Quartermaster Reach Marsh
Find birdwatching, hiking, and total nature immersion at these restored wetlands.
The newly restored seven-acre tidal marsh connects freshwater from the Presidio’s largest watershed to the saltwater Crissy Marsh and ultimately to San Francisco Bay. The result is a unique habitat for birdwatching from the elevated pedestrian bridge, so bring your binoculars!
You can also pick up the Tennessee Hollow Trail here and trace the watershed all the way up to its springs.
Getting to Quartermaster Reach Marsh
Mason St & Halleck St, San Francisco, CA
By Public Transit
- Muni Route: 30
Stop: Mason Street & Halleck Street - Muni Route: 28
Stop: Richardson Avenue & Francisco Street
Parking
Paid Crissy Field parking can be found in a lot just east of the marsh. There is additional free parking at the Crissy Field East Beach lot on the other side of Mason Street.
Why We Love the Quartermaster Reach Marsh
If you thought Crissy Field couldn’t get any better, now there’s another spot to birdwatch and take in the Golden Gate views as you walk along the Bay Trail SF.
Accessibility
It’s a flat walk from Mason Street and the section of the Tennessee Hollow Trail that leads to a bench overlooking the marsh.
Insider Tip
If you like to take unique walks in San Francisco, go for a two-mile stroll through the Presidio’s largest watershed, guided by the Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk. You can pick up the trail at Quartermaster Reach Marsh, and you’ll learn a lot about nature and history along the way.
BRINGING NATURE BACK TO LIFE
Restoration of Quartermaster Reach Marsh is the latest milestone in the 25-year revitalization of the Tennessee Hollow Watershed.
Restoring Presidio Wetlands
The saltwater marsh that was once here was filled with debris when the Doyle Drive highway was built through the Presidio in the 1930s. With the new Presidio Parkway design, we brought an 850-foot length of stream once contained in a pipe back to the surface. Culverts were installed under Mason Street so the fresh water could flow into Crissy Marsh. Staff and volunteers then planted 23,000 plants – including 40 species of saltmarsh and dune plants grown in the Presidio Nursery – to create habitat for migratory shorebirds and water animals like fish and crabs. The restored marsh opened in 2020. Learn about it all in this short video.
Birdwatching in San Francisco
The marsh attracts many of the 300+ bird species known to frequent the Presidio. You may see egrets, herons, shorebirds like the Killdeer and even the elusive Common Merganser.
Hikes in the Presidio
Quartermaster Reach Marsh is right off the Tennessee Hollow Trail [link to the Tennessee Hollow Trail page] and the Golden Gate Promenade/Bay Trail. So, it’s easy to stop here during a day in the park.
Stop by Presidio Tunnel Tops
The marsh is just east of Presidio Tunnel Tops, home to food trucks, restrooms, picnic areas, the Outpost nature playground.
U.S. Army History in the Area
The site is named for the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster Corps, which operated here when the Presidio was a military post. It was responsible for managing food, clothing, and other supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leashed dogs are permitted on the trail through the Quartermaster Reach Marsh.
The Tennessee Hollow Trail approximately 1.2 miles long; the final section before you reach Crissy Field East Beach is just under ¼ miles.
The closest restrooms are at Crissy Field East Beach and near the Outpost nature playground at Presidio Tunnel Tops.
Try the Presidio Pop Up food trucks, typically located to the west on Mason Street.
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.
Olympic Oysters Return
The culverts were designed with fiberglass panels and “reef balls” made from concrete and shells to bring back the native Olympic oyster.
