Tyler DrakeTeam
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Founder of the Outbound Collective. On a mission to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone!
I typically do this hike in reverse starting at the parking lot for Tennessee Valley (from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Tennessee Valley parking lot is ~20 mins). As Liane mentioned, Pirate's Cove is a great stop off -- if you've got a little more time, throw some sandwiches in your pack and have lunch there.
4.0
You can park at the top or bottom of the trail. I prefer the parking at the bottom and getting the hard work out of the way in the beginning. This dog-friendly trail is enjoyable year-round, but best if you can get it just after a recent rain. I hiked here right after one of the big el niño storms and it was amazing to see the falls really flowing! This is a solid hike for a day date too. Make sure to hit up Gestalt Haus on the way back through Fairfax.
5.0
If you park at the top of the hill, Billy Goat has a nice area to sit, relax, and take in the San Francisco views. Hopefully you brought a jacket, it gets cold...and if you really planned ahead, maybe a coffee and a burrito! Obviously having the swing at the park is awesome bonus! The swing is known to break or be missing, so check IG before heading out there if that's your main draw.
4.0
The hike up to Heart Lake has a little incline, but isn't too tough. The hike can be done in less than an hour excluding time at the lake. There's a parking lot at the trailhead so as long as it's not a summer holiday weekend, it should be fairly easy to get a spot. You're also really close to town, so when I finish up I like to head to Mammoth Brewing for a bite and a beer after.
5.0
June is a great spot if you're looking to explore a little outside of Mammoth Lakes. The drive a quick 20 minute drive up the 395. If you're looking for a relaxing day, grab a bite at the food truck (the brewery isn't half bad either) and head out to lake to enjoy the views.
4.0
If you're planning your first trip to Big Sur or have never seen McWay Falls, it's a must do. Access to the overlook is really easy -- there's a parking lot, but also roadside parking on the west side of Highway 1 followed by a short walk. If you can swing it, plan your visit for sunset.
5.0
I grew skiing Mammoth, so I've headed there more than a few seasons. My favorite lodge to get started from is Eagle. Get there early to get ahead of the crowds then ski down to 9 -- snow permitting. You can get plenty of great runs on this side of the mountain while avoiding some of the more crowded parts of the mountain. Other favorites include chairs 5, 12, 13&14 and if the snow is good, 25. If the weather is decent, outpost 14 and the Mill are great places to grab a bite outside. The Mill is also great for apres as you can catch the shuttle back if needed.
5.0
Running this path along the water is one of the most scenic runs in the city. The run is mostly dirt until you hit the last stretch near fort point, which is paved leading up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Be ready to deal with crowds if you run it on the weekend.
4.0
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
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