Jun 15, 2021
Top Ten Things to Do in the Presidio
Don't miss these "must do" adventures in the Presidio.The Presidio is a national park site in San Francisco that welcomes more than five million visitors each year. Here you’ll find everything you’d expect from a national park, and many surprises – including many affordable things to do.
To help get you started, we’ve curated ten free adventures – plus the newly opened Presidio Tunnel Tops – to introduce you to all the Presidio has to offer. Give yourself extra time to explore and enjoy the Presidio with an overnight stay at one of two hotels, the Inn at the Presidio and the Lodge at the Presidio, or you can also enjoy a national park camping experience at Rob Hill, the Presidio’s group campground.
1. Take a Photo with a Bay Area Icon
We’re just going to say it: the Presidio has the most picturesque views of San Francisco’s International Orange icon, the one-an-only Golden Gate Bridge. Head out on an Instagram-worthy adventure of your own to capture this beauty from several different locations, including the Golden Gate Overlook (pictured). Start with an “up-close-and-personal” view and learn a bit more about the bridge’s history from the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center. We also recommend grabbing a snap from Fort Point National Historic Site, Torpedo Wharf at Crissy Field, and Baker Beach. Share your favorite photos at #PresidioSF.
Photo by Scott Sawyer.
2. Bird Watch
Located along the Pacific Flyway, the Presidio attracts hundreds of migrating bird species. Popular birdwatching sites in the park include El Polin Spring, where you can spot Allen Hummingbirds frolicking in the restored stream; Quartermaster Reach Marsh, where you might see an egret along the water’s edge; and Crissy Marsh, where Buffleheads or Belted Kingfishers are frequent visitors. You can explore them all through the Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk. At both El Polin Spring and Crissy Marsh you’ll find picnic tables and public restrooms.
Photo by Rachel Styer.
Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk
3. Experience Outdoor Art Installations
Did you know the Presidio is home to the largest collection of art works by Andy Goldsworthy on public view in North America? Visit Goldsworthy’s popular Presidio installations while enjoying a three-mile self-guided tour. The route reveals Spire and Wood Line (pictured above), and while Tree Fall is currently closed, you can see Earth Wall on Saturdays at the Presidio Officers’ Club, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo by Paul Myers
4. Hit the Beach
The Presidio has some of San Francisco’s most famous, and most visited, beaches – in particular, Baker Beach (pictured above), Marshall’s Beach, or Crissy Field’s East Beach. All offer visitors a different kind of water-side experience. Baker Beach and East Beach are great spots for a picnic and great spots to dip your toes in the water and feel the sand beneath your feet. They also offer some of the most spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Photo by Presidio Trust
5. Experience a Trail That’s Welcoming to All
The Presidio has a 24-mile network of trails – some perfect for walking, biking, rolling, or strolling, and some easy and some more difficult. Take your pick! A 2.7-mile route has been designed to be welcoming to everyone – whether you’re travelling by foot, bike, wheelchair, or stroller. It showcases four scenic overlooks, the Presidio’s forest, and provide spectacular San Francisco Bay views.
Photo by Charity Vargas.
6. Have a Picnic in the Park
When people think “park” they often think “picnic.” If that sounds like a grand idea, pack a lunch and come experience one of the Presidio’s fourteen picnic sites. You can’t go wrong at Crissy Field West Bluff, El Polin Spring or Baker Beach, where you can enjoy Pacific Ocean views along with your macaroni salad. For lawn picnicking, check out the Main Parade Lawn, just steps from the Transit Center.
Photo by Rachel Styer.
7. Discover Native Natural Gems
The Presidio is a 1,500-acre natural oasis, and home to 330 native plant species, 323 bird species, 30 butterfly species, three watersheds, a tidal marsh, and a freshwater lake (among many other natural gems!). A perfect day trip is a visit to Mountain Lake, located along the Presidio’s southern border. Here you can enjoy the sounds of Pacific chorus frogs, see damselflies (pictured), or glimpse a western pond turtle perched on a rock. We also encourage you to take the Mountain Lake Promise and observe your wildlife findings via the iNaturalist app.
Photo by Presidio Trust
8. Take a Hike Like No Other
Perched on the edge of the Pacific, you’ll find one of the Presidio’s most iconic features – the Batteries to Bluffs trail. We highly recommend taking a sunset hike for the ultimate experience. But even on a foggy day, this trail makes for a memorable journey. Helpful hint: The closest restrooms are located at the Fort Scott Ballfield near the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Storey Avenue. This is a pedestrian only trail; no dogs allowed.
Photo by Jay Graham
9. Explore Presidio History
At the height of the Gold Rush in 1853, Army engineers established Fort Point at the mouth of the Golden Gate to protect the San Francisco Bay from foreign attack. Eventually, the fort was abandoned and fell into disrepair. A movement began for its preservation and it became a National Historic Site in 1970. Set right below the Golden Gate Bridge’s southern approach, it offers a striking vantage point for viewing the bridge, most notably views of the arch designed by chief engineer Joseph Strauss to save the fort from being demolished during the bridge’s construction. Hours vary, so check the National Park Service website.
Photo by Presidio Trust
10. Celebrate Crissy Field
For over twenty years, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and National Park Service revitalized Crissy Field, and it’s been dazzling visitors ever since. Once a U.S. Army airfield, today this is one of San Francisco’s must-see destinations. Known as the perfect place to picnic, fly a kite, or hang out with the pup at the beach, this epic wide-open space provides some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the City skyline. Come celebrate this special place – grab a snack at the Warming Hut Park Store and Café, or experience some of the Presidio’s visitor-serving businesses along Old Mason Street.
Photo by Charity Vargas
Crissy Field Scenic Overlook page
11. BONUS: Presidio Tunnel Tops
Besides play spaces, picnic areas, fresh green lawns, and epic views, there are plenty of fun events and activities to enjoy at Presidio Tunnel Tops, including the free ranger-led talk at the Campfire Circle, daily from 4 to 4:30 p.m., and delicious food from diverse vendors daily with Presidio Pop Up.
Photo by Rachel Styer.