San Francisco

Southwest San Francisco Nature: Lake Merced, Fort Funston, and More

San Francisco Waterfront: Ferry Building to Fort Point

Mission to Haight Hike: Corona Heights, Buena Vista Park, Golden Gate Park Oak Woodland

Western San Francisco Hike: Presidio, Lands End, and Sutro Baths

San Francisco’s China Basin and Potrero Hill

East Bay

Circling the Lafayette Reservoir

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline: A Trip Along the California Riding & Hiking Trail

Albany Bulb Adventure

Bayside Berkeley: A Stroll Around the Berkeley Marina and Cesar Chavez Park

Around and Above Lake Merritt

North Bay

Secret Sausalito Stairways to the Marin Headlands

Tiburon Tour: Ring Mountain and the Tiburon Peninsula

Headlands for the Holidays (and Sundays): Rodeo Beach to Tennessee Beach

Larkspur Loop: King Mountain, Dawn Falls Trail, Paths and Stairways

Bayside Marin: Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds and McInnis County Park

Angel Island Perimeter Hike

Peninsula and South Bay

Sweeney Ridge and Milagra Ridge Along the Bay Area Ridge Trail

Rancho San Antonio Trails to Black Mountain Peak

Pacifica Coastal Hike: Mori Point and Beaches, Three Ways

Edgewood County Park From Cañada College

San Bruno Mountain Summit

Car-free Outdoors is taking a break, but hopefully with the above hikes you will have plenty of options and ideas for car-free hikes in the meantime!

There are many fancy map-related applications online that could be useful for trip planning, but I tend to find Google Maps to be sufficient for my needs. For most trips, entering the route on Google Maps allows you to quickly figure out the distance of a hike — much easier than trying to measure in on the print map and add up a bunch of numbers. I tend to underestimate the length of a route, so mapping the route online helps me get a better idea of the actual distance and make adjustments if necessary. I have found that drawing lines using Google’s MyMaps feature is more useful than entering starting and end points in Google Maps. Keep in mind, however, that although Google Maps directions does depict some trails you may be better off using the mileage from your print map to get an accurate estimate of distance of some trails on your route — particularly when the route has lots of switchbacks. Also, in some cases it is helpful to draw multiple lines in MyMaps for different sections of the route, rather than one line for the entire route.

Although online maps are useful as a time saver for route planning, the best use I’ve found for them is avoidance of potentially dangerous routes. Anyone who has been on foot or on a bicycle on a route with no shoulder/sidewalk or near a busy freeway interchange will know the value of being familiar with the route ahead of time. For routes near freeways, busy thoroughfares, or rural roads, I like to use the satellite view of Google Maps. I check for sidewalks, for crosswalk locations, and for other features of the roads that might affect my route. Often it is very easy in satellite view to see how to avoid a problem by walking on one side of the street, moving the route a block in one direction, etc. Occasionally, if I can’t get enough information in satellite view, I will use the Google Maps Street View feature. It’s not available for every location, obviously, but in most urban areas I have been able to check on the location of a bus stop or see details of a street where the overhead view was blocked by trees. Street View can also sometimes be useful for finding the exact location of a trailhead, path, or stairway.

Despite careful planning, you may sometimes find discrepancies while out on the route. If you or one of your hiking partners has a smartphone, you could also pull up a map on the phone and use the phone’s GPS features to find an alternative route or check the directions. I am definitely not suggesting you need to purchase an expensive phone, however; much of the time I reference the directions I have typed up/written out ahead of time and occasionally refer to a printed map. In fact, having now described the utility of online maps in general I would like to also discourage you from using online maps and technology too much for your hikes. It can be tempting to use all of the cool online mapping tools out there to see your exact route before ahead of time or to check your location multiple times along the route. But I prefer to leave some mystery and surprise to the journey — otherwise it’s not much of an adventure!

Once I have completed a hike and am satisfied with the route, I enter the detailed route in MyMaps for future reference. MyMaps has options for either keeping your maps private or for making them public, and it is an easy tool to learn and use. If you want to get a better idea of the how the maps look, you can look at the maps that I’ve included for each of the hikes on this blog, or browse the collection of Car-Free Outdoors maps.

Planning out a car-free outdoor adventure does take some time, but it is a lot of fun if you are a map-lover. If you don’t find this enjoyable or don’t have the time for it, there are plenty of routes here on Car-Free Outdoors to follow — and more on the way!

When I first attempted to plan hikes from transit, I realized that I would need more than park maps. Park maps are, of course, great for planning any hike. Most of the official park maps from Bay Area agencies have accurate distances and are freely available either at park entrances or from the park office. And, most can be downloaded online and printed on standard 8 1/2 x 11 paper. I won’t list them all here, as the individual hike descriptions include links to specific park maps. However, when you want to connect between parks and from street to trail, it is much easier to visualize a route using map with larger coverage.

As with anything else, you could easily spend a bunch of money on maps. If you want to start planning your own longer hikes, I recommend starting with the maps in the region where you live or where you plan to do much of your hiking. I find that in most cases shopping for maps in a physical store is more useful than ordering them online, especially in cases where you want to compare maps from the same region from different mapmakers. REI carries a wide selection of maps in its stores around the Bay Area, as do many of the independent outdoor gear stores.

San Francisco

San Francisco Bike Map & Walking Guide (Rufus Graphics): In addition to its usefulness as a bike map, this one is great for planning walking routes because it depicts the steepness of streets with shading.

Map & Guide to Golden Gate Park (San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Rufus Graphics): There are many online maps showing the locations of well-known spots in Golden Gate Park, but none show all of the park’s many paths in as great of detail as this print map.

North Bay

Southern Marin Trail Map (Tom Harrison Maps): This map shows the Marin Headlands and connections with Mt. Tam, the Bay Trail from the Golden Gate Bridge north through Sausalito, and the Tiburon Peninsula. Additionally, it shows the trails on Angel Island. Because of its scale, the trails in Fort Baker are not shown in great detail, so you will want to use the official park map when planning hikes in that area.

Trails of Northeast Marin County (Pease Press): This is an excellent map for planning Bayside hikes in Marin and in preserves near Highway 101 from San Rafael north to Novato. For easier planning of hikes from transit, I have marked the locations on my map of the Golden Gate Transit bus pads (which are at 101 exits).

Rambler’s Guide to the Trails of Mt. Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands (Olmsted & Bros.): This is my favorite of the choices for Mt. Tam maps. In addition to Mt. Tam and Muir Woods, the map shows Marin Municipal Water District land to the north and all of the Marin Headlands.

East Bay

Rambler’s Guide to the Trails of the East Bay Hills (Olmsted & Bros.): The Northern and Central East Bay Hills maps are some of my favorites despite the fact that they are older. They show the trails of the East Bay Regional Park District, the city and county parks, and the EBMUD lands, making it easy to plan routes that connect trails in different jurisdictions.

Map of Berkeley’s Pathways (Berkeley Path Wanderers Association): This map clearly depicts Berkeley’s pedestrian paths and stairways, of which there are over 130 for this small city! The map is clear and easy to read, and shows the connections with Tilden Park, the UC trails, and Claremont Canyon Preserve. Additionally, the Bay Trail connections with bordering cities are shown on the map.

Walk Oakland Map & Guide (Rufus Graphics): This is a very useful map for planning neighborhood routes to connect transit with trails in the Oakland hills. It shows neighborhoods, points of interest, street steepness, and BART and major transit centers. The map also shows Oakland’s many walking paths — though I wish the path markings were a bit more prominent and easier to see on the map.

Peninsula

Trails of the Coastside & Northern Peninsula (Pease Press): This map starts with the south end of San Francisco and shows parks and trails down the coast past Half Moon Bay. It actually shows transit routes, but because the map is older many of the routes have either changed or no longer exist. Nonetheless, a great map.

Trail Map of Central San Francisco Peninsula Trails (Wilderness Press): On this map you can see the trails from San Mateo south to Stanford University. This is an invaluable map for planning longer hikes on the mid-Peninsula particularly because it shows the Crystal Springs Trail, which runs north to south and allows connections between parks.

Trail Map of the Southern Peninsula (Trail Center): This is a nice map of the many parks along the ridge from Portola Valley south to Saratoga Gap and Rancho San Antonio and Fremont Older preserves. You can see the trails in relation to Foothill College, which is the nearest public transit access point for much of this area.

Pathways Map, Los Altos Hills: This very detailed map shows the many pathways in Los Altos Hills, which connect with Rancho San Antonio and several smaller preserves and open spaces. Although it covers a fairly small geographic region, it is a great map to have for Peninsula hikes. Many different hikes can be constructed by planning different routes using the paths, which are not represented in detail on any other map that I have seen.

For all regions: If you have one already, the Thomas Bros. maps are actually fairly useful for planning car-free adventures, despite the fact that they are designed for drivers. I use them mostly when trying to figure out the best route through a neighborhood to connect to a trail. The Thomas Brothers. maps will have more street detail than any of the larger hiking maps and sometimes are more accurate than online maps for smaller streets. These maps are fairly expensive, though, and generally too bulky/heavy to bring along for the hike, so again I recommend starting with the map for the region where you will be spending the most time doing hikes.

This hike circles the perimeter of Angel Island State Park, visiting many historical and natural points of interest, including the Angel Island Immigration Station, abandoned forts and batteries, and coves and beaches. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the trails and paths on Angel Island are usually not overcrowded, as many visitors spend their time on the island picnicking near the ferry cove or taking the tram tours. On clear days, you will have amazing views of San Francisco from the island.

Places visited: Angel Island State Park
Approximate length: 6 miles (see notes for variations)
Hiking time: 4-6 hours
Map: Angel Island
Terrain: Mostly flat with a couple of moderate hills; paved and dirt trails
Transit schedule: Angel Island Tiburon Ferry, Blue & Gold Fleet Angel Island Ferry
Start and end point: Ayala Cove Ferry Dock, Angel Island

Getting to the start point:

From San Francisco, take the Blue & Gold Fleet Angel Island Ferry from Pier 41 and the Embarcadero to Angel Island. You can take the Muni F-Market to Pier 41 or (my preference) walk from Embarcadero BART/Muni north on the Embarcadero to Pier 41.

From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to Millbrae station. Transfer to BART, and take the San Francisco/East Bay train to Embarcadero station. From here, take the Muni F-Market to Pier 41 or (my preference) walk from Embarcadero BART/Muni north on the Embarcadero to Pier 41. Take the Blue & Gold Fleet Angel Island Ferry from Pier 41 and the Embarcadero to Angel Island.

From the East Bay, take BART to Embarcadero station. From here, take the Muni F-Market to Pier 41 or (my preference) walk from Embarcadero BART/Muni north on the Embarcadero to Pier 41. Take the Blue & Gold Fleet Angel Island Ferry from Pier 41 and the Embarcadero to Angel Island.

From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit 19 to the Tiburon Ferry Terminal. (Major transfer points for the 19 are Marin City, Strawberry Village, and the Seminary Drive Bus Pad.) Take the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry to Angel Island.

Notes:

• Note that you will be taking the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry if you are traveling from Marin, and the Blue & Gold Fleet Angel Island Ferry if you are traveling from all other destinations. The Angel Island Tiburon Ferry operates more frequently, but it is inconvenient for car-free travelers coming from destinations other than Marin. If you are coming from San Francisco, it is possible take the Golden Gate Transit 10 or 70/80 and transfer at Marin City to the 19 to get to Angel Island Tiburon Ferry. If you are taking the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry, note that cash and checks only (no credit cards) are accepted; make sure to check the current fares ahead of time and bring enough cash.
• This route is designed for those who want to avoid crowded trails, by taking the steep stairs to the perimeter road and doing a clockwise loop around the island. Taking the first ferry in the morning is also a great way to avoid the crowds and will allow you to explore the island without feeling rushed to make it back for the last ferry. The Angel Island ferries run on a more limited schedule from November through April; May-October will give you more options for your length of stay on the island.
• You can vary this route in a few places by taking alternate trails or roads. From the Immigration Station, the East Bay View Trail connects with Fort McDowell; it could be muddy in the winter or after heavy rains. A steeper hike is the loop to Mt. Livermore at the center of the island. Although it would be possible to do this hike in combination with the perimeter loop, I recommend doing these as separate hikes so that you have plenty of time to explore along the way and stop to enjoy the views.
• This route includes many great locations for lunch with a view. I recommend bringing a bag lunch, but you can also eat at the snack bar near the ferry.

View Larger Map

Directions:

• From the ferry dock, head to your left and towards stairs with a sign leading to Perimeter Road.
• Climb the stairs and dirt trail for about a quarter of mile until your reach the road.
• Turn left at Perimeter Road.
• Walk along the road, keeping an eye out for bicycles and trams.
• After about 3/4 of a mile, turn left at the road to Immigration Station.
• Shortly turn left to take the narrow winding path down to the Immigration Station.
• When you reach the buildings, spend some time wandering around and looking at the station, which reopened to the public in early 2009 after renovations. (Note that renovations are still occurring, and you may want to check the Immigration Station website before visiting for closures. Also check the website if you are interested in guided tours for a fee.)
• When you are done exploring, head back on the paved road to the Perimeter Road.
• Turn left at Perimeter Road.
• Continue straight at the intersection.
• After about a half mile, stay left when the road splits to visit Fort McDowell.
• At Fort McDowell, wander around to visit the buildings, the visitor center and Quarry Beach.
• From the beach, head left on the path towards the Perimeter Road.
• Turn left at Perimeter Road.
• Turn right where the road splits (straight ahead is a Coast Guard station, closed to the public).
• After the road curves around to the right, you pass a Nike Missile Site on your right.
• Follow the road as it curves up to the right.
• Turn left at the intersection to follow the Perimeter Road.
• Stay left at the split in the road to visit Battery Drew.
• Turn in at the battery to explore the area.
• When you are done exploring, you can either head back to the Perimeter Road and continue to your right, or you can cut across to the alternate road and turn left. Either way, the roads meet up in a short distance.
• Shortly after the roads meet up, you will pass an interesting rock crusher on your right.
• Continue straight at the intersection to stay on the main road.
• After the road curves around to your right, turn left to visit Camp Reynolds. Here you will see several buildings, including officers quarters and a mule barn.
• Optionally here, you can walk out to the point, Point Stewart before continuing the loop.
• When ready, make your way back to the perimeter road, either on the road or on the path through the trees.
• Turn left at Perimeter Road.
• As the road makes a sharp curve to the right, veer left on a short path heading towards the point.
• Turn right at the dirt road.
• Make your way down towards Ayala Cove, turning left when you reach the picnic areas.
• Walk along the cove to the ferry dock. Congratulations, you made it!

Located just south of San Francisco, San Bruno Mountain is a great destination for urban dwellers looking for nature close to home. San Bruno Mountain is a favorite spot for wildflower viewing in the Spring and a year-round hiking option. Starting at Daly City BART, this hike takes a neighborhood route to the park, climbs to the mountain’s summit and back down again via a loop trail, and ends at Balboa Park BART.

Places visited: San Bruno Mountain State and County Park
Approximate length: 9 miles
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Map: San Bruno Mountain Park (PDF)
Terrain: Mix of flat sections and gradual climbing on paved and dirt trails.
Transit schedule: BART
Start point: Daly City BART
End point: Balboa Park BART

Getting to the starting point:

• From San Francisco, take BART to Daly City.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to Millbrae station. Transfer to BART, and get off at Daly City.
• From the East Bay, take BART to Daly City.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at Hyde and Grove streets (just before Market Street), and walk to the Civic Center BART station on Market Street. Take BART to Daly City.

Notes:

• A number of variations on this hike are possible. From the mountain’s summit, you can hike out and back along the ridge a ways (note that the Ridge Trail does not connect to neighborhoods in Brisbane, so you will need to return the way you came). For a shorter and less steep hike, take the Saddle Loop Trail from the Old Guadalupe Trail. Or, take the Dairy Ravine and/or Eucalyptus trails with the Summit Loop Trail for a short loop hike.
• This hike is pleasant even after heavy rains. The muddiest section is a very short section from the small parking lot at the start of the loop. An alternative to this section is to walk along Radio Road  and then turn right to connect to the Summit Loop. Despite its name, the Bog Trail should be passable after wet weather, but feel free to take the paved Old Guadalupe Trail both ways if this is not the case.
• Be prepared for foggy and/or windy weather at San Bruno Mountain, especially during the summer.
• Food options are available on Mission Street near the end of the hike. There are several good spots in the park to stop and eat a bag lunch.

View Larger Map

Directions:

• Exit Daly City BART at the front of the station (not to the parking garage in back of the station).  Turn right and walk along the front of the station to the next corner.
• Carefully turn left onto John Daly Blvd., staying on the left side of the street.
• At the next intersection, De Long Street, cross and veer slightly left to walk on Los Banos Ave. paralleling John Daly Blvd.
• Continue walking on Los Banos until it ends at Santa Barbara Ave.
• At Santa Barbara turn left and make and immediate right on Los Olivos Ave.
• At the end of Los Olivos, turn left, onto Mission Street.
• Shortly, cross at the crosswalk to the other side of Mission Street, and then immediately turn right on Wellington Ave.
• Continue straight on Wellington for three blocks, and turn right at Winchester Street.
• Left at the next block, Crocker Ave.
• In three blocks, cross Bellevue and continue on Crocker as it veers slightly left.
• At Pointe Pacific is a very short stretch where the sidewalk ends. Walk on the left side of the street in front of the houses, staying close to the side of the road and watching for cars.
• Pass Rampart Way on your left.
• Turn right at the San Bruno Mountain trailhead (Old Guadalupe Trail), shortly before you reach the next block.
• Continue straight at the intersection to stay on the Old Guadalupe Trail.
• Turn right at the intersection for the Bog Trail.
• Stay left at the next intersection (right is the other part of the Bog Trail loop, which is slightly longer).
• Along the Bog Trail are benches in pleasant spots for taking a rest or eating a snack.
• Continue straight on the Bog Trail where the other part of the loop intersects with the trail.
• Shortly, you reach the parking lot and the park entrance for cars. There are restrooms here; check for maps on the signboard if you would like a printed copy.
• Walk through the parking lot to the opposite end. Turn right to exit the parking lot and immediately veer left to walk along side the road, Radio Road. Here you will see a trail coming in to meet the road.
• Shortly, you cross under another road, Guadalupe Canyon Parkway.
• Continue on the road until you reach a small parking area, then turn left onto the trailhead.
• Shortly, at the next intersection, turn right on the Summit Loop Trail. (Left takes you the other way around the loop.)
• Shortly, you cross Radio Road and continue on the trail.
• Continue on the Summit Loop Trail as it parallels Guadalupe Canyon Parkway on your right for awhile and then veers left and away from the road.
• Continue hiking as the trail switchbacks towards the summit.
• As the trail nears the summit, it passes some park buildings and then parallels an access road.
• When the trail meets the access road, cross the road and continue on the trail
• At the summit, you meet up with Radio Road again.
• After spending time at the summit, cross Radio Road to continue on the Summit Loop Trail.
• Pass the Ridge Trail on your right and continue on the Summit Loop Trail
• Pass the Dairy Ravine Trail on your right, and continue on the Summit Loop Trail.
• Pass the Eucalyptus Trail on your right, and continue on the Summit Loop Trail.
• Continue straight when you reach the point where you started the Summit Loop.
• At the small parking area, turn right and walk along the road.
• Cross under Guadalupe Canyon Parkway.
• Turn into the main parking area, and walk left through the parking lot.
• Take the Old Guadalupe Trail, which heads to the right of the Bog Trail.
• Stay left on the Old Guadalupe Trail when you reach the trail intersection.
• Pass the trailhead for the Bog Trail on your left.
• Pass the Saddle Loop Trail on your right.
• At the trailhead, turn right onto Crocker and make an immediate left onto Southhill Blvd.
• Pass Alta Vista Way on your right.
• Turn left at Bellevue, past an elementary school on the corner.
• Right at the next block, Waverly Way.
• Left at the next block, Polaris Way.
• Right at the next block, Pope Street.
• Veer slightly left to stay on Pope Street.
• Continue straight on Pope until it ends at Mission Street. Turn right at Mission.
• Shortly, turn left at Geneva Ave., a major intersection.
• Continue on Geneva Ave. until you reach the Balboa Park BART station. Congratulations, you made it!

Getting from the end point to the start point:

• Balboa Park BART is one station north from Daly City BART (the start point) along the San Francisco line. To return to Daly City and to return to the Peninsula and South Bay, take a Daly City/SFO/Millbrae train. For the North Bay, take any East Bay train (Pittsburg/Bay Point, Richmond, Fremont, or Dublin/Pleasanton), and get off at Civic Center. For the East Bay, board the appropriate East Bay train at Balboa Park BART.

This urban hike visits part of the waterfront that runs south along the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building, turns inland at China Basin and through the park that runs along the Mission Creek Channel. In contrast to the busy northern Embarcadero, this route is generally peaceful and quiet (unless there is a Giants game the day you go). From there, this route takes you  from the flatlands up through Potrero Hill to climb steep stairways — including stairs connecting twisty Vermont Street (“the other Lombard Street”). Sights along the way include birds and butterflies, houseboats, community gardens, unique stairways, and Bay and city skyline views.

Places visited: San Francisco Bay waterfront, China Basin, Mission Creek Channel, Potrero Hill stairways
Approximate length: 7 miles (see Notes for shorter option)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Map: see Google Map below
Terrain: Mostly paved; flat to Potrero Hill, steep stairways and streets in Potrero Hill
Transit Schedule: BART
Start Point: Embarcadero BART
End Point: 16th/Mission BART

Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take Muni Metro J/K/L/M/N/T or BART to the Embarcadero station.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. If you are closer to Caltrain, take Caltrain north to Millbrae, transfer to BART and take a San Francisco train to the Embarcadero station.
• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at Mission and 1st Streets, walk north one block to Market Street, turn right on Market, and to the Embarcadero BART station.

Notes:

• The first part of this hike is mostly flat, whereas the Potrero Hill section is much more challenging. If you would prefer to take a leisurely stroll, turn around at the end of Mission Creek Park and return the way you came from Embarcadero BART. This walk is approximately 5 miles round trip.
• Several options for food can be found at the start of the hike and in Potrero Hill, and numerous restaurants can be found near the hike’s end at 16th and Mission. A Safeway is located a block off the route near the start: when you turn right on 3rd Street after passing behind the ballpark, continue straight and turn left at King Street. The Safeway market is on this block. When done, continue on King Street, turn left at 4th, and resume the route as it heads over the 4th Street bridge. A Whole Foods market is located a block off the route in Potrero Hill: After turning left onto De Haro from 16th Street, turn right at the next block, 17th. Turn left at the next block, Rhode Island; the Whole Foods is in this block. When done, continue on Rhode Island, turn left at the next block (Mariposa) and right at De Haro to continue on the route.
• The Mission Creek Conservancy has some photos of wildlife you might want to watch for along Mission Creek. The Oakland Museum of California has a map and information about the Mission Creek Watershed.

View Larger Map

Directions:

• Exit Embarcadero BART and start walking towards the Bay on Market Street (you will see the Ferry Building ahead of you in the distance).
• When you reach the Embarcadero, cross all the way to the sidewalk in front of the Ferry Building and turn right.
• Walk south along the wide, paved path along the waterfront. There are plenty of places to stop along the way to enjoy the views. Keep an eye out for bicycles along the path.
• Continue along the waterfront once you pass the Bay Bridge.
• When you reach the boat harbor, veer left to stay along the waterfront.
• Pass the boat harbor and veer right and behind the ballpark.
• Turn right at 3rd Street and then make a quick left on Berry Street. (It’s safest to cross at the crosswalks at 3rd and Berry, as cars may be traveling at high speeds along 3rd Street.)
• Turn left at the next block, 4th Street.
• Cross the 4th Street bridge.
• Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn right at the path to start through Mission Creek Park.
• Continue along the path that parallels the channel, stopping if you wish at benches or on the lawn.
• Continue on the path as you pass Mission Creek’s remaining houseboats on your right.
• At the end of the path is a community garden. On the weekend, the garden may be open if plot owners are present. Be sure to ask first if you wish to wander through this garden or the other community gardens encountered on this route.
• From the garden entrance, turn left and out to the street, which is 6th Street. At this point you are heading away from the channel, not on the street that parallels the channel back in the other direction.
• Turn right when the street ends at the UCSF campus, then turn left shortly at the next block to continue south on Owens Street. (At the time of my last visit, there construction was happening in this zone. Be prepared for a possible detour from this route. If you end up detouring through the campus, find your way to 16th Street and turn right to continue the route.)
• Turn right at 16th Street.
• Cross under the freeway and continue straight on 16th Street for several blocks.
• Turn left at De Haro Street.
• In four blocks, turn left at 19th Street.
• Turn right at the next block, Carolina St.
• Continue straight on the stairs at the end of the street.
• Cross 20th Street and continue straight on Carolina Street.
• Turn left at the next block, 22nd Street.
• Cross Wisconsin Street.
• At the end of the street, head down the stairs on the right.
• Turn right at Arkansas.
• Before continuing on Arkansas, you may wish to explore the path that heads around the community garden (the Connecticut Friendship Garden) for a view out across the Bay. It could be a bit muddy or overgrown here, depending on the time of year, but the views make this detour worthwhile.
• When ready, head back on the path and continue south on Arkansas Street.
• Pass Madera Street on your right, and the Potrero Hill Recreation Center on your left.
• Turn right at 23rd Street.
• Cross Wisconsin at the right-hand sidewalk and then head straight and down to continue on 23rd Street.
• At the next block, Carolina, veer slightly left and then right to cross this divided street. Then head slightly right and left to continue on 23rd Street.
• Turn right at the next street, De Haro.
• Cross 22nd Street.
• Left at the next block, Southern Heights.
• Right at the next block, Rhode Island Street.
• Left at the next block, 20th Street.
• Left at then next block, Kansas Street.
• When Kansas ends, continue past the dead end sign and down the stairs. Here you head through an area of lush plantings and then down a driveway.
• Turn right at the street 22nd Street.
• Cross Kansas and continue on 22nd Street as it veers right and becomes Vermont Street.
• When you get to a very twisty part of Vermont Street, take the series of stairs that continues straight to connect the curves of Vermont Street. Here you will see other stairs to your left that go towards the park to the left of Vermont. You could choose to go this way as well, but I recommend getting the full Vermont Street experience on your first trip.
• When stairs end and you see a parking area ahead of you along Vermont, turn left and into McKinley Square Park.
• Head out to the far edge of the park and turn right along the path (or feel free to explore the park on different paths).
• At the north end of the park, head around the Potrero Hill Community Garden and continue north along San Bruno Ave.
• Cross 19th Street and continue on San Bruno Ave.
• At the next block, make a soft left an past the Benches garden (which officially opened in early 2010) and park.
• Cross the freeway and head down the path off-ramp to the street.
• Turn right at the street, Utah.
• Turn left at the next block, Mariposa.
• Continue on Mariposa for several blocks until you reach Harrison Street.
• Turn right at Harrison.
• Turn left in two blocks, at 16th Street.
• Continue on 16th Street for five blocks, to Mission Street and the 16th/Mission BART station. Congratulations, you made it!

Getting from the start point to the end point:

16th and Mission BART is four stops south from the Embarcadero station (the start point) along the San Francisco line. To get back to Embarcadero BART (to return to downtown SF and for those heading back to the North Bay), take any East Bay train (Pittsburg/Bay Point, Richmond, Fremont, or Dublin/Pleasanton), and get off at Embarcadero. For the East Bay, board the appropriate East Bay train at 16th and Mission BART. For the Peninsula and South Bay, take an SFO/Millbrae train from 16th/Mission BART.

A friend forwarded a website to me that documents a walk around San Francisco Bay (and to Bay Area summits) in increments over three years. As I started looking through site to get some ideas for future walks, I realized that this person had done many of his walks using public transit! If you are interested in doing some walking around the Bay, this site has some good notes about which routes are good and which are not so ideal for pedestrians, transit routes he used, and other valuable tips.

Several of the trips posted here at Car-Free Outdoors include good bird watching opportunities. If you would like more car-free birding opportunities and a chance to get out in a group setting, the Golden Gate Audubon Society often has birding-by-bike trips in its selection of outings, many of which conveniently start at transit stops. Check the calendar for upcoming trips.

Many of the car-free hikes I have posted so far do not start directly at a trailhead, but instead use paths and neighborhood routes to show how you can connect transit to trailhead. A number of trailheads in the Bay Area are actually quite near transit, however, allowing you to take a hike with a minimum of time off the trail. The Transit & Trails website allows you to plan your trip to those trailheads using public transit. Find the trailhead you would like to visit, and get transit directions using 511 or Google Maps.  I recommend checking the directions given for both 511 and Google Maps, as I’ve found that it really varies which one of the two will give you the best directions. Transit & Trails saves a ton of time and headache trying to find an address near the trailhead you wish to visit, which you would need in order to use 511 or Google Maps. Additionally, Transit & Trails includes campgrounds near transit stops! There are plans for community and sharing features in the future; register at the site to get email updates.

If you live in or have plans to visit British Columbia, check out Car-Free BC. The websites and print book include and variety of outdoor trips accessible without a car, for hiking, backpacking, bicycle touring, kayaking, river rafting, birding, and other outdoor activities. It’s an amazingly exhaustive book that includes over 90 trips, along with maps, photos, and illustrations.

Know of any other resources for car-free outdoor trips? Post a comment or send me a note if you do.

This urban hike in Oakland takes you around Lake Merritt, up stairways (including the historic Cleveland Cascade) and around the Morcom Rose Garden. Lake Merritt is a National Wildlife Refuge (the first in the U.S.) with a variety of migratory birds and a nature center. This hike uses paved paths and stairways and is enjoyable any time of the year.

Places visited: Lake Merritt, Oakland paths and stairways, Oakland Rose Garden
Approximate Length: 6.5 miles (see notes for shorter version)
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Map: See Google map of route, below
Terrain: Paved paths and stairways; flat around the lake, steep paths and stairways.
Transit Schedule: BART
Start and end point: 19th Street Oakland BART

Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take a Richmond or Pittsburg/Bay Point BART train to 19th Street/Oakland station.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to the Millbrae station. Transfer to BART and board the SF/Bay Point train (on weekdays, you will take the SF/Richmond train). Exit BART at 19th/Street Oakland station.
• From the East Bay, take BART to 19th Street/Oakland station. If traveling from Dublin/Pleasanton or Castro Valley, you’ll need to transfer to a Richmond train at Bay Fair.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 42 (from the San Rafael Transit Center) to El Cerrito Del Norte BART. Take a Fremont or San Francisco BART train to 19th Street/Oakland station.

Notes:

• For a shorter route (about 4 miles), you could skip the trip up the stairways and to the Morcom Rose Garden, and just walk around Lake Merritt. I recommend the full route, but the shorter route is great if you have limited time or would like a flat route.
• If you have more time to spend, there are several places to visit around the lake’s perimeter, including a boating center (rents pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and rowboats), Lakeside Demonstration Gardens (including a Japanese garden and a bonsai garden), a nature center, and Children’s Fairyland. The Friends of the Cleveland Cascade website has history, videos, and information about restoration of the stairway. You may also want spend additional time at the lake relaxing in one of the grassy areas with a picnic or a book.
• Many food options are available at different points along this route, particularly along Grand Ave. and Lakeshore Ave. On Saturdays, the Grand Lake Farmer’s Market operates at Splash Pad Park along Grand Ave. soon after you head away from Lake Merritt toward the Oakland Garden.

View Larger Map

Directions:

• Exit the 19th Street BART station, and orient yourself for heading towards Lake Merritt. If you are at Broadway near 17th, walk up Broadway until you get to 19th Street, and turn right. If you are on Broadway near 20th, walk down Broadway to 19th, and turn left.
• In three blocks, pass a park (Snow Park) on your left and continue straight.
• When you reach the lake, cross at the crosswalk, continue out to the path, and turn right.
• Follow the path past the Lake Merritt Boathouse and the historic Camron-Stanford House.
• As the path curves left past the boathouse, you have a choice of continuing on the dirt path below or going up to the paved path. I recommend the paved path here, as (unfortunately) trash tends to collect in the lower area.
• Once the route has curved left again, continue on the path close to the shore.
• Follow the path for a ways until you can look to your left and see a cordoned-off area off to your left across the lake. Now keep an eye out for Brooklyn Ave. on your right.
• Head away from the lake to your right and cross the street (Lakeshore) at the crossing.
• Turn left and continue on Lakeshore, paralleling the lake.
• Shortly, look for a stairway on your right.  Head up the stairway to the top (or as far as you wish) and back down again. You may wish to spend some time here to examine the restoration efforts, watch the people who use these stairs for exercise, etc.
• When ready, head back to the lake path. You can either cross directly at Cleveland Cascade, or backtrack to Brooklyn and cross here. Either way, turn right at the path along the lake’s shore.
• Veer left around the tip of the lake, passing a fountain.
• When you are through the arches and around the tip of the lake, take a sharp right on the path and head out to the street, Grand Ave.
• Turn right at Grand Ave., and begin walking along the sidewalk.
• Pass a grassy area on your right, and cross under the freeway.
• Pass Splash Pad Park (and, if it is Saturday, the Grand Lake Farmer’s Market) on your right.
• Cross Lake Park Ave., and pass the historic Grand Lake Theater on your right.
• Pass retail and restaurants on your right. Cross to the other side of Grand at one of the two crosswalks in the next block and continue on Grand.
• Pass Elwood Ave. on your left and Mandana Blvd. on your right.
• After you have passed the next several businesses, keep your eye out for a path between the buildings. The path will be next to 3629 Grand Ave. Turn left to follow the path.
• Cross the next street (Valle Vista) and continue on the path.
• Turn right at the street, Mira Vista, and immediately turn left at Alta Vista Ave.
• Turn right at the next block, Jean St., and head up the hill.
• At the end of Jean St., where the street makes a right turn, you turn left and in the entrance to the Morcom Rose Garden.
• Continue straight through the garden, taking either the left or right paths at junctures.
• At the end of the garden, turn around and loop back the other way to the entrance. Along the way you may wish to explore different areas of the garden.
• Exit the rose garden where you came in and head straight out on Jean St. (do not take Jean back down the hill the way you came).
• Turn right at Grand Ave.
• Cross to the other side of Grand Ave and one of the next two crosswalks, and continue on Grand.
• Very shortly after you pass where you turned off Grand on your way up, begin looking on your left for a path between the buildings.
• Turn left at the path and walk through the buildings and up the stairs.
• Cross the next street, Walker, and continue on the stairs.
• Turn right at the next street, Vermont.
• Turn left at the next block, Mandana.
• Turn right when you reach Lakeshore. Here you pass through another commercial district.
• Just before you reach the freeway undercrossing, turn right at Lake Park Ave., a major street.
• Cross to the other side of the street at the next crosswalk, and walk along the path through Splash Pad Park (if it is Saturday, you will be walking through the farmer’s market).
• Turn left at Grand Ave. and continue back under the freeway.
• When you reach the path where you left Lake Merritt, veer left onto the path and back to the lake.
• Stay slightly right at the lakeshore and continue where you left off, heading around Lake Merritt.
• Soon you pass the wildlife sanctuary, where you see some small islands in the lake off to your left in a cordoned off area. This is a good area to spend some time if you are interested in birdwatching.
• Stay towards the shore past the wildlife area, and pass the Lake Merritt Boating Center.
• Continue around the lake along the shore, passing Lakeside Park on your right.
• Follow the path as it veers left around the shore.
• When you reach 19th Street, where you started around the lake, cross at the crosswalk and turn right.
• Head back on 19th Street towards Broadway, the way you came.
• When you reach Broadway, enter the 19th Street BART station. Congratulations, you made it!

This bayside Marin hike is a nice option for winter, with plenty of birds and little mud, and also a great summer outing when the temperatures rise at inland parks. A variety of land uses can be observed on this tour, which passes wildlife ponds, sanitary district facilities, remnants of a Nike missile site, an old Air Force base, hunting blinds, an air strip, a skate park, golf course, and other recreational facilities.

Places visited: Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Wildlife Ponds, McInnis County Park
Approximate Length: 9.5 miles
Hiking time: 5 hours
Map: None online; see Google Map below
Terrain: Mostly flat with a couple of easy climbs, dirt and gravel paths
Transit schedule: Golden Gate Transit 70/80
Start and end point: Lucas Valley Bus Pad

Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70 or 80 bus from Mission Street and 1st Street (stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission). You can also pick up Route 70/80 at different points along its route along Mission, up Van Ness, and west on Lombard to the Golden Gate Bridge. Check the current San Francisco System map to see if there is a stop closer to you. Take the Route 70/80 to the Lucas Valley Bus Pad.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to the final San Francisco stop. Walk on 3rd Street towards Market, turn right on Mission, to the Golden Gate Transit stop at Mission and 1st. Or, from BART, take a San Francisco BART train to Montgomery Street station. Exit the station, walk Market Street towards the water/ferry building, turn right on 1st Street, and walk one block to the corner of Mission and 1st. Take the Golden Gate Transit Route 70 or 80 bus from here (stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission) to the Lucas Valley Bus Pad.
• From the East Bay, take a San Francisco BART train to Embarcadero station. Walk on Market Street away from the water/ferry building to 1st Street, turn left on 1st Street and walk one block to the corner of Mission and 1st. Take the Golden Gate Transit Route 70 or 80 bus from here (stop is right in front of the Walgreens on Mission) to the Lucas Valley Bus Pad.
• From the North Bay: Take Golden Gate Transit Route 70, 71 or 80 from any of the stops along its route. If you are coming from Petaluma/Cotati/Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa, you will be taking Route 80. From locations in Novato, San Rafael, and Marin City, you can take any of the three buses. Get off at the Lucas Valley Bus Pad.

Notes:

• This trip includes a full tour of Las Gallinas and McInnis Park. If you enjoy bird watching, you a may want to return and try different routes around the ponds. If you end up spending a lot of time at the ponds, you may with to skip the loop through McInnis Park. To do this after exiting McInnis across the stone bridge, just reverse the beginning of the directions and head back the way you came instead of turning in at the Bay Trail.
• This hike can be done year-round, with winter being especially good for bird watching. There is one short section at the start of the Bay Trail around McInnis that can be muddy after heavy rains. However, the rest of the route is on graveled and/or raised levee paths that stay relatively dry.
• This is a good hike for a picnic lunch; there are plenty of benches and picnic tables at different points in this route. There are a couple of restaurants on Smith Ranch Road, but otherwise not too many food options along the route.
• Getting to the southbound Lucas Valley Bus Pad is a bit confusing due to poor signage. Be sure to read the end of the directions for this route so that you do not make any dangerous crossing of freeway on-ramps.

View Larger Map

Directions:

• From the transit stop, turn right to start walking east on Smith Ranch Road.
• Continue along the sidewalk, passing offices and businesses, until you see sports fields on your left.
• Turn left at the McInnis County Park sign, onto the dirt path beside the road.
• Shortly, turn right and head up the next street, passing a golf course on your right.
• At the top of the road, turn left through the parking lot and head towards the tennis courts. (You also have the option here of going up and over the hill on stairs. When you get to the top, stay left and head along the trail that meets up with road running past the skate park.)
• Turn right at the path in front of the tennis courts.
• Pass through a parking lot and past a skate park on your left, and continue straight up the dirt road.
• At the top of the road are remains of a Nike missile site that you may wish to explore before continuing on. At this point, you can also see down to the marsh area below (your destination from here).
• When ready continue down the path as it curves right and left.
• At the bottom, pass through a gate and maintenance yard. Do not turn right towards the golf course, but instead continue through the lot.
• Pass through a second gate on the other side of the maintenance yard and out to the street.
• Pass a sign to the Bay Trail on your right, but continue straight.
• Turn right just before the Las Gallinas parking lot, crossing over a stone bridge.
• Continue straight on the path, passing a first pond with a wildlife island in the center.
• Continue straight past the next two junctures.
• Continue following the trail as it curves left and then right.
• At the juncture, head right.
• Continue straight until the trail ends at the edge of former Hamilton Air Force Base.
• Turn around here and head back the way you came.
• At the juncture, turn right.
• Follow the trail as it continues straight and then veers left towards the ponds.
• At the juncture stay right to continue around the ponds.
• Continue to stay to the right, keeping the ponds on your left, and make your way around the outer edge of the ponds.
• At the final pond, you will see the wildlife island in the center of the pond again.
• Turn left to go around the last pond.
• Turn right and head back over the stone bridge.
• Turn left at the road.
• Turn left at the Bay Trail sign that you passed earlier.
• Head straight out on the dirt trail. If it has rained recently, this section may be a bit muddy. Shortly, however, you will be through this section.
• Veer right and up onto the raised and narrower levee trail.
• Turn right at the next intersection (straight heads out towards the neighborhood and eventually meets up again with your trail; however, the suggested route is shorter and travels through an interesting marshy area).
• Turn right at the T intersection. In front of you just before you turn is a bench and a view of the airstrip.
• After turning right, continue on the trail, passing the golf course on your right.
• After passing the parking lot past the golf course, turn right and head towards the road.
• Cross to the other side of the street and turn left. (It is easier to walk on this side of the road).
• Continue straight at the intersection, crossing street and then the railroad tracks and the next street.
• Continue straight on Smith Ranch Road, back towards the bus pad.
• At Redwood, cross to the opposite side of Smith Ranch Road and continue on Smith Ranch towards the bus pad.
• Carefully cross the freeway on/off ramps and cross underneath the freeway.
• At the light, cross halfway and turn left at the pathway.
• Follow the path as it curves left (the freeway cloverleaf will be on your left) and meets up with the southbound Lucas Valley Bus Pad. Congratulations, you made it!

This car-free trip takes you to Edgewood County Park, a favorite spot for wildflower viewing in the Spring and a pleasant hiking spot year-round. Starting at Cañada College, you will hike a portion of the Crystal Springs Trail to connect with Edgewood. After looping through Edgewood and stopping at a viewpoint, you’ll exit the park on a different trail to head back to Cañada College.

Places visited: Edgewood County Park, Crystal Springs Trail
Approximate Length: 9.75 miles
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Map: Edgewood County Park (PDF), Cañada College
Terrain: Mix of flat sections and moderate climbs on dirt trails
Transit schedule: SamTrans 274 (PDF)
Start and end point: SamTrans stop at Cañada College, Redwood City

Getting to the start point:

• From San Francisco, take Caltrain south to Redwood City. Walk to the bus stop area adjacent to the train tracks to the waiting area for SamTrans 274. Take the bus to the end of its line at Cañada College.
• From the Peninsula and South Bay, take Caltrain to Redwood City. Walk to the bus stop area adjacent to the train tracks to the waiting area for SamTrans 274. Take the bus to the end of its line at Cañada College.
• From the East Bay, take a Millbrae BART train. Depending on the day and time, you may need to transfer to the Millbrae train. At Millbrae, go to the southbound Caltrain waiting area. Take Caltrain south to Redwood City. Walk to the bus stop area adjacent to the train tracks to the waiting area for SamTrans 274. Take the bus to the end of its line at Cañada College.
• From the North Bay, take Golden Gate Transit Route 70/80 or 10 to San Francisco. Get off at Howard and Fourth Street, and walk south on Fourth Street to the Caltrain station at Fourth and King streets. (Note that on the way back you will pick up the Golden Gate Transit bus on Folsom rather than Howard. Take Caltrain south to Redwood City. Walk to the bus stop area adjacent to the train tracks to the waiting area for SamTrans 274. Take the bus to the end of its line at Cañada College.

Notes:

• Make sure to pack a lunch for this hike, as there are no food options near the start and end point on Saturdays and limited options at campus food vendors during the week. If you take the bus from the Redwood City Caltrain station, the adjacent shopping center has a Safeway and takeout food options. Across the street from the shopping center (on El Camino Real) is a Whole Foods market and deli.
• The hike as described can be done on weekdays and Saturdays. The SamTrans 274 route does not run on Sundays. As of this writing the last bus leaves Cañada College at 5:05 pm on Saturdays.
• You can use this basic route to get to Edgewood County Park, but vary your route through the park. The suggested route is ideal for wildflower viewing. The Sylvan Trail loop is a nice shady option during the summer months. It would also be possible to take trail along Cañada Road to or from Edgewood, but I don’t recommend this option. The trail runs right alongside Cañada, which is a very popular bike route on the weekends. Along portions of the Crystal Springs Trail you’ll have some freeway noise, but you may have the trail to yourself save for the occasional equestrian.

Directions:

• From the bus stop, continue straight along the road where the bus has dropped you off, passing athletic facilities on your left.
• Shortly, turn right at the next intersection, Campus Circle. The sign here points to Cañada Road.
• Pass parking lots on your right and left, and continue down the road. Keep to the side of the road and watch for cars.
• Follow the road as it makes a sharp switchback to the right.
• Follow the road as it starts to veer left.
• Turn left at the next intersection, West Entry (straight is the loop back to the campus).
• At the T, Cañada Road, carefully cross straight and turn left at the other side of the road.
• Walk along the dirt path on the side of the road, crossing under the highway.
• Shortly after you have crossed under the highway, turn right at Runnymede.
• Walk along the left side of the road on the wide dirt path.
• After about 3/4 mile, the road curves left. Here you will continue straight ahead through a short paved section to reach the entrance to Crystal Springs Trail.
• Continue straight on the dirt trail as it parallels the highway.
• Continue on the trail as it drops down and away from the highway.
• Continue straight as the trail meets up with Cañada Road. Note the plaque on your left signifying the town of West Union.
• Stay on the left side of the road, watching for cars and trucks pulling up or away from the road in this section.
• Turn right at the next intersection, Edgewood Road. Use the crosswalk, and walk on the right side of Edgewood.
• Just past the parking area, continue on the dirt trail to the right of the road, the Edgewood Trail.
• Continue on the trail as it curves right and then left to pass under the freeway.
• Turn right at the fork that comes shortly after you have crossed under the highway, the Serpentine Loop.
• Turn left at the fork to continue on the Serpentine Loop.
• Turn left to continue on the Serpentine Loop.
• Stay right at the next fork to continue on the Serpentine Loop.
• Shortly turn left to continue on the Serpentine Loop.
• Continue straight at the next intersection to stay on the Serpentine Loop.
• Continue straight past the service road to stay on the Serpentine Loop.
• Turn left at the Edgewood Trail.
• Shortly, make a left at the Francisco Trail.
• Stay right at the intersection with the Ridgeview Loop.
• Continue straight on the Ridgeview Loop until the scenic viewpoint.
• Make a sharp right to go the to view point. This is a good spot to stop for lunch.
• When you are ready, head back from the viewpoint and make a sharp right at the Live Oak Trail.
• Shortly, continue straight (downhill) onto the Serpentine Loop.
• Make a left at the next intersection and then very shortly make a right onto the Clarkia Trail.
• Stay to the left at the next intersection, continuing on the Clarkia Trail.
• At the end of the Clarkia Trail, at Cañada Road, carefully cross Cañada and turn right.
• Continue along Cañada past the freeway onramp, underneath the freeway and past another onramp. The onramps here are not usually busy, but keep an eye out for traffic.
• Just past the onramp, head on to the dirt trail to the left of Cañada Road. The trail starts just to the left of the I-280 sign and veers away from the road here.
• Shortly, turn left at the Crystal Springs Trail.
• Follow the Crystal Springs Trail back the way you came earlier. When the trail ends, continue straight along the side of Runnymede Road.
• Turn left at Cañada Road and follow it under the freeway.
• Carefully cross the street and turn right at West Entry Road.
• Turn right at the intersection to continue back to Cañada College.
• Follow the road as it switchbacks to campus, watching for cars.
• Turn left at Loop Road and back to the bus stop. Congratulations, you made it!