In the middle of the Presidio forest high above San Francisco National Cemetery sits National Cemetery Overlook's peaceful plaza. Dedicated on Veterans Day in 2009, this serene spot offers a dramatic view of the 28-acre military cemetery and pays homage to the thousands of American soldiers who are buried there.
Poetry and Poignancy
The overlook can be reached by a wheelchair-accessible connector trail off the Bay Area Ridge Trail. You'll be greeted by 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. The trail leads to two benches where you can spend a quiet moment viewing the green, rolling hills dotted with white headstones. Further beyond the cemetery, you'll see the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and San Francisco Bay glistening in the distance.
Visit National Cemetery Overlook
National Cemetery Overlook is about a 15-minute walk along the Bay Area Ridge Trail from the Presidio's Arguello Gate. If you are driving, there's a paid parking lot off Nauman Road.
The vista is one of nine overlooks built in the Presidio, and was made possible through a gift from Robert and Kathy Burke.
