Immigrant Point/Coastal Connector Trail aka 1,000 Step Trail

When you’re visiting San Francisco, you can make an anti-​clockwise journey starting from Giants Stadium, ferry building, Coit Tower etc. Stopping by immigrant point is mandatory after having coffee at Starbucks Lettermann Rd in the Presidio. Once you see the horizon line where the sky merges with the Pacific ocean, it gives you this undescribable feeling!
If you’re lucky, and it’s not windy there, you can park at the immigrant point, enjoy the views, breathe as much as you can from the Pacific ocean air, and then take a glorious historical walk to the Golden gate Bridge.

This is one of my favorite places in SF. It is always my «I’m home» point on rides across the bridge because once I get here it is all downhill from there. Immigrant Point also has one of the best views (on a clear day) in the City. My wife and I walk up here with a cheeky bottle of bubbles to watch sunsets and the Pacific to start off an evening proper. We have even picnicked here with sandwiches and cheese plates. Additionally if you’re not into sunsets, picnic blankets and unicorns there are the punishing trail of steps from the top of the Sand Stairs that make a great run hurt. I don’t know why I have never been down these, always up, cheese and wine is earned my friends.

A spectacular view of the mouth of the bay, quite a few steps but worth it! I’m lucky enough to live close by and I frequent this trail quite a bit. Make sure to take the extra trek down Marshall’s Beach.

Great for a hike or a mountain bike.
Breathe the fresh air around you & be thankful for everything.

Enjoy the great view (including the Golden Gate Bridge), walk down to the bunkers /​shore, walk through the woods. What’s not to like?
The trails in the area are easy and the steeper bits have stairs. Good fun for all ages.

Another reason why I love living in the City. The GGNRA has completed the staircases and trails along the coastal bluff.
Start at Baker’s Beach and follow the trail up and down the staircases and various trails which are clearly marked. You’ll pass along the coastal bluffs and the various bunkers. Eventually you’ll be directly underneath the GG Bridge.
So many spectacular vista points along the way. On the loop back, you’ll hit the only campground in SF proper. Cross the road back down the sandy staircase back to Baker’s Beach.
I need to do this more often.

Great views. Lots of steps — good for working out your butt muscles after eating some dericious Gorillaz bbq. We parked at the bottom of the hill, hiked up and down, then went on to the Batteries to Bluffs trail.
Steps themselves aren’t busy (we did go Monday afternoon, although with awesome SF weather), but watch out for cars when crossing the road at the bottom of the hill!

I ran here from Chrissy field one weekend. Running under the bridge is surreal. You are suddenly transported to another place. There are a few paths to take but I like the trail that runs closer to the water with stairs. I think it is technically called the Immigration Trail, but I am not sure. Leg burn to the extreme. A few times along the trail I had to stop and marvel in awe that this was with in the confines of my city limits, less than 10 minutes from my apartment. And also to rest my legs :)
Coming from NY Central Park was my favorite place to run. Well CP has NOTHING on this place. I will be coming back again and again.

Looking for something a bit off the beaten path yet close to the city?
Here’s another gem of a trail by the Presidio Trust, volunteers and funded by a grant from the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr.
This trail connects the still new Immigrant Point lookout with the Great Highway and leads right down to continuation options on the Coastal Trail. From the bottom, head north to connect to the Batteries to Bluffs trail, then back to the coastal trail, head south to either hit the sand ladder or stay on the coastal.
Great views and a way to both preserve the land yet allow access. Good for kids, dogs and even active grandparents. Be careful crossing Great Highway, people aren’t expecting pedestrians at the crosswalk there so eyes wide open.
I run the area a few times a week and have been waiting for this to open to keep me off the roads and on the dirt. My dogs love it too! KUDOS to those who made it happen. Now get out and enjoy it!
Can’t wait for Rob Hill Campground up the road to be completed next…