Best U.S. Hiking Cities: San Francisco, California
ByMary Anne Potts
August 11, 2011
2 min readBy Kate Siber
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Perhaps it’s the mild climate, the scenery, or something in the drinking water that makes San Francisco such a hub for urban kayakers, sailors, mountain bikers, climbers, and hikers. Or maybe it’s areas like Mount Tamalpais State Park, 6,300 acres of wild grasslands, chaparral, redwoods, and wildflowers only 20 miles north of the city.
Get Hiking: Even though it’s within biking distance of the city, parts of the seven-mile loop on the Matt Davis, Steep Ravine, and Dipsea trails can feel nearly as pristine as they must have felt when Miwok Indians walked here centuries ago. That is, of course, until you get to the panoramic views of the coast, city, bay, and beaches from the top of the 2,571-foot namesake peak.
Après Hike: On the way back to San Francisco, head to Muir Beach for a picnic or for a meal at the Pelican Inn’s pub, which serves English specialties such as beef Wellington and ale-steamed mussels.
More Info: Mount Tamalpais State Park (parks.ca.gov) and The Pelican Inn (pelicaninn.com)
See all our featured Best U.S. Hiking Cities>>
Photograph by Edgar Callaert
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