Stairways are Heaven
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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.

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1. THEN, 2009: Notice all the trees that surrounded the lake back then
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2. NOW: Steps down to the lakeshore
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3. Art in the park
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4. Created by schoolkids
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5. Several of these alongside the lake's fencing
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6. Love stuff like this!
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7. THEN, 2009: Trio of wooden benches on the westside
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8. NOW: Still three benches
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9. Howzabout a trail along the edge of this forested area below the golf course?
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10. Batteries to Bluffs east
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11. About 130 steps down the eastside to View Point
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12. Just off the main trail, a single viewbench
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13. View down to the beach
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14. View to the west now
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15. Winding midtrail
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16. Midtrail wildflowers
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17. View of the Bay and the Headlands
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18. Trail to Marshall's Beach below
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19. The footbridge
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20. Up the westside
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21. Westside steepness
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22. And up to Battery Crosby
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23. Here's the east trailhead
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24. Trailhead for the east stairway part
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25. Partway up to Lincoln. Baker Beach below.
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26. Connector Trail, Lincoln up to Immigrant Point Overlook
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27. THEN, 2009: Old stairway down to El Polin Spring
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28. THEN, 2009: Old steps down to paved circular road
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29. THEN, 2009: Old stairway and picnic area
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30. NOW: Eastside winding trail down to El Polin Spring
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31. THEN, 2009: El Polin Spring
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32. NOW: The boardwalk with infosign in English and Spanish
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33. Stairway meets stepped boardwalk
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34. Wyman Ave. and residences to right
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35. Admiring a tree off the Marine Cemetery Vista boardwalk
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    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

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