San Francisco’s parks are more than just green spaces; they’re cultural landmarks, community hubs, bucolic escapes, art galleries, step count champions, and excellent people-watching perches.
From the social buzz of Dolores Park to the windswept quiet of Sunset Dunes and the grand expanse of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco’s parks are an important piece of daily life in the city. I’ve selected some notable ones, and some hidden gems for you to explore.
Be sure to pack a blanket, comfortable shoes, a book, and your sense of adventure.
Mission Dolores Park
Mission Dolores Park, often simply referred to as Dolores Park, in San Francisco’s Mission district one of the most popular urban parks in the city.
Its sloped hillside is often speckled with neighbors and friends sprawled out on picnic blankets, especially on sunny days when the views to downtown San Francisco are unrivaled.
If you’re into history, the oldest building in San Francisco, Mission Dolores, is just across the street.
Sunset Dunes Park
Although primarily a walking space along Ocean Beach, Sunset Dunes is a new addition to San Francisco’s park portfolio. It’s hard to believe that less than five years ago, this pedestrian paradise was rumbling with buses and cars on what was known as the Great Highway.
But during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was temporarily pedestrianized. And in true San Francisco style, voters elected to permanently transform the road into a car-free recreational area dotted with public art, making it the ideal place to stroll in the sea air.
Located in the Sunset District, this two-mile park runs from Sloat Boulevard to Lincoln Way, and skirts the Pacific Ocean. You’ll skaters and walkers, tons of surfers, and access to wide and sandy Ocean Beach (be careful swimming here as the riptides are brutal).
It’s also near some truly local cafes and shops. I love Blackbird Bookstore and Case for Making, a lovely art supply store that is fine for novices like me, too! Coffee at Java Beach Café is a must.
Land’s End/Sutro Baths
I really love the feel of this place, part park, part rugged coastal trail, part ruins in the city’s northwest corner, not far from Sunset Dunes/ Great Highway.
Visitors can hike along cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, through cypress trees and wildflowers, where you might even catch a glimpse of old shipwrecks, access to the epic ruins of Sutro Baths in the Sutro Historic District, and beaches with views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sutro Baths is especially scenic at sunset when the reflections, colors, and people alchemize into a magical moment not found anywhere else in the city. Don’t miss the Land’s End Lookout Visitor Center for cute San Francisco souvenirs and pictures of what Sutro Baths looked like when it was the largest indoor swimming complex in the world.
Golden Gate Park
This is the Grand Daddy, or Grande Dame, of San Francisco parks. It’s hard to talk about things to do in San Francisco without mentioning this 1,000+ acre urban oasis.
Often compared to New York’s Central Park, Golden Gate Park is even larger and full of lakes, meadows, museums, and gardens. Locals come here to cycle and jog on the numerous trails, and paddle on Blue Heron Lake. The park is also home to renowned events, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, an epic music festival held here each October.
At the western end of the park is Ocean Beach, ideal for sunsets.
The Presidio
Once a military base, the Presidio has been transformed into a national park site with nearly 25 miles of trails, picnic areas, beaches, golf course, public art, and cultural institutions such as the Walt Disney Family Museum and Fort Point National Historic Site.
New restaurants have been popping up here too, including
I never tire of the Golden Gate Bridge views from here, whether it’s in the morning when the bridge is bright orange or watching the sunset behind it in the evenings. Stop at the Warming Hut for a coffee and pick up a Golden Gate-themed souvenir. Proceeds benefit the park.
The Presidio Tunnel Tops, a newly designed green space with playgrounds, food trucks, and lookout points, is also a notable spot for lounging and reflecting on the beauty that is San Francisco.
Transamerica Redwood Park
Full confession: I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay Area on and off since 1990, and I JUST visited Transamerica Redwood Park for the first time this year. Face palm! What was I waiting for?
If you’re in downtown or North Beach, this is an easy detour and totally worth it. As the name suggests, this park sits at the foot of San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid and is surrounded by towering redwood trees—like a mini-forest right in the heart of downtown San Francisco!
There is also shuffleboard and ping pong , and Café Sebastian is right there too, with some outdoor seating, if you want to grab coffee, breakfast, or lunch .
From May to September, the park hosts a concert series on the wooden stage on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Pioneer Park
Even long-time SF residents might be surprised to learn that Coit Tower, the white fluted column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill, resides inside Pioneer Park. It’s only about four acres, but worth a taxi up for the epic views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island.
If you’re feeling fit, climb the Filbert Street Steps or Greenwhich Steps, two of the hundreds of public staircases zigzagging around San Francisco.
FYI: The Filbert Street Steps begin from just past where Sansome and Filbert streets meet. The Greenwhich Steps are one block north, near Greenwhich and Sansome.
Sales Force Park
When you need a dose of greenery in downtown San Francisco, the 5.4-acre rooftop oasis atop the Salesforce Transit Center blends lush gardens, winding pathways, and vibrant skyline views.
A half-mile walking trail meanders through 13 distinct botanical gardens, featuring roughly 600 trees and 16,000 plants, from redwood groves to desert-inspired landscapes.
Relax on grassy lawns, explore the amphitheater, grab a coffee from the kiosk, or let the kids play on climbing structures. Free fitness classes and other activities animate the park year-round.
Discover more amazing things to do in San Francisco.
