Sutro Heights Tree Projects

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, together with the National Park Service, has developed a tree management plan for Sutro Heights Park. This plan identifies management zones within the park and provides prescriptions for tree management based on site priorities and each zone’s unique attributes.  

Tree work at Sutro Heights will prioritize visitor safety, enhancement of natural appearance, protection of historic structures, and maintenance and restoration of historical viewsheds. Our top priority is locating and pruning or removing trees that pose a hazard to park visitors.   

This page lists the seven tree management zones at Sutro Heights Park and the prescribed actions for each zone. 

 

1. CENTRAL PICNIC AREA

PRIORITY: High (First) 

• Remove hazardous trees.  (Completed in October 2023)
• Stabilize and/or structurally prune mature specimen trees.
• Remove any downed trees.  (Completed in October 2023)
  - These can be chipped, or cut into rounds  for “natural” seating.
• Plant new trees within this zone to replace dead/dying trees. (Completed in February 2024)

2. PARKING LOT TO PALM AVE

PRIORITY: High (Second) 

• Keep the large, downed tree in place – it is actively being used as a nature play area by local children. (Completed in October 2023)
• Remove hazard trees and prune any hazardous limbs near trail edge or overhanging the downed tree which is being used by park visitors as a play area.  (Completed in October 2023)
• Selectively clear overgrowth around the downed tree to facilitate safer access to it as a recreational feature. 

3. VIEWSHED

PRIORITY: Medium 

• Selectively prune and/or remove trees to restore or maintain historic views of Ocean Beach.  (Completed in January 2024)
• Light structural pruning along the pathway in the northwest section of the Viewshed area across from the parapet. 

 

4. PALM AVE TO 48TH AVE

PRIORITY: Medium 

• Remove hazardous trees. (Completed in January 2024)
• Thin dead branches to improve aesthetics.  (Completed in January 2024)
• If additional thinning of trees is desired in this area, thin trees to 15-foot spacing.
• Remove dead palms on Palm Avenue.  (Completed in January 2024)
• If funding permits, replace palms on Palm Ave.
• Plant new trees to replace trees that have died along 48th Ave. (Completed in February 2024)

5. SOUTHERN DUNE

PRIORITY: Low 

• Remove any juvenile non-native trees to address encroachment on dune habitat.  

6. SOUTHERN SLOPE

PRIORITY: Low

• Remove lower tree branches to create a more open understory.
• Remove weedy understory vegetation.

7. NORTHWEST CORNER

PRIORITY: Low 

• This is a low use area and there are no goals or recommendations for it at this time. 

 

This work is made possible by the generosity of anonymous donors.  

Please consider supporting the enhancement of our park sites like Sutro Heights Park through a donation.