During the Civil War, the U.S. Army hastily built two batteries, armed with 10-inch Rodman guns, at a site that locals called Black Point. These armaments at Point San Jose Military Reservation (later called Fort Mason) served as backup to the fortifications on Alcatraz and at Fort Point.
The trailhead is near the intersection of Coral Reef Avenue and Sevilla Avenue in El Grenada, but parking can be tricky in the area (Quarry Park, half a mile away, is probably your best bet).
This short segment of the Batteries to Bluffs Trail takes visitors to Battery Crosby, an Endicott-era battery completed and armed in 1900 to protect the underwater minefield outside the Golden Gate.
Starting at roads end in Tennessee Valley, the route starts towards the beach but soon picks up the Coastal Trail and ascends steeply up Wolf Ridge. Staying mostly on the high ridge back, it gives great sweeping views of the Golden Gate Recreation Area, Mt.
From Golden Gate National Recreation Area headquarters at Fort Mason (the big, green-roofed building), follow the winding, paved pathway across the Great Meadow...beloved by locals as one of San Francisco's most popular "backyards.
Looking for a meaningful memento (or a perfect gift!) from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area? Park stores, visitor centers, and campgrounds have you covered. And don’t forget: your purchases help support our conservation programs that sustain these national parks!
Battery Townsley, at Fort Cronkhite, was San Francisco's most extensive--and most secret--World War II military fortification. Come visit and explore this labyrinthine battery.
