Surrounded by natural beauty and spoiled by amazing weather year-round, San Francisco is a hiker’s paradise with tons of easy hikes in the Bay Area. One of our favorite hikes in the city is the coastal Batteries to Bluffs Trail, but here, we wanted to include some easier and often overlooked urban and nature hikes in San Francisco for all levels of hikers. Let’s take a look at the best easy hikes near San Francisco!

1. Buena Vista Park Trail
Park Hill Avenue, Park Hill Ave, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Lisa K/Yelp
A wonderful and short hike without the crowds. Though the uphill hike may seem daunting at first, just take it slow. The hike is quite short, and once you've reached the top, you'll have beautiful views of the city.

See what it’s like to hike this lovely trail

2. Crissy Fields Hike
Crissy Field East Beach, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA
Andrea H/Yelp
A flat walk guaranteed to thrill with all of the best city icons. This hike from Crissy Field to Fort Point is one of the country's prettiest urban walks, with panoramic views galore.
3. California Coastal Trail
California Coastal Trail, California Coastal Trl, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA
Big and Small Travel
The Coastal Trail is mostly flat as it winds around the coast. This trail is beautiful and undoubtedly offers some of the best views of the Pacific, the Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
4. Mission Creek Park
Mission Creek Park, Channel St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
Amrita Srikanth/Google
A hidden gem near downtown, Mission Creek Park has a great walking loop that starts at the 7th Street entrance. Enjoy lots of greenery and beautiful scenery, check out the houseboats, and hit up the dog park with your pooch.

Get a closer look at the views on this trail

5. Strawberry Hill Hike
50 Stow Lake Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Ed Suominen/Flickr
Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park glows with every shade of green possible. And though you will have to go uphill, the short climb is well worth it once you reach the scenic peak.

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6. Corona Heights Park
32 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
Lincy H/Yelp
This easy and accessible climb ends with a breathtaking 360-degree view of Fog City and beyond. There's even a cool rock formation you can climb on top of as you admire the bustling city below.
7. Bay Area Ridge Trail
Bay Area Ridge Trail, Fairfield, CA 94534, USA
Eddie H/Yelp
The Bay Area Ridge Trail is the perfect trail to take visitors since it ends at the Golden Gate Bridge. It's an easy hike, although there is some uphill walking on the way back from the bridge.
8. John McLaren Park
100 John F Shelley Dr, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA
Bryan E/Yelp
Enter the park from Mansell Street onto John F. Shelley Drive to start the 1.6-mile loop. You'll pass by the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and catch some of the best views in the city. There are plenty more miles of trails in this park, too, if you're up for more exploring.
9. Sunset Reservoir Trail
Sunset Reservoir, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA
Nancy N/Yelp
This is a short walk in the residential Outer Sunset. Take in views of the ocean, and walk down to the water.
10. Heron’s Head Park
Heron's Head Park Wetland, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
Port of San Francisco/Flickr
Heron's Head Park includes an easy trail that offers some amazing scenery. You'll get stunning views of the bay and a chance to spot more than 100 species of birds.

Get an aerial view of Heron’s Head Park

Have you been to any of these easy hikes near San Francisco? If so, let us know all about your experiences in the comments. For more great walking adventures, check out these incredible hikes under five miles everyone around San Francisco should take. Just make sure you’re well prepared with all the info you’ll need for these hikes.

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More to Explore

Best Hikes In San Francisco

Tori Jane | July 19, 2022

Where are the best hiking trails near San Francisco?  

The best hiking trails near San Francisco include:

  • Land's End Trail
  • Mount Sutro Loop Trail

 

If you’re located in San Francisco and you worry that you’ll never find amazing hiking trails within or close to the city limits, don’t - as it turns out, there are hundreds of miles of amazing trails scattered all over the city that are perfect for a brief escape. Some of the best hiking trails in San Francisco include awesome hidden gems like the amazing Lands’ End Trail, a challenging 3.4-mile trek within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s a favorite with the locals and the tourists both and for lots of reasons, like its stunning natural beauty and historic significance. We also adore the two-mile-long Mount Sutro Loop trail, which features a native garden and a little slice of the wilderness within city limits.  

What are some of the most amazing scenic hikes in San Francisco?  

Some of the most amazing scenic hikes in San Francisco include:

  • Batteries to Bluffs Trail
  • Glen Canyon State Park Trail

 

The list goes on forever, it seems, but that’s okay – we love having plenty of options. Some of the most remarkably scenic hikes in San Francisco are ones like the awe-inspiring Batteries to Bluffs Trail at the Presidio of San Francisco. It’s 2.3 miles in length and quite easy, providing relief from the challenging trails mentioned above. Another jaw-droppingly amazing hiking trail in San Francisco is the Glen Canyon Park trail, a stunning hike weaving through Glen Canyon that’s known for its incredibly green rolling hills, wildflowers, and being home to one of the few free-flowing creeks in the city. It certainly doesn’t feel like you’re still within city limits, and we are obsessed.  

What are the most popular easy hikes in San Francisco?  

The most popular easy hikes in San Francisco include:

  • Golden Gate Park Loop
  • Mount Davidson trail

 

Sure, San Francisco has a good, healthy number of challenging or difficult hikes, but what if you don’t feel like overexerting yourself today? No worries – that's where our epic easy hikes in San Francisco come in, and just because they’re easy doesn’t mean they’re not worth it. They are AMAZING, and we think you’ll love them. Want something a little longer? Do the 6.3-mile Golden Gate Park Loop, which is an excellent way to explore the third-most-visited park in the United States. We also love the Mount Davidson trail, which is short and sweet (just one mile long) and features jaw-dropping views of the city from the highest natural point. When it comes to scenic views in San Francisco, that one’s tough to beat.  

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