You Deserve a Medallion

Walk San Francisco's Barbary Coast Trail for murals and secret tunnel

Art by Banksy, a secret tunnel, colorful murals, and literary lore galore ... the North Beach segment of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast Trail is a fascinating walk through time. All in, the Barbary Coast Trail comprises 170 medallions set in pavement, leading you into the the city’s interesting and tumultuous past.

This 1.5-mile section starts in North Beach and ends at an iconic viewpoint. Start in Washington Square Park and walk south down Columbus on the east side of the street. On the corner of Broadway and Columbus you'll see the giant jazz mural by famed Bay Area artist Bill Weber. It's impossible to miss because it takes up an entire side of a building. Look up!  It's the “Language of the Birds” installation: Books lit with LED lights dangle above the street, casting various words on the sidewalk below. The words are in Chinese, English, and Italian, representing the neighborhood’s diversity. Now look across the street and spy a spray painting and quote on a wall above buildings: A young person wearing a gas mask and carrying a book bag is standing next to the words “If at first you don’t succeed – call an airstrike.”

Yep, that's from the ever elusive Banksy! Continue south on Columbus half a block to Jack Kerouac Alley. The small alley honors the Beat Generation, with noteworthy quotes from famous folks lining the ground and detailed wall murals telling their own stories. Head east down Pacific Avenue. On the south side of the street, you’ll find the Artist & Craftsman Supply Shop, where an underground tunnel on the lower level was once used to transport alcohol during Prohibition. The full tunnel is blocked, but you can walk about 30 feet into it. Walk back up Columbus and make a right on Vallejo Street to Caffe Trieste, the coffee shop where Francis Ford Coppola brought The Godfather to life (their espressos are pretty good too!). Now’s the final leg of your walk. Follow the street down the Vallejo Street Stairs. A garden of tropical flowers, cacti, and wildflowers bisects the length of the staircase, and striking views of the Bay Bridge meet your gaze. Turn left when you reach Battery Street and walk two and a half blocks to Filbert Street, where you can conquer the Filbert Street Steps, a massive wooden staircase that takes you to the base of Coit Tower and the panoramic views of San Francisco Bay that all the tourists flock to. You should, too!

Dog-friendly, except inside Caffe Trieste.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View