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