Best San Francisco Running Routes and Trails

Top 4 San Francisco Routes

San Francisco is one of the most interesting American cities: full of creativity, neighborhoods with their own quirky identities, and one of the most stunning locations in the world. The Beat Movement, the Hippie scene, Gay Pride, Silicon Valley: lots of influential ideas got their start in the San Francisco area. 

Add to that the typical tourist landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown, and you've got a great destination. Most people look forward to any chance to visit this fascinating place. If you're lucky enough to be heading to San Francisco, here is a short list of some of the best running routes in the city.

View to Golden Gate Bridge, photo by Ernest Gaudreau of Flickr CreativeCommons

So here they are, the four best routes in this great town.

The Best San Francisco Routes

Marina Green to Fort Point:  Here's a scenic waterfront route along the north shore, with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Downtown route:  This one starts in the heart of town, at Union Square, and loops past the Embarcadero, then up through Chinatown and Nob Hill. There's a hill-climb on the last part here, but you can skip the hill if you want.

Golden Gate Park:  This route begins in Haight-Ashbury and then loops beautiful Golden Gate Park, including a stretch of Pacific beach at the halfway point.

North Shore / Telegraph Hill:  If you don't mind a flight of stairs taking you up Telegraph Hill, this interesting route starts at Fishermans Wharf, winds past some other piers until taking the stairs through the cliffside jungles of Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower, then heads back through North Beach, along the famous serpentines of Lombard Street.

San Francisco Golden Gate Park Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 13.7 km (8.5 miles), terrain: total rise of almost 300 meters
NOTE: You can save a kilometer by starting directly at the park instead of in Haight-Ashbury.
Or cut the route in half by turning around before Crossover Drive, circling south around Stow Lake and then head home from there.

Pictures courtesy of the creative folks at Flickr Creative Commons. Thanks! 

San Francisco running routes:
Best San Francisco Running Routes: Overview
Marina Green to Golden Gate
Downtown/Embarcadero/Chinatown/Nob Hill
Ft. Mason/Fisherman's Wharf/Telegraph Hill/Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
For more running routes, see Route List.

If you're in San Francisco, here's a route that will help you escape the city's pulsing urban bustle. You'll suddenly find yourself enclosed in a wide swath of nature: in Golden Gate Park. The park is a gigantic green rectangle cutting across the western half of the San Francisco peninsula, from the Pacific coast to Haight-Ashbury. It's bigger than New York's Central Park, with over 1,000 acres, being almost 5-km wide and 1-km high.

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!

The area was once considered wasteland, covered by rolling sand dunes. Now, Golden Gate Park is home to a wide variety of fun and scenic stuff: athletic fields, lakes, museums, gardens, a bison herd, windmills, woods and playgrounds, with a stretch of beach and its wild surf along the western, Pacific Ocean end. And the occasional glimpse of Twin Peaks rising over the southern horizon remind you of further running adventures to be had in this part of the city.

The Music Concourse and De Young Museum, photo by Wally Gobetz

Unfortunately, there are a few roads running both lengthwise and crosswise through the park. Originally, it was planned to lower the streets into trenches, as done in Central Park, to keep down the noise and make it easier for pedestrians to move about. But that never happened. The main north/south road, Crossover Drive, is pretty busy. But, luckily, the others aren't normally too noisy, so you can run along them without too much disturbance.

This route will start at the famous corner of Haight and Ashbury, then head west through the Panhandle Park to Golden Gate Park, and then loop counterclockwise through the park to the beach, then back east through the south end of the park and then along Haight Street.

The route mainly follows the east/west roads in the park (John F. Kennedy Drive along the north side and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive along the south). There are other trails in places, off the roads, but to follow them takes a lot of zig-zagging. You might want to try other trails later, with this route giving you a good overview of the park first.

The Golden Gate Park Trail
So, if you're ready to head out, here we go!

Haight Street scene, photo by Adam Mizrahi

At the corner of Haight Street and Ashbury Street, take a look around. This was the center of the flower-power universe in the late 1960s. It's a bit touristy now, but still laid-back and scenic.

Now turn north on Ashbury and run the two blocks to the narrow Panhandle Park.

In the park, turn left and follow Oak Street along the park path, heading west.

After three blocks, a few streets will criss-cross as they join together at Stanyan Street, forming John F. Kennedy Drive. Just stay on the right side and run straight into Golden Gate Park. You'll go by the park headquarters building on the right and just continue on the sidewalk next to the JKF Drive.

There will be tennis courts along the left side, then the beautiful Flower Conservatory greenhouse building on the right, just after the 1-km mark.

The Conservatory, photo by caribb

Just 200 meters past the Conservatory, you'll see the green sign for the Rhododendron Garden and the wicker fences on the left side.

Now cross the street to the Rhododendron Garden and follow the trail down through the big courtyard with the bandstand located between the two museums, at the 2-km mark. This is the "Music Concourse". The Academy of Sciences museum is on the left, just one story tall, with a lawn on its roof. On the right side is the dark, modernistic bunker of De Young Art Museum.

Run past the Japanese Tea Garden on the right side, then take the first path to the right to head northwest towards the north shore of Stow Lake.

NOTE: The Tea Garden normally costs admission, but if you get there before 10 AM on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, it's free, so you could loop through this beautiful oasis, if you wish, with its ponds, pagodas and flower.

Japanese Tea Garden, photo by Kevin Oliver

Now run west along the north shore of Stow Lake, going by the big hill island in the middle of the lake, with its waterfalls. You'll then pass the big boat house, where paddle-boats are rented.

After Stow Lake, you'll start going downhill for the rest of the way to the beach.

You'll come back to JFK Drive just before it goes under the north/south overpass of Crossover Drive (the biggest, loudest street in the park, with six lanes), and continue westwards running along the north side of JFK Drive.

You'll run past Lloyd Lake and then, a kilometer later, Spreckels Lake, where a little waterfalls comes right down to the sidewalk.

Right after Spreckels Lake, at the 5-km mark, you'll come to the Bison Paddock, with its herd of buffalo.

The windmills along the west side of the park, looking south. Photo by Sara Rosado

After the Bison Paddock, you'll pass the golf course and then JFK Drive turns northwest and goes through the last part of the park. Just before you leave the park, you'll see the Dutch Windmill along the right side. You can follow its driveway to loop past the mill and back out to the street again. This was one of two 100-year-old windmills built to pump water into the park lakes for irrigation.

JFK Drive will then end as it runs into the Great Highway, lining the Pacific coast, with the wide sands of the Pacific beach stretching out in front of the crashing waves. Cross the highway at the cross-walk and run out onto the beach, where you turn left to run south.

Beach at Golden Gate Park, photo by Juha Ristolainen

Run for less than a kilometer, until you get to the cement outlook structure in the sand, where you turn inland again at Lincoln Way, which runs along the south edge of the park. This is the 7.5-km mark.

There is a footpath running parallel to Lincoln Way. Follow that path. You will go by Murphy's Windmill, the other windmill, which was recently totally rebuilt.

Now it's a gradual uphill run on the return trail. Follow the path as it joins in with Martin Luther King Drive, just inside the south edge of the park. You'll now just basically run along the sidewalk beside this street all the way through the park, heading east.

At the 10.5-km mark, you'll go under the Crossover Drive again.

You will soon be running by the Botanical Garden along the right side, as the road circles around it to the north. NOTE: If you get there between 7:30 and 9 AM, admission to the Botanical Garden is free, so take an extra loop through this beautiful garden with its ancient trees and bamboo woods! You'll also go by the southern edge of Stow Lake on the other side of the street.

Trees at sunset in Golden Gate Park, photo by Josh Liba

At the main entrance to the Botanical Garden, just before getting back to Lincoln Way, turn left to stay on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, with baseball fields off to the left.

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive ends when it runs into Kezar Drive, where you turn left to continue running eastwards.

Stay on the north side of Kezar Drive, going by the creatively done playground on the left side, and the stadium where the 49ers used to play on the right side. Most of the seating in Kezar Stadium has been removed, and now it's used by high schools.

After Kezar Drive makes a sharp left turn, run down through the underpass under Kezar Drive at Alvord Lake, continuing eastwards through the last bit of the park.

Exit the park to cross Stanyan Street and run east along Haight Street, at the McDonald's, along with a parking lot and other signs of advanced civilization. But soon you'll be running by relics harking back to the flower-power days, like the Amoeba Music shop. The street has retained a lot of hippie charm despite the fact that it's now aimed at tourists.

I hope you enjoyed this pleasant side of San Francisco!

San Francisco North Shore/Telegraph Hill Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 9.27 km (5.8 miles), terrain goes up two 50m hills, total gain 124m

Pictures courtesy of the creative folks at Flickr Creative Commons. Thanks! 

San Francisco running routes:
Best San Francisco Running Routes: Overview
Marina Green to Golden Gate
Downtown/Embarcadero/Chinatown/Nob Hill
Ft. Mason/Fisherman's Wharf/Telegraph Hill/Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
For more running routes, see Route List.

The northeast corner of San Francisco is worth exploring. The bayside shore is varied, with inspiring views, and then you have Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill, with the legendary Lombard Street serpentine to tackle.

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
This run starts at the same place as Heather Marr's classic Marina Green to Golden Gate run, at Marina Green. But this one heads east, taking in the other end of the shoreline, with its beaches, harbors and wharves. It will first go by Fort Mason, then passing the Aquatic Park beach, with the Maritime National Historic Park ships and Alcrataz in the background. It will then go past the fishing harbor and touristy Fisherman's Wharf, then pass more wharves until heading up the jungley gardens of the Filbert Steps to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. Then it cuts through North Beach, the old Little Italy neighborhood that was the center of the 1950s beatnik scene. It then follows Lombard Street's serpentine up Russian Hill before heading back to Marina Green.

View to Golden Gate Bridge, photo by Ernest Gaudreau

This is a tough run, with two hills on your way back to the start, but well worth it. Sound like something for you? All right, here we go!

The San Francisco North Shore Route
So get yourself to the start, at the west end of Marina Green, at Marina Blvd and Scott Street. Take a look at the Golden Gate Bridge to your left, behind the marina boats, and look out at Angel Island and Alcatraz out in the bay. Now turn to the east and run along the shore, with the water to your left.

You'll have to turn right at the far end of the of the green, at the next marina. Just follow the water until you run through the parking lot. You'll pass the entrance to the Ft. Mason Center, and then come to the parkland of Ft. Mason itself. Turn left into the park.

Fort Mason view to Alcatraz, photo by Curtis Cronn

Follow the path along the left side of Ft. Mason Green. To your right, there is a bluff with an old Civil-War-era battery with its cannons, the Black Point Battery. 

You will come to the Municipal Pier curving out into the bay. Turn right here to follow the cove, running into Aquatic Park, with its beach. There are historic ships docked-up on the far side of the cove, at Hyde Street Pier, in the Marine National Historic Park. If you like old ships, like me, you'll want to come back here later!

Historic ships, seen from pier, with Telegraph Hill and city, photo by Florence Wang

At the far end of the beach, you'll continue running eastwards along Jefferson Street.

You are now entering the fishing harbor, with fishing boats on the left, and restaurants on the right. The street gets more touristy with each block.

At Taylor Street, you come to Fisherman's Wharf, where you keep left to stay along the water.

Fisherman's Wharf, photo by Nick Ares

The Embarcadero (bayfront street lined with wharves) begins here. Keep running along the water as the street curves to the right.

When you come to Pier 23, cross the Embarcadero and run westwards through the park, where you come to Levi Plaza, between two red-brick buildings (the Levi Strauss headquarters). You will see the white cylinder of Coit Tower atop the cliffs behind the buildings.

Run straight to the stairway going up the cliffs of Telegraph Hill. This is the Filbert Street Steps. Follow them up through jungley vegetation and various hidden gardens, each a unique little jewel, kept up by the people who live here. It reminds me of Cremorne in Sydney, if you were ever there. Keep your eyes open for the green parrots that live here.

Filbert steps, photo by Jenn Deering Davis

You decide if you run or walk up the steps. A brisk walking pace is enough for me.

Filbert steps jungle, photo by Katrin Schaefer

When you get up to Montgomery Street, turn right and run down to the end to the abandoned Julius Castle restaurant. Turn left to go up the brick Greenwich Steps to Coit Tower above, among more jungle.

You are now in Pioneer Park, with a great view out over the bay, and Coit Tower to the side.

Run to the tower and then follow the path down the hill through the park, as it then curves into Lombard Street.

Coit Tower, photo by Lies van Herreweghe

You are now running directly westwards, first going downhill. You'll cross Grant Avenue, San Francisco's oldest street. Beginning at Stockton Street, you're in North Beach, the city's bohemian heart, home to beats like Kerouak and Ginsberg.

When you cross Columbus Avenue (home of the legendary City Lights Bookstore), the street starts going uphill again, up Russian Hill. In three blocks, you'll come to the famous serpentine, with its beautiful gardens, going up the steep section of the hill.

You'll cross the main cable-car line at the top, and then start running downhill. From now on there are no more uphill stretches (Hooray!).

Lombard Street serpentine, photo by Doug Kerr

Run one block to Larkin Street, where we will turn right (Lombard Street turns into a major highway in just a couple of blocks, so let's avoid it). Larkin Street curves to the left, going down to Francisco Street.

NOTE: The famous chase scene in Bullitt went down this way, and followed basically the whole rest of the route.

Now follow Francisco six blocks until it ends at a baseball field. Turn right here at Laguna Street, heading north.

In just one block, you'll be back at Fort Mason Green, on the right side. Run north on the park path parallel to Laguna Street until you come back to the entrance to the Ft. Mason Center again.

Now just follow the same way back to Marina Green as the way you first came.

San Francisco Downtown Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 4.76 km (3 miles), terrain goes up a big hill, total gain 122 meters

Pictures courtesy of the creative folks at Flickr Creative Commons. Thanks! 

San Francisco running routes:
Best San Francisco Running Routes: Overview
Marina Green to Golden Gate
Downtown/Embarcadero/Chinatown/Nob Hill
Ft. Mason/Fisherman's Wharf/Telegraph Hill/Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
For more running routes, see Route List.

San Francisco has to be one of the most fascinating cities to run in. The terrain is varied, challenging and is full of natural and man-made scenic wonders. There are wonderful parks, beautiful neighborhoods, creative people, hilltop vistas and a seemingly endless shoreline. What can I say, for me it was love at first sight.

Here is a route that will take you through the main downtown sights, through old San Francisco. We'll start in the heart of town, at Union Square, then run down the main shopping area, Market Street to the Embarcadero ferry terminal at the water. Then we'll head uphill through Chinatown to the top of Nob Hill, the ritziest part of town, before following the cable-car tracks back down to the start.

NOTE: if you don't feel up to the Nob Hill climb (a rise of more than 100 meters), just keep running north along the bayshore at the Embarcadero, and turn back whenever you choose.

Union Square, photo by Wally Gobetz

Standing there on Union Square, at the foot of the tall column topped by a statue of Admiral George Dewey, you are surrounded by high-end retail names: Tiffany, Saks, Macy's, Bloomingdale's among many others. Sad that the wonderful Borders bookstore is now closed. It was the first bookstore that I had ever experienced with its own café and its "please browse" attitude, back in the 1990s.

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
Turn to the east, with Macy's to your right, and start running down Geary Street. Run straight down the street until it merges into Market Street, where you then head northeast. You can see the clock-tower of the old Embarcadero ferry terminal straight down the street, our next destination.

Market Street is one of the busiest downtown streets, and forms the main traffic artery for downtown. But the amount of cars is surprisingly limited. There are lots of electric buses and bicycles fighting for the space.

Historic trams along Market Street, photo by Paul Fenton

My favorite thing about Market Street is the F-Line trams, a collection of historic trams that travel a 6-mile route from Castro to the Embarcadero and then northwards to Fishermen's Wharf. They have been brought here from cities all over the world, and they travel the line wearing their old colors.

After about 700 meters, Market Street ends at the impressive Embarcadero, terminal for ferries across the bay.

The ferry terminal in evening light, photo by Michael Ball

Turn left on the Embarcadero and run to the next bayside building, Pier 1. Now turn left and cross the street to head up Washington Street, past Sue Bierman Park on the left side.

Embarcadero from the bayside, photo by David Yu

You are heading back through the downtown, running due west, and after a few blocks you'll run past the captivating pyramid of the Transamerica Tower.

Transamerica Building pyramid, photo by Scott Beale

When you cross Kearny Street, you'll enter Chinatown. You'll also start running uphill. You'll gain 100 meters until you reach the top, at Nob Hill.

But first you get to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Chinatown. You will cross Stockton Street, which is Chinatown's main street, full of Chinese restaurants and food stores. Definitely plan time to come back!

Chinatown, photo by David Yu

Keep running uphill on Washington Street.  When you cross Powell Street, you'll cross the main cable-car tracks that head to Fishermen's Wharf, and one line turns onto Washington here and will accompany you uphill on your way west.

In the next block, the houses start getting nicer, you're getting into Nob Hill, San Francisco's oldest exclusive neighborhood.

Nob Hill, photo by Pablo Reyes Betanzo

When you cross Taylor Street, you'll see some beautiful bay-windowed houses to each side. In just one more block you'll reach the very top of the hill (yea!).

Now turn left on Jones Street and run one block to Clay Street, where you turn left and run back downhill one block to Taylor Street again (this is nicer than Jones).

Now turn right on Taylor and run the two blocks to the heart of Nob Hill, Huntington Park, with Grace (Episcopal) Cathedral on the right side.

NOTE: Some of the scenes of the movie Bullitt were filmed around this square, and Steve McQueen lived on Taylor Street in the film, if you're a fan like I am.

Huntington Park, photo by Pablo Reyes Betanzo

On the far side of the park, turn left on California Street and run by the beautiful ensemble of buildings: the Huntington Hotel, the Pacific Union Club, the Fairmont Hotel and the Mark Hotel, with views in every direction.

Now run downhill the one block to Powell Street and its cable-car tracks again, where you turn right and continue running downhill, southwards the four blocks back to Union Square.

Santa Barbara Scenic Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 6.7 km (4.2 miles), terrain goes gently uphill on the return

Photos courtesy of the creative folks at Flickr CreativeCommons (except one). Thanks!

For more running routes, see the Route List

Santa Barbara is one of my favorite cites: it's not too big, has a beautiful waterfront, an enchanting, prosperous little downtown, pleasant, lushly landscaped neighborhoods, beautiful beaches and is lined along the north by a ridge of rugged hills.

Santa Barbara is the beach town that all other beach towns should be. The beach is open to the public for its entire length: no high-rises, no condos, no disheartening search for a tiny access road. The businesses are all tastefully designed, with no tacky business strips and barren parking lots. There are bicycle lanes that are actually used, and trees everywhere. Consider yourself lucky if you are planning to spend some time there.

View of town from pier, photo by michellerlee

It's actually quite simple to plan out a route here: you can just run up and down the beach and cliffs for hours if you want. Or maybe loop through any of the rolling residential neighborhoods, or just run along the beautiful downtown shopping street, State Street. You can't go wrong.

This route has a bit of all of that. I hope you like it!

We'll start in the heart of downtown, at the corner of State Street and Carillo (don't confuse this with Cabrillo, the beach drive). We'll head down State Street towards the southeast, running to the beach.

Along State Street, photo by michellerlee

This is obviously one prosperous town: the downtown shops seem to be doing well in an age when almost all American downtowns were long ago killed off by suburban malls. Maybe the city's strong planning guidelines helped, mandating that the businesses all be built in a harmonious Spanish/American style, with no high-rises blotting out whole downtown neighborhoods.

Just cruise on down the street, past the shops, cafés, theaters, plazas. What a great downtown.

State Street landscaping, photo by Kaizer Rangwala

You will run under the freeway overpass for coastal road US101, then cross the train tracks, and in a couple of blocks you'll come to the beach, at the dolphin fountain.

As I mentioned, the wide beach, with its lagoon and hundreds of sable palms goes on forever, and you could turn left here and just run, first along the wide beach, then along cliffs.

But we'll explore the area here a bit. First, let's run straight out onto Santa Barbara's really cool pier, Stearns Warf. Just head straight out onto the wooden pier, past the seafood restaurants and aquarium. It's fun to watch the anglers and the fishing boats unloading.

Stearns Warf, photo by michellerlee

Run out to the end, then turn back and run back out to the dolphin fountain. Turn left to head southwest along the beach here, running right towards the huge marina straight ahead. Going this way, you can also run forever. Just one kilometer past the marina some beautiful waterfront cliffs begin, lined by parkland trails at Shoreline Park, but we won't head that far on this route.

When you get to the marina, just keep the water on your left side, with the parking lot to your right. You'll run a half a kilometer along the docks full of bobbing yachts.

In the Santa Barbara marina, photo by GibZilla

When you get to the far end, turn left to continue running with the water to your left. You'll go by the marina buildings, with the grill restaurant and harbor buildings: tour boat operations, ships' outfitters, fish markets, etc.

Harbor pelicans, photo by Vagues Solaires

Turn right to run by the harbor businesses, then turn right again at the shipyard to exit the harbor parking lot at Shoreline Drive.

At Shoreline Drive, turn right to head back towards the center of town. There is an athletic field across the street. It belongs to the Santa Barbara City College campus, on the hill to your left. Unfortunately, you can't easily cut through there, so we'll run back along Shorline Drive until you see Pershing Park on your left, just before Castillo Street.

Cross the street and cut through the park. Then run northwards up Castillo, past the baseball fields on the left and the row of motels on the right. The whole neighborhood to the right is full of very nice motels and bed-and-breakfasts, which is where I was staying.

In a few blocks you'll come to an ugly spot where the street goes under the railroad and US101, but soon you'll come back out the north side.

Along De La Vina, photo from Google StreetView

When you come out of the tunnel, turn right on Haley Street and run for two blocks to De La Vina Street, where you turn left, crossing over a deep ravine. This is all a nice old residential neighborhood full of little cottage houses.

Run the five blocks northwards back to Carillo Street, where you turn right and run the last two blocks back to State Street.

San Francisco Marina Green to Fort Point Out-and-Back Running Route

Click here for route map 

Length: 7.01 Kilometers / 4.36 Miles, terrain flat

By Heather Marr

Thanks, Heather, for this great route along the San Francisco bayside north shore through Chrissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge! I'm sure this article will start a stampede of people buying orange wallpaint... Also see Heather's more exotic route description for Montevideo Rambla Out-and-Back

Pictures by the photographers at www.Pixelio.de (thanks!) and GoogleMaps StreetView

San Francisco running routes:
Best San Francisco Running Routes: Overview
Marina Green to Golden Gate
Downtown/Embarcadero/Chinatown/Nob Hill
Ft. Mason/Fisherman's Wharf/Telegraph Hill/Lombard Street
Golden Gate Park
For more running routes, see Route List.

It’s been over a year since I lived (and ran) in San Francisco, and because I’ve been residing in very flat Uruguay, there’s no way I could immediately start pounding the hills of my former city if I were to visit right now. If you’ve just arrived from a similarly vertically challenged locale, try the following route a time or two before tackling something more challenging. You might even want to take your camera.

Worth taking your camera? View from Fort Point. Photo by G. S. Rom

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
My favorite time to do this route is early morning. It always seemed that the winds were significantly weaker then. Plus, it’s just quieter. Sunset is gorgeous on the rare clear evening, but usually the fog starts rolling in at around 5 p.m. or so. If you go after dark, take a flashlight or wear a headlamp, as parts of this route are not always well lit. In general, temperatures in San Francisco are perfect for running: plus or minus 13 C or 55 F.

The Marina Green to Fort Point Route
Start at the west side of the Marina Green. If you’re driving, there’s a good chance that here you’ll find something quite precious in San Francisco: a free parking space with no time restrictions (well, provided you’re not there between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). There are also decent public restrooms right next to the Marina Yacht Harbor.

View towards Golden Gate Bridge from Marina (GoogleMaps StreetView)

Run a little way south to the end of the Green, and turn right onto Marina Boulevard. Stay on the pedestrian side of the shared path for bikers and pedestrians, and ogle all the yachts in the harbor (or the bay view homes across the street).

Marina Boulevard houses, photo by GoogleMaps StreetView

At around 1 km., right before you get to the lagoon, make a right onto a trail heading toward the bay, until you get to the wide, dirt pedestrian trail (which runs parallel to the paved path you were just on). Make a left onto the trail.

Path towards the lagoon, photo by GoogleMaps StreetView

Continue past the lagoon (on your left), and on past Crissy Field, a large, green park that used to be an airfield as part of the United States Presidio Army Base until the base closed in the 1990s. If you’re running in the afternoon, you’re likely to see windsurfers enjoying the beach at the east end of the field (East Beach).

Windsurfer near lagoon. Photo by Michaela Schöllhorn

By now, you might feel as if you’re battling a ferocious headwind (or tailwind, in which case, enjoy the ride!), but the stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge — whose vibrant International Orange is touched up continually by a team of thirty-eight painters—should be enough to bolster any sagging motivation. If you need additional distraction, try to count the Bugaboo strollers on the trail (this is still the Marina District, after all).

Side note: Want to paint your living room the color of the Golden Gate Bridge? I knew you did! Just have your paint store mix up a can or two for you using the following information. The PMS code is 173, or the CMYK percentages are: C=Cyan: 0%, M=Magenta: 69%, Y=Yellow: 100%, K=Black: 6% (http://www.goldengatebridge.org/research/facts.php#PaintedIntnlOrange)

When you’ve reached the end of Crissy Field, you can stop to use the restrooms at the Warming Hut Bookstore and Café if necessary. The pedestrian trail ends shortly thereafter, merging into Marine Drive.

View of Alcatraz, photo by Alexander Hauk

Run along Marine Drive, curving around northward till you’re running alongside the Golden Gate Bridge. If the waves are right, you’ll see a few surfers braving what was apparently the first surf spot in North Central California, with breaks directly under the bridge.

Fort Point and the Golden Gate Bridge, photo by W. Broemme

Touch Fort Point, which was built before the American Civil War to protect San Francisco Bay from hostile warships. The Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah planned to attack San Francisco, but the Civil War ended before the ship got to California. (Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks By W. Craig Gaine, from http://books.google.com)

Turn around and run back toward the Marina Green, enjoying the view of downtown San Francisco (and possibly a lovely tailwind).

If it happens to be around brunchtime when you’re done (in San Francisco, that means anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., but only on weekends), follow in the tradition of the San Francisco Road Runners circa 2004 and head over to Bechelli’s for typical American fare such as bacon and eggs. Located at 2346 Chestnut Street, it’s about a 10-minute walk from the Marina Green, straight down Scott Street (then make a right on Chestnut).