The San Francisco Crosstown Trail was launched in 2019 to introduce locals and visitors alike to 17 miles of open spaces, panoramic vistas, and hidden gardens across San Francisco. Celebrate the 4th anniversary of the trail by getting out for a walk, bike, run, or leap this June.
This year we are also celebrating with a new route! The 14.5-mile Double Cross Trail was created by a west-side hiking group after walking the Crosstown Trail and many other urban hikes during COVID. The Double Cross Trail forms an “X” with the Crosstown Trail, and traverses the city from the southwest to the northeast. Check it out and join a guided walk with some of the creators this June.
Register for free through Eventbrite (click the links below) for any organized event you want to join. Or give yourself the pleasure of exploring the trail as you choose.
Events – Saturday, June 3
Walk the Crosstown Trail North to South | Saturday, June 3
Meet at 9 a.m. outside the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center for a walk along the north-to-south Crosstown Trail route. Walk the full 17 miles or any length you choose, at your own pace or at the moderate group pace. Highlights include the Lobos Creek Valley Trail, tiled staircases, trails through Laguna Honda and Glen Canyon, McLaren Park’s Philosopher’s Way, the Visitacion Valley Greenway, and Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Bring water, snacks, and lunch if you’re aiming to go the full distance to Candlestick Point. Starting note: MUNI’s 38 Geary stops at Lands End. Ending note: Candlestick Point finishers are encouraged to arrange pick-up with a friend or by ride-hailing. Drivers should know that vehicular access to the park entrance at 500 Hunters Point Expressway is from Gilman Ave. Capacity: 25 people. Leaders: Bob and Ken.
Walk the Crosstown Trail South to North | Saturday, June 3
Meet at 9 a.m. at the Sunrise Point Fishing Pier in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area for a walk along the south-to-north Crosstown Trail route. Walk the full 17 miles or any length you choose, at your own pace or at the moderate group pace. Highlights include the Visitacion Valley Greenway, trails through Glen Canyon and Laguna Honda, tiled staircases, the Presidio, and Baker Beach. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for our half-way stop at J.P. Murphy Playground (a short detour off the trail). We expect to finish at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center by late afternoon. Note: Sunrise Point is approximately 15 minutes on foot from the park entrance. Because the parking lot at Candlestick closes at 7 p.m., we suggest you be dropped off at the park entrance, 500 Hunters Point Expressway, or arrive there by taxi or rideshare. Vehicular access to Hunters Point Expressway is from Gilman Ave. Capacity: 25 people. Leaders: Karen, Alex, and Marcus.
Walk the Double Cross Trail North to South | Saturday, June 3
Meet at 9 a.m. outside Pier 23 Cafe on the Embarcadero for a walk along the north-to-south Double Cross Trail route. Walk the full 14.5 miles or any length you chose, at your own pace or at the moderate group pace. Highlights include Coit Tower, North Beach, Chinatown, Nob Hill, City Hall, Hayes Valley, Alamo Square, Buena Vista Park, Tank Hill, Twin Peaks, Edgehill Mountain, West Portal, Stern Grove, Lake Merced, and Fort Funston. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for our half-way stop at Tank Hill or a more sheltered location if it’s really windy. We expect to finish at the Fort Funston Overlook by late afternoon. The Muni F streetcar line stops across the street from Pier 23. The closest bus stop to Ft Funston is Muni line 58 at Skyline and John Muir Drive. Capacity: 25 people. Leaders: John and Jennifer.
Walk the Double Cross Trail South to North | Saturday, June 3
Meet at 9 a.m. at the Fort Funston Overlook boardwalk and observation deck. The location of the parking lot appears as “Nike Missile Site SF-59L” on Google maps. Walk the full 14.5 miles or any length you chose, at your own pace or at the moderate group pace. Highlights include Fort Funston, Lake Merced, Stern Grove, West Portal, Edgehill Mountain, Twin Peaks, Tank Hill, Buena Vista Park, Alamo Square, Hayes Valley, City Hall, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, and Coit Tower. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for our half-way stop at Tank Hill or a more sheltered location if it’s really windy. We expect to finish at Pier 23 by late afternoon. The Muni F streetcar line stops across the street from Pier 23. The closest bus stop to Ft Funston is Muni line 58 at Skyline and John Muir Drive. Capacity: 25 people. Leaders: Chris and Arnie.
Open House at Mission Blue and the Visitacion Valley Greenway | Saturday, June 3
Look for the balloons outside Mission Blue, 144 Leland next to the Visitacion Valley Greenway’s Hans Schiller Plaza, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Music in the Plaza, Crosstown Trail gear for sale, and guided tours of the Greenway’s six jewel-like gardens. Clean restroom stop! Hosts: Fran Martin, Jim Growden, and Kellie McCord. (No sign up needed – stop on by!)
Events – Sunday, June 11
Observing and Documenting Nature on Section 2 of the Crosstown Trail | Sunday, June 11
This walk is designed for those who are in no hurry and want to take time to observe and photograph nature. Meet at the plaza outside the Glen Park BART Station at 9 a.m. You will be walking 3.1 miles at a leisurely pace and the Glen Park Greenway, Glen Park Canyon, and Laguna Honda Trail System, on whose dirt trails you will tread, will provide you many opportunities to observe and click away. And there’s more–one of your guides teaches courses in nature photography and will share his knowledge with you. So, bring your camera or your phone, and your sense of wonder as we see what we can discover along the way. Approximately three hours after it starts, this nature walk will end at the Forest Hill MUNI station from where you can board a street car to either head back to your home or connect to a BART station. Two Bob Siegels will be your leaders. Don’t forget to bring water and lunch.
Events – Sunday, June 18
Walk the Double Cross South to North | Sunday, June 18
Meet at 9 a.m. at the Fort Funston Overlook boardwalk and observation deck. The location of the parking lot appears as “Nike Missile Site SF-59L” on Google maps. Walk the full 14.5 miles or any length you chose, at your own pace or at the moderate group pace. Highlights include Fort Funston, Lake Merced, Stern Grove, West Portal, Edgehill Mountain, Twin Peaks, Tank Hill, Buena Vista Park, Alamo Square, Hayes Valley, City Hall, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, and Coit Tower. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for our half-way stop at Tank Hill or a more sheltered location if it’s really windy. We expect to finish at Pier 23 by late afternoon. The Muni F streetcar line stops across the street from Pier 23. The closest bus stop to Ft Funston is Muni line 58 at Skyline and John Muir Drive. Capacity: 25 people. Leaders: Ken and Kellie.
Walk the Crosstown Trail Sections 1 and 2 | Sunday, June 18
Meet at 10 a.m. at Sunrise Point in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area to walk the first two sections of the Crosstown Trail, about 8.4 miles. We’ll start our walk through Candlestick Park to Little Hollywood, then wind up Visitacion Valley, through McLaren Park, and on to the Portola neighborhood. During this section, we’ll tour the Visitacion Valley Greenway gardens and art. The second section will go through Glen Canyon and the Laguna Honda trail network. We’ll end at the Forest Hill MUNI Metro station. Bring water, lunch, and comfortable walking shoes. Note: Sunrise Point is approximately 15 minutes on foot from the entrance to Candlestick Point SRA. Vehicular access to the park entrance at 500 Hunters Point Expressway is from Gilman Ave. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Amy.
Events – Wednesday, June 21
A Crosstown Solstice Walk | Wednesday, June 21
Meet at 9 a.m. at Pier 27, the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, in front of the Bay Wheels bike station on Embarcadero near Lombard. Borrowing from both the original Crosstown Trail route and our Double Cross variant, we will walk from the Embarcadero’s northeast tip to Lands End, a 16-mile meander through the heart of the city and out to the Pacific Ocean. Highlights include Chinatown, Nob Hill, Alamo Square, Mt. Sutro, the tiled stairways of Golden Gate Heights, Golden Gate Park, and the Lobos Creek Valley and Coastal Trails. Bring water, snacks, and lunch if you’re aiming to go the full distance. Restrooms en route, but not at the start. The start, finish, and points along the way are well-served by transit. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Karen.
Stay tuned for additional events to be added.
You can always chart your own Crosstown Trail adventure using our Plan Your Trip page. Wherever you explore, be sure to share your story with the tag #sfcrosstowntrail.
And stop by Mission Blue, 144 Leland, or Bird & Beckett, 653 Chenery, for your Crosstown Trail gear (check hours first).
We hope to see you on the trail!