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TRIP 4 Presidio of San Francisco: Fort Winfield Scott Loop

Distance		2.6 miles, Loop
Hiking Time		1 to 2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss		±300 feet
Difficulty		Easy
Trail Use		Leashed dogs, Good for kids
Best Times		All year
Agency		GGNRA
Recommended Map		Golden Gate National Recreation Area Presidio of San Francisco (GGNPC)

HIGHLIGHTS This loop through the northwest corner of the Presidio is both an enjoyable walk back in time — the Spanish built a fort here shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed — and a hopeful look forward at the effort to reclaim and restore developed lands for public enjoyment. After more than 200 years of military use, the Presidio was turned over to the National Park Service in 1994. Along the way you pass military buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries; vantage points with views of the Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay, and beyond; and a warming hut where food, drinks, books, maps, and other information are available.

DIRECTIONS From the Presidio’s Marina Gate entrance at the west end of Marina Blvd., go west on Mason St. 1 mile to a paved parking area, left.

FACILITIES/TRAILHEAD A visitor center with food, restrooms, phone, and water is on the southwest corner of Mason and Halleck streets, about 0.6 mile east of the parking area. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. There are no facilities at the trailhead, which is on the west end of the parking area. Some of this route follows streets used by cars: if there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the street, facing traffic.

From the west end of the parking area, go west several hundred feet on Mason Ave. to its junction with Crissy Field Ave. Turn sharply left and follow Crissy Field Ave. uphill, passing under Doyle Dr., to a junction with McDowell Ave. Here you angle right and climb moderately past the Presidio stables and the park’s archives and records center. You can visit the Presidio San Francisco Pet Cemetery, an unusual landmark, under Doyle Dr., on the southwest side of Crissy Field Ave.

Carefully crossing Lincoln Blvd., you take Park Blvd. gently uphill to a junction. Here you angle left on a dirt path, which rises steadily through a forest of Monterey cypress and eucalyptus, both planted here. Meeting Park again and crossing it, you follow Kobbe Ave. past Officers Row, a set of beautiful homes built in 1912. Climbing gently, you pass Barnard Hall, an imposing brick building named for an Army chief engineer.

At a four-way junction, you turn right on Upton Ave., following a sidewalk on its left side. Some of the officer’s homes in the Presidio are quite lavish, with spacious lawns and exotic landscaping. Where Upton veers right, you continue straight across Ralston Ave., and then enter Fort Winfield Scott. Turn left and keep the parade ground on your right.

Fort Winfield Scott

The fort is named for Winfield Scott, who served in the army from before the War of 1812 until the Civil War. He is best known for his command of U.S. troops during the Mexican-American War. Completed in 1915, the fort was the headquarters for the artillery designed to protect the Bay Area.

You walk along the left side of the parade ground, where views stretch to the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and Mt. Diablo. With a sports field on your right, you turn left on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. You walk on pavement between two buildings (numbers 1207 and 1208), cross Ralston, and then come to Lincoln. Cross carefully, and then follow Langdon Court about 50 feet to a trail post. You jog left, then veer right through a parking area, heading toward the Pacific Ocean.

At the west end of the parking area, follow a paved road that soon changes to dirt and gravel. Turning right at a trail post, you get on the Coastal Trail, a wide dirt-and-gravel path that is part of the Anza/Bay Area Ridge Trail. Near the bunkers the trail forks: hikers stay left, bicyclists stay right. You follow the rocky and eroded hiking trail to another fork, where the left branch is signed for the Anza/Bay Area Ridge Trail. The low concrete bunkers beside the trail were built from 1891 to 1900 for coastal defense. At the end of World War II, the guns in these bunkers were removed.

Staying left here, and right at the next fork, where a trail goes left to a viewpoint, you skirt the coastal cliffs and descend via wooden steps. Now on level ground, you merge with the trail for bicyclists, which joins sharply from the right. Ahead is a paved path which goes under the Golden Gate Bridge. You get on it and angle left, watching out for bicyclists and joggers.

Beyond the bridge the trail forks, and you stay left. You pass a trail, left to Battery East, which dates from 1876, and a picnic area. A brick path goes right and uphill to the Golden Gate Bridge gift shop. You descend to a junction with a trail, left, signed for Fort Point. Here you turn left and come to a four-way junction. Continue straight and descend steeply over rough ground, passing a trail, right. Aided by steps, you soon reach Marine Dr., a paved road.

Cross the road, and when you reach a seawall, turn right on a paved path, part of the Golden Gate Promenade and the San Francisco Bay Trail. Nearby are restrooms, water, and a warming hut with food, drinks, books, maps, and other information. The hut is open daily, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Beyond the warming hut, the path changes to dirt and gravel. A path cuts sharply right, going back to the warming hut. You pass a picnic area, right, and then reach a five-way junction beside Long Ave.

The Presidio of San Francisco is noted for its distinctive architecture and military history.

Here you continue straight on the dirt-and-gravel path. A historic Coast Guard station and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary visitor center are left. You are passing through an area that has been extensively restored and landscaped with native plants. Several hundred feet past the visitor center, you turn right, climb a few steps, and then cross Crissy Field, formerly a landing strip for planes. After about 100 yards you reach Mason St., which you cross to return to the parking area.