Candlestick State Recreation Area is a great waterfront park… with a challenging approach. Here are some tips (verified May 2024) for access by car or rideshare. Check out the video below too.
Note that it can be particularly difficult with Uber and Lyft , be sure to read the info here if you are using those services.
Google Maps
Google Maps is currently (May 2024) accurate. It has the road closures, temporary roads, and transit information.
The start of section one of the Crosstown Trail is on Google Maps as the “Sunrise Point Fishing Pier”.
Since the pier can only be accessed by foot, it is often easier, especially if arriving by car, to use Google Maps to navigate to the “Pelican Group Picnic Area”. From the parking lot, walk behind the purple building on the paved trail, keeping the bay to your right, a bit less than half a mile to the pier, the start of the trail.
Lyft and Uber rideshare
Lyft and Uber do NOT always have the location correct. Consider using Google Maps, opening the “Pelican Group Picnic Area” , switch Maps to rideshare mode, then selecting one of the options.
Using the Lyft app directly, “500 Hunters Point Expwy” will get you close.
Using the Uber app directly, “Candlestick Point State Rec Area” will get you close.
Unfortunately, some of the other ‘candlestick’ and ‘crosstown trail’ addresses are currently (May 2024) wrong in these apps.
Once you reach the end of Gilman, tell your driver to keep going to the very end of the driveway. It looks like an unusual place to drive, but keep going about 1/2 mile and you will arrive at the right spot.
From the parking lot, walk behind the purple building on the paved trail, keeping the bay to your right, a bit less than half a mile to the pier, the start of the trail.
Want to see what it looks like?
Here’s what it looks like to get there as of 2023; the signage has been improved recently.
Basic driving directions
Take Gilman Ave from 3rd Street to its south-eastern end, turn into the Candlestick temporary entrance, and continue straight down the gravel/paved road for about half a mile to the very end. From the parking lot, walk behind the purple building on the paved trail, keeping the bay to your right, a bit less than half a mile to the pier.
If you park, do note the park hours, they do lock the gate at night, often well before sunset.
More options
For more walking, biking, and transit ideas, see https://crosstowntrail.org/2019/05/31/getting-to-candlestick-point/