*Note: MUNI sharply curtailed service in April 2020 to protect riders and operators during the COVID pandemic. Check our Fall 2020 Core Service update to learn what lines are back in service, and riding tips for the new normal. ( 10/16/20)
Section 1: Sunrise Point is the one Crosstown Trail start/end point that is not directly on a transit line. We have a separate post on how to get to Candlestick Point State Recreation Area from MUNI’s T, 56, and 29 and Caltrain.
Section 1: Bayshore Blvd and Arleta Station are served by MUNI T, 8, 9, and 56. Caltrain’s Bayshore Station is 2 blocks south of Blanken Ave. via Tunnel Ave.. SamTrans 292 and 397 also stop nearby on Bayshore Blvd.
Along Section 1: Near Visitation Valley Greenway the eastbound 56 runs on Leland and the wesbound 56 stops high up the hill at Wilde and Delta. The 29 runs along the top of McLaren Park on Mansell Dr., and the 44 runs along Silver St. As you cross Mission St. you can catch the 14 and 23.
Sections 1/2: Glen Park BART is served by MUNI 23, 35, 36, 44, and 52. The J stops one block south of the BART station (via an overpass and stairs off Diamond St.).
Along Section 2: MUNI 36, 44, 48, and 52 stop at Portola and Woodside Drives (near Tower Market and Ruth Asawa School of the Arts). The 36 also loops past Panorama and Cityview (1 block from the Troop 88 Trail).
Section 2/3: Forest Hill MUNI Station is served by the 36, 43, 44, and 52 buses, and K, L, and M Metro lines.
Along Section 3: MUNI 6 ends at 14th Ave. and Quinatara, which is roughly the midpoint of the trail. The 66 runs past the foot of the Moraga and 16th Ave. stairs.
Section 3/4: Judah St. and 16th Ave. is along the N Judah light rail line. The eastbound N stops right here; the westbound stop is 1 block east at 15th Ave..
Along Section 4 at the Lincoln Way/19th Ave. entrance of Golden Gate Park you can catch the 7, 28 and 29. Near the Rose Garden entrance at Fulton and Park-Presidio Blvd. you can catch the 5/5R and 28. The 44 stops inside the park in front of the DeYoung Museum and Academy of Sciences (a 12-minute walk east of Stow Lake)
Section 4/5: Geary Blvd. and Park Presidio Blvd. is where MUNI’s 38R and 28 lines cross.
Along Section 5: At California St. you can catch the 1 bus. (The 44 no longer stops here but you can catch it at 6th and Clement).
The hiking route next crosses the 29 at Lincoln Blvd. in the Presidio; the bike route on Lake St. crosses the 29 at 25th Ave..
At El Camino Del Mar and 32nd Ave. you are 2 blocks north of the 1 bus on California St.. The bike route goes past the 18 terminus opposite the Palace of the Legion of Honor.
Section 5: Lands End Lookout visitor center is 1 block from the 38R Point Lobos terminus. Go east up Point Lobos Ave. 1 block to 48th Ave.; go right at the signal and board the bus at the front of the line. (Coming west, some 38s end at the VA Hospital; check the destination sign).
If you go west past the Cliff House to the Great Highway, turn left 1 block on Balboa St. and right 1 block on La Playa to the Ocean Beach terminus where you can catch the 5/5R, 18, and 31.
Notes: Most MUNI transit shelters have a MUNI system map and frequency chart. You can get a PDF of the MUNI system map at SFMTA.com.
Public Transit Tips:
MUNI busses have wheelchair ramps and room for two wheelchairs; most buses also have front-mounted racks for 2 bikes. MUNI light rail lines (J, K/T, L, M, N) do not allow bicycles, and only certain “key stops” are wheelchair-accessible. Bikes are allowed on Caltrain and BART (check for restrictions). More information at sfmta.gov, BART.gov, and 511.org. Most MUNI bus shelters and stations have detailed route maps, which are also available online from SFMTA.
If you have a Clipper card, Fast Pass or Proof of Payment (POP, AKA a transfer), you can board any door; tap your card at the reader or keep your POP handy. For cash fares please board at the front (there is a small surcharge for cash fares). Transfers are good for 2 hours. See MUNI shelters or SFMTA.com for current fares, including senior and youth discounts. Drivers cannot make change.
Groups: If you are planning a group outing using public transit, having people arrive at one of the trail’s start points will give you a lot of options. Paying fares for a large group can be time-consuming and chaotic, so I like to plan my outings so our groups board lines that runs articulated busses (like the 5R, 7, 14, and 38R), light rail lines (J, K, L, M, N) and/or at a terminus. It doesn’t delay the bus as much (good for the driver and your fellow passengers).
Sometimes drivers ask one person to count noses, pay all the fares, and then distribute the proofs of payment to your group. At the start of the line sometimes there’s time for each person to pay their fare and collect their POP. If you transfer, your group can board the next vehicle at any door.
Boarding at the start, have your group take up a block of seats towards the middle or back; mid-route you may have to disperse into available spaces. (Of course folks should give seat priority to seniors, and people with disabilities). Keep backpacks by your feet so they take up less room.