Discover Nature in San Francisco
Whether you’re looking to spend an entire day on the beach or five minutes relaxing in a little slice of greenery, here are 100+ ideas for outdoor FUN in San Francisco.
Northwest San Francisco
- Explore the ruins of a once-extravagant swimming palace at Sutro Baths.
- Visit all the lakes in Golden Gate Park.
- Stack rocks at Mile Rock Beach, Marshall’s Beach or near Torpedo Wharf at Crissy Field
- Find the giant stone heart at Lands End
- Get your feet wet and build a sand sculpture at one of the many beaches (Ocean Beach, Marshall’s Beach or Crissy Field beaches)
- Walk between China Beach and Baker Beach at low tide and look for sea stars
- Take a StoryWalk in the Presidio (summer)
- Hike the spectacular Sand Ladder and Batteries-to-Bluffs trails on the west side of the Presidio
- Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Go on a self-guided adventure in the Presidio (pick one up at the Tunnel Tops Field Station)
- Walk, stroll or roll along the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park
- Count the bird variety at Crissy Field Lagoon (spring and fall migration)
- Practice your climbing, balancing, and making art with nature at the Tunnel Tops Outpost
- Practice your noticing and observation skills at the Tunnel Tops Field Station
- Look for lizards on the Lobos Creek Valley boardwalk (on a warm day)
- Smell a vast array of blooms at the Golden Gate Park rose garden (spring/summer)
- Take in a noisy chorus of Pacific chorus frogs at El Polin Spring (winter)
- Listen for the wind in the trees of the historic Presidio forest (spring)
- Touch our greenish state rock serpentine on the Coastal Bluffs
- Enjoy the floral fireworks of the Dahlia Garden Golden Gate Park (summer)
- Watch a graceful flock of pelicans along the Presidio’s Coastal Bluffs (summer/fall)
- Enjoy a high panoramic view from the DeYoung Museum tower
- SF Botanical Garden:
- Winter: See the magnificent magnolia trees blooming
- Spring: Explore the slender paths near the bamboo grove
- Summer: Have an adventure Children’s Garden
- Fall: Explore the fragrant plant area
- Explore the forest and native habitats at Mt. Sutro on a foggy day
- Balance on rocks near the Warming Hut near Crissy Field West Bluff
- Follow Golden Gate Park’s water trail from Rainbow Falls to the Portals of the Past
North East San Francisco
- See, hear, and smell the boisterous sea lions hanging out on the docks at Pier 39
- Get your feet wet along the shore and build a sand sculpture at Aquatic Park
- Explore the elevated trail and natural playground at Francisco Park
- Walk the lush wooden stairways called the Filbert Steps and the Greenwich Steps
- Look and listen for the famous green parrot flocks
- Explore the 5-acre rooftop at Salesforce Park
- Look for butterflies in the native garden by Yerba Buena Gardens
- Explore the nooks and crannies of hidden San Francisco (and a spectacular view) at Ina Coolbrith Park
- Visit the Tenderloin National Forest
- Enjoy a stepping stone adventure at Levi’s Plaza Park
- Look for giant yellow tiger swallowtail butterflies at Maritime Plaza (February to April & June to September)
- Hug our state tree—the redwood—at the bottom of the Transamerica Building
- Climb to the top of the rocky outcrop at Corona Heights Park
- Walk around Mission Creek and look for unusual birds
- Enjoy a picnic with an Embarcadero at Sue Bierman Playground
- Make sand globes at Crissy Field East Beach
- Make a flower crown at Lafayette Park
- Do a cartwheel on the lawn at North Beach’s Washington Square Park
- Learn Tai Chi at Portsmouth Square also known as Chinatown’s living room.
- Smell the roses at Huntington Park
- Roll down a hill at Alamo Square Park
- Take a walk through the Alice Street Community Gardens
- Hike to the top of the winding trails at Buena Vista Park
- Explore Michelangelo Playground a beautiful hidden oasis.
Southwest San Francisco
- Explore Glen Canyon Park:
- Look for salamanders in Islais Creek
- Find free-flowing creeks. Place a leaf in the creek and watch it move.
- Look for lichen on the rocks. What colors do you see?
- Check out the Explore Glen Canyon Park guide
- Daydream in the shade of a tall tree at Stern Grove
- Taste a wild blackberry around Lake Merced (summer)
- Discover the whimsical bronze sculptures at the Sunnyside Conservancy
- Build and balance at Rolph Nicol Nature Exploration Area
- Hike through the eucalyptus forest trails at Stern Grove
- Look for whales (December – May) and hang gliders from the cliffs at Fort Funston
- Walk the colorful tiled Moraga Steps
- Get a workout by climbing the tallest sand dune in the city at Grand View Park
- Find 365 views of the city at Mt. Davidson
- Explore Edgehill Mountain
- Find Battery Davis at Fort Funston
- Play “Bird Bingo” at Lake Merced (YSP has Bird Bingo resource for Lake Merced + GGP lakes)
- Walk or bike the Lake Merced loop
- Go fishing at Lake Merced
- Catch air in the fresh air at the Balboa skatepark
- Check out the views from the top of Twin Peaks
- Smell California sage and ocean air at the top of Brooks Park
- Test your balance and imagination at the Golden Gate Heights Nature Exploration Area
- Stroll down the car-free Great Highway (weekends and holidays) or wet your feet in the sea and build a sand sculpture at Ocean Beach
- Listen for songbirds and Red-Tailed Hawks at Pine Lake. Walk around and look for creatures in the water
Southeast San Francisco
- Look for historical artifacts at Crane Cove Park
- Explore Heron’s Head Park:
- Balance, jump, and create a nature sculpture at the Nature Exploration Area
- Spot a bird in the wetlands, gently lift a rock and look for creatures along the shoreline, or go fishing
- Walk or roll along the pathway from Heron’s Head Park to India Basin Park and learn about the site’s history
- Climb an Australian tea tree at Candlestick State Park
- Find the Living Library Nature Walk activity boards at Holly Park and St. Mary’s Park
- Visit Alemany Farm and identify 5 fruits and veggies you like to eat
- Walk to the top of Bayview Hill and notice what’s living there
- Walk through the Visitacion Valley Greenway
- Follow Philosopher’s Way Trail at McLaren Park and ponder its musing stations
- Picnic under the redwoods at McLaren Park Redwood Grove Playground
- Hike to the top of University Hill at McLaren Park and take in the downtown SF views
- Go cardboard box sledding at Youngblood-Coleman Playground
- Look for ground squirrels at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
- Go fishing at Candlestick Pier
- Play a game of pick-up soccer at Crocker Amazon soccer fields
- Look for a night heron at McLaren Park
- See the 70-foot sundial, feel the speed on the concrete slide and run through the field at Hilltop Park
- Catch the sunset from the top of Bernal Heights Park
- Feel the wind whip around you at Holly Park
- Smell spicy and sweet plants at the Visitacion Valley Greenway’s Herb & Native Plant Garden
- Discover the sculptures at the Cayuga Park gardens
- Listen for laughter at the Visitacion Valley Greenway’s Play Garden
- Watch ducks swim and look for turtles at McLaren Park’s McNab Lake
- Wetland walk at Yosemite Slough
Bonus things to do
Activities to do anywhere outdoors in the city inspired by the SF Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights
- Find a good climbing tree or balancing log
- Lay in the grass and watch the sky
- Trace the shadow of trees on the sidewalk
- See what natural items sink in water
- Look for bumble bees pollinating flowers (spring/summer)
- Listen for bird song (how many different voices can you hear?) (spring/summer)
- Balance some rocks
- Make a nature bracelet with found objects
- Plant a seed and watch it grow
- Gently turn over a rock to see what creatures are living under it (and then gently put it back!)
- Look for our state flower, the California poppy blooming
- Find a plant that has a scent
- Volunteer at a local park
100+ Ideas for Outdoor Fun was created in collaboration with our Community and Youth Engagement working group specially: Damien Raffa, Presidio Trust, Ileana Pulu, SF Public Library, Maria Durana, SF Recreation & Parks, Maybelle Miranda, YMCA of San Francisco, Tracy Phan, SF Recreation & Parks, Zach Pine, Artist.