1 min
Overview
The Batteries to Bluffs Trail is a quintessential San Francisco hike on the western bluffs of the city, steeped in history and classic, coastal views. At 1.7 miles round-trip, it is short enough to roll into your San Francisco sight-seeing day, or better yet, in the evening at sunset. The hike is moderately steep, with wooden steps carved into the bluff. The rewards for your efforts are views of the Golden Gate Bridge, historic batteries, and secluded Marshall’s Beach. The Batteries to Bluffs Trail is part of the The Presidio, which lies within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The trail’s beginning and end are next to Lincoln Boulevard, and it is possible to start at either end. You can park on the shoulder of Lincoln Boulevard near the southern tip of the trail, but parking is limited. (See Notes below for the location of that parking area). Instead, this trail description starts at the northern end of the trail in the Langdon Court parking lot. The Golden Gate Overlook is only steps away, as well as Batteries Godfrey, Boutelle, and Marcus Miller. Trails connect to the batteries, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center (great souvenirs there) from the parking lot. Start your hike by heading north to the Golden Gate Overlook. Here you’ll see a much-photographed view of the Golden Gate Bridge between two cypress trees. You can see the trails here leading down to Battery Godfrey and connecting to its northern battery neighbors. The benches and overlook area here were remodeled in 2012, along with the Pacific Overlook, to celebrate the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th anniversary. The concrete batteries once housed breech-loading cannons that were part of the U.S. coastal defense from 1891 to 1946. There were seventeen active “Endicott-era batteries” on the western edge of the Presidio. Endicott refers to William C. Endicott, who was the Secretary of War (a precursor to the Secretary of Defense) in President Grover Cleveland’s first administration. In 1885, President Cleveland convened
Trail Stats
2.7 km
152 m
80 m
2 m
—
Photos
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.