What's New at the Presidio (Fall 2022)

San Francisco, CA (September 7, 2022) – With wonderful weather and spectacular new experiences to enjoy, fall is a fantastic time to visit the Presidio of San Francisco. Adding to the excitement, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, of which the Presidio is a part, marks its 50th anniversary on October 27. To celebrate, come explore two visitor destinations added to the Presidio over the past year, including the newest crown jewel – Presidio Tunnel Tops. The park is also hosting free public cultural events and new Presidio Pop Up mobile food offerings.

Opening Season at Presidio Tunnel Tops

Presidio Tunnel Tops, 14 acres of new park land reconnecting the waterfront to the park’s center, opened with fanfare in July and has already been appreciated by thousands for its stunning Golden Gate views, gardens, trails, and play areas. Free public events like the First Sunday Afternoon series (Oct. 2, Nov. 6), or the Chuseok Festival (Sept. 10) co-curated by the Presidio Activator Council and Community Experts, World Arts West, and Hip Hop for Change, offer family-friendly, community fun. Campfire talks by NPS park rangers have been extended through the fall! Enjoy stories about the Presidio’s history on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4 pm to 4:30 pm. The new Field Station encourages kids of all ages to discover the nature and ecology of the Presidio through sensory activities – with a focus on fall. Staff can also provide self-guided adventures, like the Explorer Backpacks with tools for exploration, scavenger hunts, or discovery maps. The two-acre Outpost nature play space is the largest of its kind in the Bay Area, and a huge hit with its play elements made of all natural materials. The Presidio Visitor Center provides orientation to the entire park, special interactive exhibits, and retail items to make any day in the Presidio successful.

While at Presidio Tunnel Tops, see the temporary outdoor mural exhibition Ancestral Futurism: Looking Back to Repair the Future by Favianna Rodriguez. The colorful imagery honors the diversity and interconnectedness of all humans, land, flora, and fauna that have lived in this ecosystem for centuries. Abstract symbols reflect plants and creatures that were once abundant in the region, and illustrate themes of justice, freedom, and belonging. The installation is outdoors on the pathways near the Presidio Visitor Center and the Outpost nature play space.

Bluffs and Marshes

A short walk from Presidio Tunnel Tops is Battery Bluff, a new gem built on top of the western set of Presidio Parkway tunnels. Opened in April 2022, it showcases historic gun batteries built by the U.S. Army between 1899-1902, making them accessible to visitors for the very first time. Battery Bluff also features picnic tables where visitors can enjoy a meal with a bay view, three scenic overlooks with sweeping views of the Golden Gate, Angel Island, and Alcatraz, and a multi-use pathway to the Golden Gate Bridge. Quartermaster Reach Marsh is another site worth visiting! It’s seven acres of restored wetlands located across from East Beach at the Presidio’s Crissy Field. Enjoy the view from the marsh trail, a birding hot spot. Or take a walk all the way up the Tennessee Hollow Watershed to Inspiration Point.

Volunteer in the Presidio

Giving back to the Presidio through volunteering is a way to meet people and contribute to the health and vitality of the park. Along with thousands of volunteers each year, the Presidio Trust, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service work to protect the natural and cultural resources of the GGNRA for the enjoyment of everyone. Choose from a variety of projects for individuals and groups, from planting to archaeology, to greeting visitors. All training, tools, and leadership are provided.

Culture, Art, + History

The Presidio is home to several museums and cultural institutions like The Walt Disney Family Museum, Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Historic Learning Center, Presidio Theatre, and more. Public outdoor art sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy — Spire, Wood Line, and Earth Wall — are unique examples of the English sculptor’s place-based, grand scale art works, and can be found along trails in the park. The various galleries in the Presidio Officers’ Club are open on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Recreation

Several fitness operations are based in the Presidio, including the newly opened Crossfit 7×7 gym, the Presidio Community YMCA, yoga and Pilates studios Baptiste Power Yoga and A Body of Work, Movement climbing gym, and the House of Air trampoline center. Presidio Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course that is one of the most historic courses in the west. The Presidio Bowl has also been a family favorite for decades. See our website for visitor-facing business in the park.

Eat in the Presidio

The new and wildly successful Presidio Pop Up offers a daily rotating roster of mobile food trucks and carts. They serve up delicious food that celebrates the diverse cultures and cuisines of the Bay Area, seven days a week on Presidio Tunnel Tops (9 am to 5 pm weekdays, to 5:30 pm on weekends) at two locations – Mason Street by the Outpost, and by the Main Parade Lawn across from the Visitor Center. Presidio Pop Up supplements a growing roster of brick-and-mortar restaurants in the park, like Colibri Mexican Bistro, newly opened in the historic Presidio Officers’ Club. Presidio Bowl sports a refurbished patio with heat lamps and fire pits, a selection of over 45 beers, ciders, and seltzers, and delicious pub food. Presidio Café at Presidio Golf Course serves American comfort food with California flair from 9 am to 5 pm daily. For more fine dining, Sessions at the Presidio is a park favorite. For a full list of restaurants in the Presidio, visit our website.

Special Events and Lodging

There are many locations in the Presidio perfect for a wedding, holiday party, or corporate meeting – both indoors and outdoors. Special event venues, like the Golden Gate Club, Presidio Officers’ Club, or the Log Cabin have created happy memories for decades. Now for the first time ever, it’s possible to rent out the Presidio’s Main Parade Lawn and two meadows at the new Presidio Tunnel Tops (East Meadow and the Western Lawn). Picnic Place – with tables and BBQ grills – is reservable via recreation.gov, and reservations are available 30 days in advance. Tables range in length from 16 to 23 feet, are wheelchair accessible, and are shaded by Torrey pines.

A stay at the Lodge at the Presidio or the Inn at the Presidio may be part of a special event, a trip to San Francisco, or a staycation. The two historic boutique hotels are a lovely escape – both featuring indoor and outdoor fireplaces, complementary wine and cheese hour, and breakfast buffet. They are pet-friendly and situated within the Presidio’s idyllic park surroundings.

Getting to the Park

With the re-opening of the Transit Center and the return of several Muni bus routes, it’s now easier to take public transportation to visit the park. The Presidio GO Shuttle operates an express route downtown, free to all during non-commute hours, and an “Around the Park” route serves various park locations. Visitors can take advantage of a new rideshare drop-off zone and the new Bay Wheels bike share stations as well. For details on transportation please visit here.