Tyler DrakeTeam
COO / Co-Founder
Co-Founder of Outbound. On a mission to get #EveryoneOutside!
Make sure you get an early start on the trail. We hit the trailhead right around 5am. The earlier you can get to the base of the cables the better -- it can get crowded and slow down the process in that tight space. With that said, be patient and don't rush it, you'll make it to the top shortly. For the cables, I would bring gloves, but if you forget, there was a pile of used ones at the base to the cables.
4.0
The rewarding view at the top of these stairs almost makes the hard work worth while. If you're planning to run them a few times, keep in mind that it can get crowded in the evenings and before work -- but that shouldn't stop you from your workout. The top of the stairs also provides easy access to the Presidio if you want to extend your run.
4.0
Ocean Beach is the closest break for those living in SF. Fall is typically the best season where the wind switches to off-shore and the swell is still pretty manageable in terms of size. For those who are just learning to surf, it may be best to check out Pacifica as the paddle out at OB can be pretty challenging especially when the surf is bigger. After your surf, head up to Devil's Teeth on Noriega for arguably one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city.
4.0
In the city it's pretty tough to find a place to swim outdoors. I'll be honest, Aquatic Park is a little frigid for me sometimes, but on warmer days, it's a great spot to get out for a few laps. Wearing ear plugs helps to keep the cold water out and after a lap or two odds are you won't be quite as cold. Afterward you can reward yourself with an Irish Coffee at Buena Vista.
3.0
Completely agree with going counter-clockwise. This way you get the harder work out of the way early and hopefully hike some of the more exposed parts while it's still early and hasn't heated up too much. If you're heading there in summer months or on weekends, the park can get crowded, so I recommend getting an early start. Keep in mind that from San Francisco it's a little shy of a 2 hour drive. After the hike, you can take Skyline to Alpine and head to Alpine Inn ("Zots") for a burger and a beer.
5.0
This is one of my favorite hikes near the city. Yes, the drive to Stinson is pretty windy, but the hike is definitely worth it -- spanning hillsides with ocean views, tall forests, and plenty of photo ops. You'll get a decent climb right from the start so make sure you bring plenty of water and a couple snacks with you. One more thing to note, the parking near the fire station can get a little crowded on weekends, so get there as early as you can.
5.0
There's a parking area just a short walk to the lookout for the falls. This spot can get pretty crowded, I went on a weekday in the winter and there were plenty of parking spots available, but still a decent number of people at the falls. If you're going during the summer and/or on a weekend, be sure to head there early. Also, make plans to explore another waterfall or two as this one if right off the highway.
5.0
I had a great time doing this with my 63 year-old dad. We slowed it down a little and made it a 4 day, 3 night trip. We also went on a holiday weekend, which if you can avoid it you should; it was pretty crowded! To try to avoid the crowd, we switched our route and went from Black Sands north to Mattole. This allowed us to pass most of the traffic on the second day and get the campgrounds to ourselves on nights 2 & 3. We were warned about head wind as we approached the lighthouse, but didn't experience any. All in all a great trip that I hope to do again soon!
5.0
Great spot for close proximity to the cove. Keep in mind that on holiday weekends, the campground can fill up pretty quickly, so be sure to make your reservations ahead of time. If you're planning on abalone diving, make sure you're on top of your permits and tagging the abs on the beach as soon as you come out of the water - the area is patrolled and fines can be pretty heavy.
4.0
Let's be honest, it gets pretty hot in the summer. We did this 7/31/15, so it was warm and exposed. The climb up is challenging but not overly strenuous. The trail is paved for the majority of the hike. Once you head out to the summit, there's a cable in place that you can use for balance. Keep in mind that if you don't feel comfortable with heights, crowds, or balance, this hike may not be for you. In terms of views, from the summit, they're expansive over a large portion of the park and make the climb well worth it! If you want to avoid the crowds, I would recommend getting there early for two reasons: 1. obviously fewer people on the trail. 2. You may be able to enter the park and find a parking space closer to the trailhead rather than riding the shuttle from the visitors center.
4.0
Funny enough I ran into Tyler Johnson (previous review) on the trail. Top Down is an amazing way to take in the Subway if you're comfortable with rappelling and anchors. You'll get the opportunity to swim through several pools that are waist to chest deep and see a whole new perspective of the canyon that isn't accessible from the Bottom Up Route. If you're planning to go top down here are a few things to keep in mind: 1) It's helpful to have a shuttle car for the thru-hike. Park one at the Left Fork Trailhead (37.2847443,-113.1328094) and then load up all passengers and head to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead (37.339812,-113.1125852) to start the hike. 2) If at any point, you think you're off the trail before the first obstacle, head back to the last point where you knew you were on the trail -- we turned back 2x because we missed the direction the cairns were pointing. We saw cairns along the entire route up to the first obstacle when we were on trail. 3) At the first obstacle, you may see people jumping off the right side of the boulder. I'd recommend being patient and rappelling. Nothing is worse than getting an ankle injury this early in the canyon. 4) Wetsuits -- we didn't use them since we went July 30th, but they could be helpful early or late in the season as the upper canyon streams were a bit cold. Get out and enjoy it!
5.0
Be sure to check out the bridge on a weekday or early on the weekend. When I went in the summer, it was pretty crowded. Also, there's a shuttle you can take to/from downtown.
3.0
This is an easy hike even if you choose to go the full length. And relatively easy parking (but can get crowded on weekends). Be sure to bring your camera or photo to get your iconic Golden Gate shot and then head into the richmond for a bite.
5.0
Not too challenging of a hike that's well worth the views. The forest on the hike up makes you feel like you've escaped the city.
4.0
Can get pretty crowded on nice days in the late summer and fall, but nonetheless a great spot to relax in the sun. As Amanda said, if you bring your food from OTG up there, you can beat the crowds of the parking lot and enjoy your feast!
4.0
Stunning views of the valley and as Eric mentioned, much smaller crowd than other scenic points in Yosemite.
5.0
If the shuttles have started, make sure you get there early on the weekends as there can be a pretty long line. And when you hike the falls, head down to the base of the falls for an amazing view!
5.0
Pretty amazing spot to hike. Make sure you get there early if you're headed there on the weekend.
5.0
It's really a site to see! And since it's one of the few areas with a line of Cypress Trees, which you can see from the highway, it isn't too hard to spot. If you plan to use google maps to get there, make sure you load it in Inverness, because you won't have service once you enter the seashore.
5.0
This hike is great for families as the trail is well-maintained and had a few strollers on it when I went. It's also relatively flat. Once you get to the small, wooden bridge, you'll be walking on sand, but you can head out to the coast and essentially have the beach to yourself.
4.0
This point is supposedly one of the windiest points on the Pacific, so bring a jacket. There is a small parking lot, which can get crowded, but there is parking leading up to the parking area.
4.0
There are 2 benches at the end of the trail where you can take in the view. Bring your lunch or a snack with you and take it all in.
4.0
Amazing view that you should definitely stop and check out before leaving the park. There's a small parking lot on the left side of Northside Dr. just before you exit the park or loop back onto Southside Dr.
4.0
Stunning view of the valley! Even though it can get a little crowded, you should be able to find your spot to take it in. There's parking on the right side of the street as you head up the hill, before you hit the parking lot. I'd recommend taking one of those as the lost fills up quick.
4.0
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy