeley Way

2. Down into the canyon from the end of Crags Court

3. Up this way to Christopher Park

4. 184 steps

5. Short trail off the long stairway

6. Offshoot trail to the boardwalk

7. The black fencing has finally been removed

8. This one curves around on the south side of the climbing rocks

9. Steps on north side of the rocks

10. THEN: 2010. Crossing Islais Creek on the northernmost trail

11. THEN: 2009. The way the north (now Portola) trail used to look.

12. THEN: 2009. I miss climbing under and over these treelimbs

13. THEN: 2004. Old steps

14. THEN: 2005. Old stairway

15. THEN: 2005. Near the climbing rocks

16. THEN: 2005. Old steps ascending from the canyon floor

17. THEN: 2009: These old stairways have been replaced

18. THEN: 2009. A view from O'Shaughnessy

19. THEN: 2005. Down from Turquoise

20. THEN: 2009. An upper eastside trail

21. THEN: 2005. A groupwalk

22. THEN: 2005. Laura G's groupwalk.

23. THEN: 2003. Looks like fun!

24. THEN: 2006. Main eastside trail

25. THEN: 2006. Main trail down from Christopher Park

26. THEN: 2006. Steps and trail

27. THEN: 2006. Down from the bench

28. THEN: 2006. Now there are steps down to the viewbench

29. THEN: 2006. Down from the bench, another favorite trail

30. THEN: 2006. Steps and trail on the eastside

31. THEN: 2009. Main trail descending and curving round

32. Upper, then back down for the Portola Trail

33. A steep uphill scramble at the end

34. Nearly to the top

35. Nice view amongst the wildflowers

36. Top of Valley stairway down from Diamond

37. To left of the center median, Valley steps continue

38. Castro near 29th, Noe Valley

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Different Parts of the Park

6/13/2015

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Strolling around the Presidio’s Mountain Lake Park (a park within a park), noticed there’s now a dropoff box for unwanted aquatic critters like turtles, frogs, and fish, rather than have them released into the lake. Sign sez this gets checked every day.

The same short stairways still descend to the lake's shore on the south side near the playground: a “Then” from 2009 and a ”Now.” First two pix.

Approaching the north trail-turn where the east trail continues along the fenced paved trail up to Arguello, wondering when this area is supposed to be walkable. Used to squeeze thru the gate to walk on the trail just below the golf course. Now I can’t get thru.

New additions since my last visit are several artworks on the lake’s fence created by schoolkids: 3, 4, 5, 6.

Still three benches on the lake’s west side but a different look than the old ones. Found a “Then” from 2009: 7, 8.

Further to the north near where the trail turns west and under the highway, there used to be some old building foundations with blackberry bushes just below the golf course. Loved this wild area. Now it’s all dry and drab-looking and this gate’s locked too. When’re they gonna open this part up again? The area of trees at the west edge of the golf course still looks like a greenly-pleasant place to stroll (pic 9). How about some kind of connecting trail that’s not in the way of that pesky golf course?

Some recent Batteries to Bluffs (I hike it often). This trail (473 steps for the main trail alone) has been getting more reviews lately: 10 thru 22, moving east to west.

The Batteries to Bluffs Trail actually starts on the east side just west of the Golden Gate Overlook. This is a delightful wildflower- and battery-lined trail that will take you directly to the stairs that swoop down: 23, 24.

On the west side, the Batteries to Bluffs trailhead is up at Lincoln Blvd. Here you can also descend the Sand Ladder steps to Baker Beach, this trailhead a few yards to the west of the BTB.

Pic 25: Partway down the sandy-trail part that leads from Lincoln down to Battery Crosby and the steep westside steps.

Pic 26: Connector Trail (208 wood steps), Lincoln curving round to Immigrant Point Overlook. The foot of this is just across the street from the BTB's west trailhead-if you still have the energy to continue up.

Another favorite parkspot is the El Polin Spring area. The old wood stairway ("Thens" from 2009": 27, 28, 29) got covered up and was replaced by this no-steps eastside trail: pic 30.

The old paved circle was replaced by a wood boardwalk: Notice the willow tree’s still here: “Then” 31, “Now” 32.

A short distance to the north from the 14th Ave. "Gate," 105 steps and a stepped boardwalk climb to the Marine Cemetery Vista Overlook; the trail continues west to connect with Battery Caulfield Rd. Pix 33, 34, 35.