Park Stories

In May 2016, just outside the Golden Gate (and off the coast of our Golden Gate National Parks), humpback whales were gathering in record numbers—and blue whales were making extremely rare spring appearances. What explains this massing of these mammoth mammals?

In April 2016, a team of scientists hatched a daring plan to save some endangered mission blue butterflies from a Milagra Ridge site ravaged by a plant pathogen. See how—and why—they relocated a couple of endangered butterflies to another spot on Milagra.

Mount Tamalpais Trails is your one-stop, must-have resource for exploring Mt. Tam. In this exclusive interview, author Barry Spitz—one of the preeminent authorities on Tam—shares his favorite spot, his recommended hikes, and his greatest challenge in walking every single trail on the mountain.

It’s time for an adventure—in the pages of a book or on a path through our parks! Learn about free and fun activities from the San Francisco Public Library, National Park Service, and Parks Conservancy—including reading programs, ranger talks, park shuttles, and more.

Get a sneak preview of National Trails Day, coming up on June 4. Sign up for action-packed projects (including a key segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail on Milagra Ridge) and learn about some easy trails you can explore with your whole family.

Established in 1987, the Tennessee Valley Nursery closed its nearly 30-year run in May 2016. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, the facility produced thousands of plants for habitat restoration sites all across the parks. In this video, hear from some of the amazing people who made it all possible.

In honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month in May, learn the legacy of Japanese Americans who fought for their country—while their families were incarcerated by their government. And discover the unassuming building—rebuilt along Crissy Field—where they trained at a top-secret school.

Entering its milestone 10th year, Camping at the Presidio—a program based at the only campground in San Francisco—has been an unqualified success. Its legacy, which continues to grow, is powerful and enduring: giving thousands and thousands of children their very first camping experience.

Interested in studying hawks, falcons, and eagles as a volunteer with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory? Learn about May recruitment meetings, and hear about the wonder of this work from current banders and hawkwatchers—some of whom have been volunteering for over two decades!

Renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz’s new exhibition, “WOMEN: New Portraits,” is only appearing in two cities in the United States. In San Francisco, this free exhibition (through April 17, 2016) will be right here in the Presidio, along Crissy Field. Read on for details and ticket info.

With Redwood Creek coho salmon on the brink of disappearing, biologists launched a last-ditch attempt to save them: harvesting local fish, raising them to reproductive maturity at a hatchery, and then returning them to the wild. In December, the first captive-raised coho were released.

In January 2016, a record number of Western snowy plovers were spotted at Ocean Beach. What are some possible reasons for this sky-high count? Read the latest on park monitoring of these threatened species—and learn what you can do to help their chances of survival.