The 17-Mile “San Francisco Crosstown Trail” Turns Two (June 5-6)

The San Francisco Crosstown Trail Turns Two on National Trails Day. Join us to celebrate on the trail SAT June 5th and SUN June 6th. The SF Crosstown Trail is a 17 mile urban trail (in 5 sections) across across beautiful San Francisco. Join a walk led by a Crosstown Trail Council Member or crrate your own adventure. All anniversary events are free and information to participate can be found on our website with links to sign up for group led walks on Eventbrite. #sfcrosstowntrail

Second Anniversary Events: Saturday, June 5, 2021

Saturday registration on Eventbrite

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Walking the Surf to Stick. Arrive at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center in time for a 9:15 a.m. departure along the north-to-south Crosstown Trail route. Walk the full 17 miles or any length you choose, at your own pace or at the moderately brisk group pace. Bring water, snacks, and a lunch if you’re aiming to go the full distance to Candlestick Point. Highlights include tiled stairways, panoramic views, restored natural habitats, and secret gardens. Leader: Karen Rhodes

Saturday, 9 a.m.: OMI – Crosstown Trail Section 2 Loop. Discover the Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside neighborhood (aka the OMI) on this walk on Section 2 of the Crosstown Trail. Meet at Blue House Cafe, 302 Randolph, for a 9:10 a.m. departure. We will take the M Line to the West Portal MUNI station and pick up the KT to the Forest Hill MUNI station, where we will head south on Section 2, hiking along the Laguna Honda and Glen Canyon trails and ending at the Glen Park BART station (3.1 miles). From there you can enjoy the shops and cafes in the neighborhood of Glen Park, loop back to the OMI on foot or via public transit, or continue south on the Trail to Section 1. Leader: Johanna Lopez Miyaki

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Mission Blue Hang-Out. You’re invited to stop by our Welcome Table at Mission Blue, 144 Leland next to the Visitacion Valley Greenway’s Hans Schiller Plaza. Music in the Plaza, Crosstown Trail gear for sale, and a chance to explore this tucked-away neighborhood. Clean restroom stop! Hosts: Ken and Kellie McCord

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Visitacion Valley to Lands End. Arrive at Mission Blue, 144 Leland, in time for a 9:15 a.m. departure. The walk leader will be taking Caltrain north from the Peninsula to the Bayshore station (arriving at 8:48 a.m.), and walking to Mission Blue. From Mission Blue, the route heads north through the Visitacion Valley Greenway and McLaren Park to the other four sections of the Crosstown Trail, ending at Lands End. Walkers can go the full 17 miles or any chosen length, either as a group or on your own. Bring water, snacks, and a lunch if you’re aiming to go the full distance. The trip leader plans to take the 38-Geary to the Caltrain 4th & King St. station to head back to the Peninsula after the hike. Leader: Carrie Sisto

Saturday, 9 a.m. on: Volunteer Opportunity at the Visitacion Valley Greenway. Our GOAL (Growing Outdoors And Learning) program invites volunteers to join us at our Children’s Garden from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. We will be installing a log seating area and landscaping with native trees and plants. The site is located on Teddy near Rutland. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to get a little dirty and have fun in a safe environment. Gloves, tools, and refreshments will be provided. Registration is limited, so please sign up on the Recreation & Parks volunteer calendar by scrolling down to the June 5 event date. Afterward, enjoy music in the Greenway’s Plaza on Leland, hosted by Mission Blue, and then a tour of the Greenway beginning at 12 p.m. from the Plaza.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Volunteer Opportunity at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Since the Crosstown Trail opened in 2019, more people have discovered the wonders of the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Come and join a group of volunteers who will be removing invasive weeds and trash.  Arrive at 10 a.m. sharp at Last Port’s gravel parking, which will be unlocked by State Parks staff when needed. The Last Port parking lot is on the route of the Crosstown Trail on the south side of Harney Way about 180 yards east of its intersection with Executive Park Blvd.

Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Crosstown Connector. The 5-mile, figure-8 loop will begin and end at the granite-block Clarendon Trailhead on Clarendon opposite Dellbrook. After following the Bay Area Ridge Trail on its route across Twin Peaks, the walk will connect to the Crosstown Trail and proceed through the Laguna Honda Community Trail System, and end with a loop on the Bay Area Ridge Trail on Mt. Sutro. This walk can be previewed on the Heart of SF Trails map. (Note: The Clarendon Trailhead is about 1.5 miles from the Castro MUNI Metro station and about a mile from the Forest Hill MUNI Metro station. Plentiful free parking is also available on Clarendon near the trailhead.) Leader: Bob Siegel

Second Anniversary Events: Sunday, June 6, 2021

Sunday registration on Eventbrite

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Walking the Stick to Surf. We will meet at 9 a.m. at Sunrise Point in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, the starting point for our 17-mile walk. Walkers can proceed at the moderate pace of the leader or go at their own pace and bail anywhere they choose. Those intent on going the whole distance should bring lunch; others might choose to eat lunch in the Sunset or the Richmond. Those who make it to the end have the opportunity to walk a wee bit further to the Beach Chalet for a celebratory pint. (Note: Sunrise Point is approximately 15 minutes on foot from the park entrance. The parking lot at Candlestick is closed and those joining the walk are highly encouraged to be dropped off at the park entrance, 500 Hunters Point Expressway, or arrive there via taxi or rideshare.) Leader: Bob Siegel

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Bicycling the Stick to Surf. We’ll meet at 9 a.m. at Sunrise Point in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. We’ll ride across San Francisco: You’ll see Candlestick, Visitacion Valley (including the Visitacion Valley Greenway), McLaren Park, St. Mary’s Park, the Glen Park neighborhood, Laguna Honda Community Trails, Golden Gate Heights, and more. Ride ends at Lands End. This is true mixed terrain: some trails (mostly mild), roads ranging from freshly paved to not-so-freshly-paved, and paved pathways. There are even some stairways, though there are always alternatives to avoid the stairs. Distance is about 17 miles and just over 2000′ of elevation gained. Bring a water bottle and snacks; there will be breaks but no designated food stops. Leader: Matthew Blain

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Running the Stick to Surf. Join us for a spectacular run across San Francisco starting at Sunrise Point in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area at 9 a.m. We will traverse San Francisco neighborhoods along many wonderful trails and sidewalks, finishing at scenic Lands End. There will be several experienced runners leading at various paces to ensure all participants have a great experience. If the full course of 17 miles is a bit beyond your current fitness level, there will be a group ending around 5 miles in Glen Park (where there are several restaurants and a BART station) and another group ending around 10 miles in the Inner Sunset (where there are also several restaurants and the N-Judah). For those running the full distance, join us at the Beach Chalet afterward for some food and beverages! The parking lot at Candlestick Point is closed and those joining the run are highly encouraged to be dropped off at the park entrance or arrive there via taxi or rideshare. Leaders: Ryan Branciforte and Tom Collier

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Nature, Stairs, and Hills. Walk Sections 2 and 3 and tackle the two biggest climbs of the Crosstown Trail. Meet at 10 a.m. in the Glen Park BART plaza on the southeast corner of Bosworth and Diamond. Arrive early to explore the nearby shops and cafes. From Glen Park BART, we’ll walk up through Glen Canyon Park and through the Laguna Honda Community Trail System. Then we’ll wrap behind the Forest Hill MUNI Metro station to begin the stair section of the hike, passing by the Green Hairstreak butterfly corridor, and up to Grandview Park to take in the views. From there we’ll descend down tiled steps into the Sunset and end at 16th and Judah at the N-Judah MUNI Metro stop, which is a couple of blocks from restaurants on Irving. The route is 5.2 miles and will take about 2 – 2.5 hours depending on how much we stop to take in the sights. Bring water. Leader: Amy Kaeser

Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon: Volunteer Opportunity at the White Crane Springs Community Garden. Join native-plant enthusiasts as they cultivate and care for restoration plants at this Inner Sunset site for Nature in the City. They will be propagating and tending plants by transplanting, weeding, pruning, and other hands-on tasks. All of these wonderful plants are community-grown and set for local habitat projects this fall. Here is the link to sign up: https://www.meetup.com/Nature-in-the-City/events/gljzsryccjbjb/