And a satisfying east Presidio ramble after that, out to Arguello.
The Lyon stairway that runs alongside the Presidio's forested east wall is one of San Francisco's most popular Stairmasters. Especially on a weekend. It's a challenge to get pix of this stairway without people in the photo as well. Got distracted while descending, but on the way back up to Broadway counted about 289 steps. Pix 1 thru 10.
Now for some near-solitude. A few yards to the west from the top of the Lyon steps is the Broadway pedestrian entrance into the Presidio, a secluded and enchanting forest between the Lyon stairs and winding Presidio Blvd. As you pass through the gate into the park (pic 11), there's a trailmarker for the Mountain Lake Trail. I've long loved this area, especially just after a good rain.
Downhill through the forest leads to an old wood fence with an open gate (pix 12, 13, 14). This second walkers' gate leads to the Simonds Loop neighborhood. From the gate, continue west a short distance to the dead-end of a paved street. This is Rawles, but the street sign for it is downhill at upper Simonds Loop (pic 15). Continue west a few yards for the top of the brick stairway from upper to lower Simonds Loop: 62 steps, pic 16.
At the end of the stairs, west on lower Simonds Loop to cross Presidio Blvd. at Liggett. A trail here (pic 17) descends to paved Lovers Lane. Headed south, uphill, on Lovers Lane, past Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line installation (pic 18) and onto a favorite trail (pic 19) that'll take you to the east ramp/connector trail down to El Polin Spring (pic 20).
The ponds are lookin' good again, ducks seen in one of them, and green hillsides at last. 69 steps up (pic 21) from El Polin's picnic tables to connect with the upper Ecology Trail. Winding up 'n around on the Ecology (pix 22, 23, 24), to the 45 wood steps (pic 25) up to Inspiration Point Overlook off Arguello Blvd.
Last pic: the completed walkers' trail on the east side of Arguello. To the right is Inspiration Point Overlook.
The Lyon stairway that runs alongside the Presidio's forested east wall is one of San Francisco's most popular Stairmasters. Especially on a weekend. It's a challenge to get pix of this stairway without people in the photo as well. Got distracted while descending, but on the way back up to Broadway counted about 289 steps. Pix 1 thru 10.
Now for some near-solitude. A few yards to the west from the top of the Lyon steps is the Broadway pedestrian entrance into the Presidio, a secluded and enchanting forest between the Lyon stairs and winding Presidio Blvd. As you pass through the gate into the park (pic 11), there's a trailmarker for the Mountain Lake Trail. I've long loved this area, especially just after a good rain.
Downhill through the forest leads to an old wood fence with an open gate (pix 12, 13, 14). This second walkers' gate leads to the Simonds Loop neighborhood. From the gate, continue west a short distance to the dead-end of a paved street. This is Rawles, but the street sign for it is downhill at upper Simonds Loop (pic 15). Continue west a few yards for the top of the brick stairway from upper to lower Simonds Loop: 62 steps, pic 16.
At the end of the stairs, west on lower Simonds Loop to cross Presidio Blvd. at Liggett. A trail here (pic 17) descends to paved Lovers Lane. Headed south, uphill, on Lovers Lane, past Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line installation (pic 18) and onto a favorite trail (pic 19) that'll take you to the east ramp/connector trail down to El Polin Spring (pic 20).
The ponds are lookin' good again, ducks seen in one of them, and green hillsides at last. 69 steps up (pic 21) from El Polin's picnic tables to connect with the upper Ecology Trail. Winding up 'n around on the Ecology (pix 22, 23, 24), to the 45 wood steps (pic 25) up to Inspiration Point Overlook off Arguello Blvd.
Last pic: the completed walkers' trail on the east side of Arguello. To the right is Inspiration Point Overlook.
1. Near top of Lyon stairway down from Broadway, Pacific Heights
2. Lyon stairway continuing down from Broadway
3. Two separate stairways at the heart-garden below
4. I left my heart on the Lyon stairway
5. Presidio forest above
6. Presidio forest from about mid-Lyon
7. Last flight starts down
8. Vallejo nearly down to Green
9. Last flight of Lyon continues down from Vallejo's dead-end
10. Lyon down from dead-end of Vallejo
11. Presidio's east entrance from Broadway near top of Lyon stairway
12. Walkers' gate from the forest into Simonds Loop neighborhood
13. Forest between Lyon steps and Presidio Blvd.
14. Down from the forest to upper Simonds Loop
15. View from upper Simonds Loop at Rawles
16. Brick stairway from upper to lower Simonds Loop
17. From Presidio Blvd. & Liggett down to Lovers Lane
18. Wood Line (center), off Lovers Lane
19. Down from Lovers Lane
20. East connector trail down to El Polin Spring
21. West connector stairs from El Polin Spring to upper Ecology Trail. Pond and picnic area upper left.
22. Upper Ecology Trail
23. Upper Ecology Trail winds around to Inspiration Point Overlook
24. Upper Ecology Trail
25. Ecology Trail steps to Inspiration Point Overlook
26. Newly completed walkers' trail at east side of Arguello. Inspiration Point Overlook to right.
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