The #28 bus passed through a new tunnel on the Presidio Parkway heading towards the bridge. It's starting to look really good out there after the Doyle Drive Demolition Weekend. "… The Presidio Parkway was designed to better complement the spectacular natural environment." See:
http://www.presidioparkway.org
Still unable to descend to the Coastal Trail in the immediate bridgeview area so as to walk to the west beneath the bridge as the trail's closed here due to construction and trail improvements. So detoured through the pedestrian tunnel and around to visit the recently opened Golden Gate Overlook.
However, the new 3,500-square-foot Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion has also just opened and provides visitors with info and various bridge memorabilia for sale, including 75th-anniversary shirts, so had a walk-thru before taking off for the Overlook.
http://www.parksconservancy.org/park-improvements/current-projects/san-francisco/golden-gate-bridge-pavilion.html
The main Overlook stairway has 37 steps: concrete, then wood (first two pix). This entrance is just across the road from the Fort Scott infosign. Lots of new plantings and sturdy protective burlappy-netting. I like the way the built-in wood benches curve around the hilltop lookout (third pic), and the view is OMG, OMG, OMG, especially through the two trees (fourth photo). Two shorter stairways are on the north side. One is new (19 steps) and the other is the much older stairway that descends from the ancient building with the barred windows (whatever it once was). Now one can walk all around the old building.
http://www.sherwoodengineers.com/blog/?p=1256
http://www.parksconservancy.org/park-improvements/current-projects/san-francisco/golden-gate-overlook.html
Both these stairways will take you down to the Coastal Trail that meanders alongside the batteries. A short distance to the west is the east trailhead for the Batteries to Bluffs Trail.
Returning, ascended the usual battery stairs (fifth pic) to get up to the wildflower-enclosed Coastal Trail (last pic). You can walk along this part okay, but the trail's still closed at its east end too, so right now it's an up-and-back.
Golden Gate Overlook's main entrance
Golden Gate Overlook's main entrance
Golden Gate Overlook. Fort Scott beyond.
The Bridge from the Overlook
This way to the Coastal Trail
Coastal Trail. Golden Gate Overlook in distance.
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