Top Six Trails to Hike this Holiday Season

One of the signature trail improvement projects of the Parks Conservancy, the multi-use Battery East Trail features eye-popping views of the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as an overlook/seating area to admire the span and San Francisco Bay.

One can start the hike to the Ben Johnson Trail through Muir Woods National Monument by either the Redwood Creek Trail or the Hillside Trail.

Restored in 2001, Crissy Field wasted no time in becoming a San Francisco icon and a gem of the Parks Conservancy. The former military airfield now sports a clean, smooth promenade with views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the North and East Bays.

Surrounded by urban development in Pacifica, Milagra Ridge forms what biologists call an island ecosystem. Despite this isolation, this 250-acre park hosts a surprising diversity of natural resources. It is home to threatened and endangered species like the mission blue and San Bruno elfin butterflies.

The trail loop begins on the single-track Oakwood Valley Trail and finishes on the broad Fire Road Trail.

Visit a beautiful part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in a loop easily accessible by car, bike, and SamTrans bus lines. This area was improved with the help of community volunteers and is a showcase of restored native plants and wildlife habitat.