Off the bus at Visitacion and Mansell, headed northwest on a trail near University Ave. (Portola 'hood). Passed two etched images-and-words granite musing stations (first two pix) right away, then down 48 or so widely spaced steps to a rustic footbridge not visited in a while.
Heading west, past Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, soon reached the upper reservoir (third pic), with the usual wet dogs, taking the inner trail next to the water partway round: ducks in residence. A short stairway at the reservoir's north end took me to a third musing station (this a map, fourth and fifth pix) and a Philosopher's Way plaque near the parking area and trail up to the blue water tower (sixth pic).
The westside water tower is encircled by a paved walkway with big rocks to sit on and to-die-for views. Here I came to my fourth, and favorite, artstation of the day (seventh pic), part of which says: "The highest part of the park looks out over a neighborhood of immigrants." Besides the cityviews, you can also look down into backyards in the upper Excelsior neighborhood (eighth pic).
Circling for a while on some isolated middle and southwest-ish openspace and forested trails (pics 9 through 13): Wildflowers, including yellow mustard and California poppies … tall grasses, bees and butterflies … various kinds of beautiful trees. So many inviting trails in this park it's difficult to choose which to take.
On a forested trail just above Mansell near Brazil came upon a fifth mounted infotablet: a 1929 photo of Visitacion Valley residents at "Sandy Beach" … "A collection of moments … "
Have I now seen them all? More about the art stations:
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Art-nature-converge-at-Philosopher-s-Way-4074553.php
Near the bus stop at John F. Shelley and 1700 Mansell is now another of those colorful new park infosigns (last pic: an old bench here).
Heading west, past Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, soon reached the upper reservoir (third pic), with the usual wet dogs, taking the inner trail next to the water partway round: ducks in residence. A short stairway at the reservoir's north end took me to a third musing station (this a map, fourth and fifth pix) and a Philosopher's Way plaque near the parking area and trail up to the blue water tower (sixth pic).
The westside water tower is encircled by a paved walkway with big rocks to sit on and to-die-for views. Here I came to my fourth, and favorite, artstation of the day (seventh pic), part of which says: "The highest part of the park looks out over a neighborhood of immigrants." Besides the cityviews, you can also look down into backyards in the upper Excelsior neighborhood (eighth pic).
Circling for a while on some isolated middle and southwest-ish openspace and forested trails (pics 9 through 13): Wildflowers, including yellow mustard and California poppies … tall grasses, bees and butterflies … various kinds of beautiful trees. So many inviting trails in this park it's difficult to choose which to take.
On a forested trail just above Mansell near Brazil came upon a fifth mounted infotablet: a 1929 photo of Visitacion Valley residents at "Sandy Beach" … "A collection of moments … "
Have I now seen them all? More about the art stations:
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Art-nature-converge-at-Philosopher-s-Way-4074553.php
Near the bus stop at John F. Shelley and 1700 Mansell is now another of those colorful new park infosigns (last pic: an old bench here).
1. One of the musing stations
2. Another musing station
3. The Upper Reservoir
4. Musing Station map near the Water Tower
5. Musing Station map near trail to Water Tower
6. Philosopher's Way Plaque near trail to Water Tower
7. Clifftop Trail near Water Tower
8. Clifftop Water Tower Trail overlooks upper Excelsior 'hood backyards
9. Midpark Trails
10. Midpark Trails
11. Midpark Trails
12. Midpark Trails
13. California Poppies on a Rocky Trail
14. Old bench at John F. Shelley near Mansell
RSS Feed
