Disabilities-Accessible Trails and Parks on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay

Compiled by Ben Pease for the Trail Center

Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco
Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Voice: (415) 556-0560 weekdays; TDD: (415) 556-2266
      28,000 acres in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Several facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities, including visitor centers at Fort Mason, Marin Headlands, and the Cliff House.

      The Golden Gate Promenade extends two miles from Fort Mason along the Marina Green to the Presidio and Fort Point, with great views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a paved, wheelchair-accessible path popular with joggers and bicyclists. Fishing piers at Fort Point and Fort Mason. Accessible restrooms may be found near Fort Point, at Fort Mason, and possibly at the west end of the Marina Green (portables). Fort Mason Cultural Center in lower (nortwest corner) Fort Mason has accessible spaces on ground floor, including various museums and non-profit exhibit halls in old Army buildings (accessible ramps ascend to old loading docks/ ground floor). From Fort Mason east to Aquatic Park is a steep paved military road; Aquatic Park itself is another good accessible area, though often crowded with tourists. Here you will find a sandy beach, fishing pier, and the National Maritime Muesum and the historic ships of Hyde Street Pier.
      Fort Mason Hostel (Hostelling International) provides some degree of accessible lodgings at the center of Fort Mason - call for details.
      San Francisco's Ocean Beach offers several miles of accessible paths. From the Cliff House a sidewalk follows the sea wall (descending steeply at first) one mile south to opposite Golden Gate Park. An undulating paved bike path continues two miles south on the inland side of the Great Highway to Sloat Boulevard. Restrooms at Judah and Taraval Streets are open most days. MUNI's N and L streecars and the 23, 31, and 38 bus lines are accessible, making possible a loop trip.
      A little farther south, off Highway 35, Fort Funston overlooks the Pacific Ocean from a high bluff. You can watch hang-gliders from a wheelchair-accessible observation deck. The Sunset Trail is a paved, 3/4-mile wheelchair-accessible path with wonderful ocean and city views, leading to an abandoned World War II gun emplacement. (The old paved military roads which continue north along the dunes are conceivably accessible with a buddy - first descent is steeper than 10% in places.) Accessible restrooms at main parking lot and Visitor Center. At the south end of the Sunset Trail, a new visitor center (open weekends) highlights the adjacent native plant nursery. Nursery itself may be hard to get around in due to bark chip paths and soft, sandy soil.

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Voice: (415) 557-2593 or (415) 557-4069.
      37 acres of shoreline across from San Francisco's 3Com Park. Landscaped parkland offers excellent views across the bay and back to the city. 1.5 miles of mostly level paved trails, plus picnic areas, fishing pier, and restrooms are all accessible to persons with disabilities. The adjacent neighborhoods are not the best, but I have never had any trouble in the park. It is popular with Samoan fishermen, sailboarders, and just plain folks. It can be difficult to access the park while games are going on at the stadium.

Golden Gate Park
      The Arboretum, Spreckels Lake, Music Concourse, and the bike path along eastern JFK Boulevard are worth a look. JFK Boulevard is closed to cars on Sunday, providing a popular venue for bicyclists, strollers, and in-line skaters. Access via MUNI 44, N, and 28.

Other San Francisco Parks and Trails
      San Francisco resident Marilyn Straka is developing a guidebook titled San Francisco on the Level which will feature 16 parks suitable for people using wheelchairs. It is a work in progress - as of early 1999, draft walks include Marina Green, Pacific Heights, the Palace of Fine Arts, Mountain Lake Park, Spreckels Lake, and Fort Funston.
      Each chapter includes written highlights, history, and points of interest, and a route map. For more information, contact Marilyn c/o the Trail Center (ATTN: Ben Pease)

     <== Back 2 of 5 Next ==>

Disabilities-Accessible Trails and Parks on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay

Introduction

Accessible Trails in San Francisco

Accessible Trails in San Mateo County

Accessible Trails in Santa Clara County

Accessible Trails in Santa Cruz County

     
Copyright © Trail Center. All rights reserved.

Please contact the Web Manager for corrections or comments.