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Battery Bluff parkland. Photo by Myleen Hollero.

Battery Bluff

Battery Bluff is great spot to enjoy a picnic while experiencing Presidio history and bay views.

Region

Main Post Region

Type

Scenic Overlook

Interests

History, Recreation

Top Amenities

Accessible Parking, Wheelchair-accessible Picnic Tables, Paid Parking, Bike Parking, Golden Gate View

This picnic spot has views of the Golden Gate Bridge so up close, you’ll feel like you can reach out and touch it.

This spot along the Presidio Promenade is built on top of the western set of Presidio Parkway tunnels that connect drivers to the Golden Gate Bridge. Its big sister park, Presidio Tunnel Tops, is just down the street, 

What’s makes Battery Bluff really special is the four recently repaired historic gun batteries that defended San Francisco Bay when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post. The result is a site that perfectly blends history, nature, and recreation. 

Map of the Presidio

By Public Transit

Muni Route: 43 

Stop: Presidio Transit Center (nine-minute walk to Battery Bluff) 

By Presidio GO Shuttle

Route: Downtown Shuttle 

Stop: Presidio Transit Center (nine-minute walk to Battery Bluff) 

Parking

There are six paid parking spaces on Lincoln Boulevard next to Battery Bluff, including one for people with mobility limitations.

Why We Love Battery Bluff

Located roughly halfway along the multi-use Presidio Promenade trail that connects the Lombard Gate to the Golden Gate Bridge, Battery Bluff is a near perfect resting place to enjoy history, nature, and fun.

Accessibility at Battery Bluff

There is one parking space next to Battery Bluff for people with mobility limitations. The 16 picnic tables have companion seating. The closest wheelchairaccessible restrooms are at Presidio Transit Center.

Insider Tip

Are you ready to say “I do?” The Golden Gate overlook at Battery Bluff is etched with the motto “Parks for All Forever.” Savvy couples stage their engagement photos to feature “Forever” with the iconic bridge in the background.

Battery Bluff overlook with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The words “Parks for All Forever” are sketched on the overlook. Photo by Rachel Styer.Photo by Rachel Styer.

Best Place to See the Golden Gate Bridge

Whether you’re just stopping along the trail or planning a picnic with friends and family, the Golden Gate views from Battery Bluff will not disappoint. 

Scenic Overlooks 

Battery Bluff has three scenic vantage points with breathtaking views. One is a Golden Gate Bridge overlook, one points to Alcatraz, and another takes in the historic battery view. 

Pack a Lunch 

Battery Bluff has a whopping 16 picnic tables with companion seating. Note that there are no BBQ grills. If you need those, reserve a spot down the street at Picnic Place. 

Experience the History of the Presidio   

Battery Bluff’s name nods to the historic gun batteries nestled in the hillside above Crissy Field – Blaney, Baldwin, Slaughter, and Sherwood. Built by the U.S. Army between 1899-1902, they defended San Francisco Bay. The guns could hit targets 12 miles out to sea, thought there were never any shots fired in battle. Recently cleaned and repaired in a painstaking historic preservation process the batteries are accessible to visitors for the very first time. 

Keep the Kids Busy

During construction, a raccoon left paw prints in the still drying asphalt of a pathway at Battery Bluff. See if the kids can find them. 

Presidio Pet Cemetery 

If you walk west from Battery Bluff along the Presidio Promenade trail toward the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll encounter the Presidio Pet Cemetery, a beloved resting place for the companions of Army families. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Battery Bluff is along the multi-purpose Presidio Promenade trail. It’s next to Lincoln Boulevard across from San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio.

There are six parking spots nearby. The closest restrooms are at the Presidio Transit Center.

The closest food is Presidio Pop Up food trucks on the Main Post. There is also a restaurant at Presidio Transit Center. 

From 2009 through 2015, Caltrans replaced the seismically unsafe Doyle Drive with the Presidio Parkway, which placed parts of the roadway into two sets of tunnels. The land above these tunnels became a new park area. Battery Bluff is built on top of the western tunnels, and Presidio Tunnel Tops is built on the eastern tunnels. The opening of the new parkland in 2022 marked the end of a 30+ year, multi-agency effort to replace the freeway while making more beautiful open space in the Presidio. 

Nature Notes

It’s our goal to make sure people can enjoy the Presidio’s natural beauty for generations to come. We work to protect native plants and animals while reducing our impact on the environment.

Plants at Battery Bluff

More than 60,000 plants – most grown at Presidio Nursery – bring seasonal color and life. About 90% of the plants are native, including purple needle grass and California lilac.

Learn More
Yellow plants at Battery Bluff with Golden Gate views in the background. Photo by Rachel Styer.Photo by Rachel Styer.

Park Itineraries 

Need help planning your day at the Presidio? We’ve put together some itinerary ideas for things to see and do in the park. Whether you’re planning to spend a few hours or an entire day, there’s something for everyone at the Presidio. 

Explore What’s Nearby

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