Tennessee Hollow Trail

Enter the trail at the south end at Presidio Wall Playground to see a view of the gorgeous valley below.

Head north to El Polín Spring, restored in 2011. You’ll see wildflowers, hummingbirds, and butterflies, along with remnants of one of San Francisco’s first residential neighborhoods, once home to healer Juana Briones.

Continue down the residential street of MacArthur Avenue. Where the trail meets Lovers Lane, you’ll find MacArthur Meadow, where all three streams in the watershed come together. This area was restored in 2017 with 23,000 plants representing 60 native species.

Follow MacArthur Avenue to Presidio Boulevard, and cross through the YMCA Reach, a riparian corridor and seasonal freshwater wetland. A few years ago, you’d be standing in a parking lot. Now, you’re surrounded by Yerba Buena, Indian paintbrush, and seep monkey flower.

Then, just past Lincoln Boulevard, you’ll come upon Wayburn Redwood Grove and Thompson Reach, where in 2006 a former Army landfill was transformed into a creek and riparian habitat. It was the first creek in the watershed to be “daylighted.”

From there, follow Girard Road under the Presidio Parkway to Quartermaster Reach Marsh, where the water from the Tennessee Hollow Watershed runs into Crissy Marsh and San Francisco Bay. In 2019, asphalt was removed creating 7-acres of new habitat for plants, fish, birdlife, and even the native Olympia oyster. The trail ends at Crissy Field East Beach and Crissy Marsh.

Presidio Trails Tip

Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are at Presidio Wall Playground, El Polín Spring, and Crissy Field East Beach.