Hike San Francisco Presidio's largest watershed

Watershed Moment

Take an easy 2-mile hike that traces the Presidio's largest watershed, Tennessee Hollow

01.06.2021
Woman wearing a white backpack walks down a winding path

Part old military command post, part national park, and wholly San Francisco: The Presidio is an amalgamation of the city’s past with an eye to the future. And it offers some of the best urban hiking in California—dare we say in the country! The new marsh bridges going under Presidio Parkway offer more habitat for plants, fish, and bird life … and trails for us!

Take an easy 2-mile hike that traces the Presidio’s largest watershed, Tennessee Hollow. From the gentle beach breaks at Crissy Field up to the panoramic Inspiration Point Overlook, enjoy several highlights along the route. Starting from East Beach you’ll pass over the Crissy Field Marsh, favored by great blue herons and other spear-fishing birds. The bridge here is a great vantage for viewing the Golden Gate Bridge.

Continue, picking up the path underneath Presidio Parkway, and the Quartermaster Reach Marsh—7 acres of newly completed marshland that was once wasteland. Today it’s a wetland ecosystem, with fresh water flowing into saltwater, creating a biodiverse habitat of plants, fish, birdlife, even an effort to revitalize the native Olympia oyster.

Follow signage and your map to highlights including the historic brick Lovers’ Lane Bridge, El Polin Spring and adobe wall ruins, and up alongside a beautiful redwood grove to Inspiration Point Overlook.

Follow the Ecology Trail to descend into the heart of the park, along Funston Avenue and Halleck Street, returning to the Quartermaster Reach Marsh and Crissy Field.

Bonus points if you time your hike for sunset viewing on the beach!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode “Happy New… Trails!” Weekend Sherpa co-founders Brad and Holly discuss hiking the Tennessee Hollow Trail in the Presidio.

Park at Crissy Field’s East Lot. Here’s a map of the Tennessee Hollow Trail in the Presidio. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

    View

  2. Peak at the Flowers

    Terrific views and vibrant hues define this 4.8-mile out-and-back journey on Mount Diablo.

    View
  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

    View
  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    No Limits Family Trip: Reno Tahoe

    What if your next family getaway didn’t come with a set agenda—just the freedom to go where the day takes you? Find yourselves in Reno Tahoe, a land of no limits and plenty of outdoor bounty.

    View

  2. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

    View
  3. Fountain to Falls trail Monrovia

    Fountain to the Falls

    There are three ways to reach the lovely Monrovia Canyon Falls, but only one of them is worthy of being named a good challenge, with a lovely old town stroll included.

    View

  4. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

    View