SF Presidio Hike

On an unseasonably warm early February day (2/1), the Sacramento County Hikers led by Rich Blackmarr visited the San Francisco Presidio. Our 5+ mile hike was a walk through history with our route starting at the visitor center located at the main post. The trails took us through forests, past coastal defense structures, beaches, multi-million dollar homes, Crissy Airfield, Fort Point, the Golden Gate Bridge, and vistas with breathtaking views of SF Bay, Marin Headlands, Angel Island and Alcatraz.

~Short History~

For 218 years, the Presidio served as an army post, first by the Spanish who in 1776 established this as the northernmost outpost of their empire in the western North America.

The Presidio then fell under Mexican rule for 24 years before the U.S. Army took control in 1846. Over the next 148 years, the U.S. Army transformed the grounds from mostly windswept dunes and scrub to a major military post with gun batteries facing the ocean, airfield, hospital, cemeteries, and over 870 structures.

In 1989, the Presidio was closed by the military and the property transferred to the National Park Service.

Since 1994, the Presidio, a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, has been transformed into one of the preeminent urban parks in the U.S. The 1,491 acres contains 11 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of bicycle route.

Note: To view enlarged photo, click on pic

The Officer's Club is now the Park's Visitor Center

A beautiful green belt leads into the Main Post area

Historic artifacts placed on the green-belt

Historic brick buildings

A piece of modern sculpture

A group foto of the Hikers

On our walk to China Beach, we pass Robin Williams home

A neat rock marker points the way to China Beach

A couple gazillion dollar homes overlooks China Beach with incomparable views

Our lunch spot with a gazillion dollar view

The western gulls were in a feeding frenzy too!

Me and the bridge

Baker Beach overlook

Cute beach dog . . . looks like my buddie Nikki

It's early Febuary and you would think it's summer. Climate change here we come. . .

The hikers encircle a gun battery placement

An old photo of what these big guns looked like when these batteries were in use

The trail takes you past the batteries to the Golden Gate Bridge

Joyce and the BRIDGE

Amazing view of the SF icon

Even the underside is beautiful

The steel arch frames Fort Point

Fishing off the old pier with Alcatraz in the background

The promenade along the bay front

A cool way to tour the City

At $5.50 per dog, this stand was making a killing! Even I succumbed.

Cairn marks the way back

A funny astro-turf globe.

End of a fabulous hike on a gorgeous day with a fun group!
Thanks Rich for leading another great hike.