10 Amazing San Francisco Parks (including hidden gems)
San Francisco’s parks are more than just green spaces; they’re cultural landmarks, community hubs, bucolic escapes, step count champions, and excellent people-watching perches.
I’ve selected some notable ones that every guide will mention, but included some hidden gems for you to discover, too.
Many 3-day San Francisco itineraries include time in parks. Be sure to pack a blanket, comfortable shoes, water, and your sense of adventure.
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Dolores Park
Dolores Park in San Francisco’s Mission District is one of the most popular parks in the city, primarily for its people watching.
Often sunny when the rest of the city is fogged in, the sloped hillside brings out neighbors and friends who sprawl out on picnic blankets and admire the views to downtown San Francisco.
If you’re into history, the oldest building in San Francisco, Mission Dolores, is just across the street, established in 1776.
Sunset Dunes Park
Although primarily a walking space along Ocean Beach, Sunset Dunes in the Sunset District 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.
Sunset Dunes runs for two miles between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way, and skirts the Pacific Ocean. You’ll see skaters and walkers, tons of surfers headed to wide and sandy Ocean Beach (be careful swimming here as the riptides are brutal).
It’s also near some truly local and charming 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 located 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 a stop in the Land’s End Lookout Visitor Center for cute San Francisco souvenirs and pictures of what the 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 the best 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.
It’s also home to renowned events, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, an epic music festival held here each October, which is one of many budget-friendly ways to enjoy the city.
The Presidio
It’s hard to imagine visiting San Francisco and not spending time in the Presidio, 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.
It’s definitely one of the top things to do when visiting San Francisco. And it’s one of the best neighborhoods for families to stay in, too, thanks to hotels, restaurants, and tons of outdoor space.
I never tire of the Golden Gate Bridge views from here, especially from Crissy Field and the Presidio Tunnel Tops, a newly designed green space with playgrounds, food trucks, and lookout points.
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 San Francisco or taking a tour of 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—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 FREE concerts 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. If you’re visiting San Francisco on a budget, note that the park has weekly programming that includes FREE fitness classes and other activities year-round.
Seward Mini-Park
Hidden Gem Alert! The slides are the draw here, hidden away in San Francisco’s Castro/Upper Market neighborhood.
These two cement chutes were designed by a local teenager who won a contest. Signs nearby read “no adults unless accompanied by a child.”
There’s usually a piece of cardboard or two lying around for sliding down. Grab one as it’s much easier than your jeans, which will get shredded. Keep your arms in to avoid scraping hands and elbows, and have fun!
After spending a day touring around San Francisco, an hour, or even a few minutes, in one of San Francisco’s parks can be a revitalizing moment.
Grandview Park (Turtle Hill)
Located in the Inner Sunset, this hilltop park is another hidden gem that most tourists won’t see.
If you can make it to the top (there are LOTS of stairs), you’ll be rewarded with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Sunset District, and epic Pacific Ocean sunsets on clear days. Bonus: nearby are beautiful tiled steps on Moraga St. between 15th Ave. and 16th Ave., another San Francisco secret.
It can be a little tricky to find them, though a driverless Waymo or axi can drop you right where you need to be. There’s also a guided tour of these stairways led by a knowledgeable neighborhood local that will take all the guesswork away, so you can focus on the climb. Did I mention the stairs?
Visiting the Sunset District makes a great addition to any San Francisco tour. FYI: The Big Bus San Francisco Tour Red Route will get you close to the Sunset District and the park (get off at the 9th Ave. and Lincoln Way stop and walk from there)
