National Cemetery Overlook
This serene vista offers a dramatic view of San Francisco National Cemetery and San Francisco Bay.
This high vantage point offers a stunning view of the 28-acre military cemetery where 30,000 soldiers and family members have been laid to rest. Beyond lies the Golden Gate Bridge and the glimmering San Francisco Bay.
Pause on the benches flanked by stone walls inscribed with poetry as you reflect on the generations of veterans who served here when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post.
Getting to National Cemetery Overlook
National Cemetery Overlook
By Public Transit
Muni Route: 43 Masonic
Stop: Presidio Transit Center
From Presidio Transit Center, take the free Presidio GO Shuttle to the East Washington stop. Follow Washington Boulevard to Nauman Road where you pick up the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Travel west to find the National Cemetery Overlook connector trail.
By Presidio GO Shuttle
Route: South Hills Route
Stop: East Washington
Directions: Follow Washington Boulevard to Nauman Road where you pick up the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Travel west to find the National Cemetery Overlook connector trail.
Parking
There is very limited free parking on Nauman Road.
Why We Love National Cemetery Overlook
Nestled in a eucalyptus forest, National Cemetery Overlook is a place of poetry, poignance, and peace. It invites you to contemplate the human sacrifice that came with the Presidio’s historic role as “defender of the gate” – while appreciating the natural beauty that defines this national park site today.
Accessibility
There are two parking spaces for those with mobility limitations just off Nauman Road. The overlook can be reached by a wheelchair-accessible connector trail from the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The nearest public restrooms are 0.7 miles away at Presidio Golf Course.
Insider Tip
Two other worthwhile Presidio experiences are a 15-minute walk to the east on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. First you’ll encounter Andy Goldsworthy’s Spire , a towering sculpture made from fallen cypress trees. And across Arguello Boulevard is the Inspiration Point Overlook with views toward Alcatraz.
Presidio History, Surrounded by Nature
National Cemetery Overlook is a surprise discovery for visitors enjoying one of the best hikes in San Francisco along the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
A Place of Poetry
The overlook is set around a series of low stone walls inscribed with lines from The Young Dead Soldiers by American poet and World War I artillery officer Archibald MacLeish. Among the words etched are, “They say, We were young. We have died. Remember us. Our deaths are not ours: they are yours: they will mean what you make them.”
Follow the Trail
The overlook is built along a connector trail that leads to two benches where you can spend a quiet moment viewing the green, rolling hills lined with symmetrical rows of white headstones.
Dedication
National Cemetery Overlook was dedicated on Veterans Day 2009. It was made possible through a gift from Robert and Kathy Burke.
Frequently Asked Questions
From the overlook plaza, the nearest public restrooms are located 0.7 miles away at Presidio Golf Course.
Yes, there are two options at the nearby Presidio Golf Course. To the west along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, you’ll discover the Golf Course General Store for quick and casual fare. To the east, you find a full-service restaurant at the Presidio Golf Course clubhouse.
The low stone walls that line the connector trail to the overlook feature the words of American poet and World War I artillery officer Archibald MacLeish. Specifically, the walls are inscribed with lines from MacLeish’s “The Young Dead Soldiers,” first published in 1943.
Yes. Simply follow the Bay Area Ridge Trail from Arguello Gate for 15 minutes until you reach the connector trail for National Cemetery Overlook.
