Started out at 12th Ave. to circle the Presidio's Mountain Lake where a few ripe berries were found (yep, blackberry season's officially started), then up the 103 or so Marine Cemetery Vista steps (first pic). "Home is the sailor, home from the sea" is etched on the plaque between the overlook's benches.
Yeah, same old route oft remarked upon, but all excellent hiking trails and long stairways that get me out in the fresh air for a good workout.
Out to Battery Caulfield Rd. and up to Immigrant Point Overlook to take the Connector Trail (208 steps, pics 2, 3, 4) down to Lincoln. Down the trail that leads to Battery Crosby, sometimes new graffiti adorning the battery for us all to view.
Some park trails are really summer-dry now, but not this trail and the entire Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Wildflowers and greenery all over, with damselflies, bees, birds, and a ladybug spotted as I meandered along. Found the earliest berries of the season on the BTB (pics 5 through 14), 473-ish steps. Especially loved the wild radish flowers leaning over the stairway as I started down the west side.
Strong winds up here as I continued east from the BTB along the Coastal Trail next to the cliffedge (pics 15, 16), with pic 17 taken near Golden Gate Overlook.
Over to the Fort Scott neighborhood, grateful for the crosswalks here as lots of vehicle traffic in the area as usual.
Next to the old steepled wood church starts a short trail where a few years ago found some ripe berries as late as October. Pleasantly surprised this year to find the trail still unspoiled and secluded, with unmolested old trees, wild roses, bees, and tall blackberry bushes lining it between me and Fort Scott. On the other side of the trail is a busy highway. Ahhh -- here we have another "hidden" Tony's Trail. After several times this year have only seen one person 'sides me on it, a jogger.
This sun-dappled beauty (pics 18, 19) curls around to come out at the Log Cabin (available to rent for events) with a pleasing view of downtown and Fort Scott residences at this end. Very short, but such a difference when compared to walking along a main street. I fervently hope this trail is left as is. Hoping park people won't get too carried away and overly "manicure" and widen all the trails; please leave some of 'em on the "wild" side!
The equally short trail directly across from it, on the north side of the aforementioned highway, its trailhead across the street from the Golden Gate Overlook's main stairway, has already been given a noticeable overhaul with tree-thinning and blackberry bushes and other plants uprooted and pushed back. There's a striking difference now between these two trails that are separated by the endless vehicles below, with stacked wood from the downed trees, bare dirt, and plants cut back so this northernmost one isn't as comforting and cozy as before.
But they did leave some blackberry bushes and other plants at the trailhead and it's still a walkers' trail between the forbidding traffic below and the other vehicle street. Definitely beats walking on a sidewalk or at the side of a street. I read someplace that car usage is down lately -- but apparently not in this park, especially on weekends or holidays.
Yeah, same old route oft remarked upon, but all excellent hiking trails and long stairways that get me out in the fresh air for a good workout.
Out to Battery Caulfield Rd. and up to Immigrant Point Overlook to take the Connector Trail (208 steps, pics 2, 3, 4) down to Lincoln. Down the trail that leads to Battery Crosby, sometimes new graffiti adorning the battery for us all to view.
Some park trails are really summer-dry now, but not this trail and the entire Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Wildflowers and greenery all over, with damselflies, bees, birds, and a ladybug spotted as I meandered along. Found the earliest berries of the season on the BTB (pics 5 through 14), 473-ish steps. Especially loved the wild radish flowers leaning over the stairway as I started down the west side.
Strong winds up here as I continued east from the BTB along the Coastal Trail next to the cliffedge (pics 15, 16), with pic 17 taken near Golden Gate Overlook.
Over to the Fort Scott neighborhood, grateful for the crosswalks here as lots of vehicle traffic in the area as usual.
Next to the old steepled wood church starts a short trail where a few years ago found some ripe berries as late as October. Pleasantly surprised this year to find the trail still unspoiled and secluded, with unmolested old trees, wild roses, bees, and tall blackberry bushes lining it between me and Fort Scott. On the other side of the trail is a busy highway. Ahhh -- here we have another "hidden" Tony's Trail. After several times this year have only seen one person 'sides me on it, a jogger.
This sun-dappled beauty (pics 18, 19) curls around to come out at the Log Cabin (available to rent for events) with a pleasing view of downtown and Fort Scott residences at this end. Very short, but such a difference when compared to walking along a main street. I fervently hope this trail is left as is. Hoping park people won't get too carried away and overly "manicure" and widen all the trails; please leave some of 'em on the "wild" side!
The equally short trail directly across from it, on the north side of the aforementioned highway, its trailhead across the street from the Golden Gate Overlook's main stairway, has already been given a noticeable overhaul with tree-thinning and blackberry bushes and other plants uprooted and pushed back. There's a striking difference now between these two trails that are separated by the endless vehicles below, with stacked wood from the downed trees, bare dirt, and plants cut back so this northernmost one isn't as comforting and cozy as before.
But they did leave some blackberry bushes and other plants at the trailhead and it's still a walkers' trail between the forbidding traffic below and the other vehicle street. Definitely beats walking on a sidewalk or at the side of a street. I read someplace that car usage is down lately -- but apparently not in this park, especially on weekends or holidays.
1. Marine Cemetery Vista steps up from 14th Ave./Mountain Lake Trail
2. Connector Trail down to Lincoln from Immigrant Point Overlook
3. Connector Trail's bench. Lincoln below. Sand Ladder to the left.
4. View of Lands End in distance from the Connector Trail
5. West trailhead for Batteries to Bluffs at Battery Crosby
6. Down amongst the wild radishes
7. Curving down the west side
8. Steep westside steps up to Battery Crosby
9. Midtrail-ish
10. Midtrail, Batteries to Bluffs
11. Batteries to Bluffs Trail, 0.7 mile
12. Batteries to Bluffs = Beauty
13. Nearly up to View Point overlook and the bench
14. Up to the east trailhead, Batteries to Bluffs Trail
15. Coastal Trail between Batteries to Bluffs and Golden Gate Overlook
16. Windy Coastal Trail at the cliffedge
17. Near Golden Gate Overlook
18. "Tony's Trail" with Golden Gate Bridge in distance
19. "Tony's Trail" coming out to Log Cabin. Highway below, Fort Scott to right.
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