San Francisco
Parks in San Francisco
Discover the best parks, beaches, hiking trails, mountains, and outdoor recreation throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Bay Area offers much more than its cities. From the hiking trails of Mount Tamalpais to the sandy shoreline of Ocean Beach, the urban oasis of Golden Gate Park, and the tranquil gardens of the San Francisco Botanical Garden, there are plenty of places to enjoy the Northern California outdoors.
Explore San Francisco ParksEnjoy the Outdoors in San Francisco
The Bay Area is home to a wide variety of parks that give residents and visitors plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you are looking for a scenic place to hike, a beach on the Pacific, a mountain trail, sports facilities, or a peaceful green space to relax, the Bay Area has parks for many different lifestyles.
Popular Parks in San Francisco
Explore some of San Francisco's best-known parks and outdoor recreation areas.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is a 1,000+ acre urban oasis with gardens, museums, lakes, trails, and cultural attractions, one of the most visited parks in the United States.
View Park DetailsPresidio of San Francisco
The Presidio is a 1,500-acre national park on the northern tip of San Francisco, offering hiking trails, bay views, historic buildings, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
View Park DetailsCrissy Field
Crissy Field is a waterfront park in the Presidio with stunning Golden Gate Bridge views, a beach, trails, and a popular destination for walking and picnicking.
View Park DetailsLands End
Lands End is a wild coastal park at the northwestern corner of San Francisco, offering rugged trails, ocean views, and the ruins of the Sutro Baths.
View Park DetailsDolores Park
Dolores Park in the Mission District is one of San Francisco's most popular parks, offering sunny lawns, city views, and a vibrant community atmosphere.
View Park DetailsAlamo Square Park
Alamo Square Park is famous for its Painted Ladies, a row of colorful Victorian houses with the San Francisco skyline behind them.
View Park DetailsTwin Peaks
Twin Peaks offers 360-degree panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay Area from the summit of the city's second-highest point.
View Park DetailsBaker Beach
Baker Beach is a scenic beach in the Presidio with stunning Golden Gate Bridge views and a popular spot for photography and picnicking.
View Park DetailsMuir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods is a national monument in Marin County, home to a pristine old-growth coastal redwood forest with towering trees over 250 feet tall.
View Park DetailsMarin Headlands
The Marin Headlands offer dramatic coastal cliffs, hiking trails, and some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.
View Park DetailsMount Tamalpais State Park
Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County offers hiking trails, panoramic Bay Area views, and the East Peak summit at 2,571 feet.
View Park DetailsPoint Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is a protected coastline in Marin County with beaches, hiking trails, lighthouses, and wildlife viewing.
View Park DetailsTilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills offers hiking trails, a lake, a botanical garden, a miniature steam train, and panoramic bay views.
View Park DetailsRedwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills offers hiking trails through a pristine redwood forest, with towering trees and peaceful canyons.
View Park DetailsLake Merritt
Lake Merritt is a tidal lagoon in the center of Oakland, surrounded by a park with a walking path, boating, and the nation's first wildlife refuge.
View Park DetailsMission Peak Regional Preserve
Mission Peak in Fremont is a popular hiking destination with a challenging climb to a summit offering panoramic views of the Bay Area.
View Park DetailsMount Diablo State Park
Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County offers hiking, biking, and panoramic views from the 3,849-foot summit of Mount Diablo.
View Park DetailsCoyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont offers hiking trails with bay views, a visitor center, and access to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
View Park DetailsLake Chabot Regional Park
Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley offers a scenic lake for boating and fishing, hiking trails, and a marina.
View Park DetailsBriones Regional Park
Briones Regional Park in the East Bay Hills offers hiking and horseback riding trails through rolling hills with panoramic views.
View Park DetailsBlack Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch offers hiking trails through historic coal mining areas with scenic hills and historic sites.
View Park DetailsJoaquin Miller Park
Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills offers hiking and biking trails, a cascading waterfall, and panoramic bay views.
View Park DetailsOcean Beach
Ocean Beach is a 3.5-mile-long sandy beach on the western side of San Francisco, offering ocean views, walking, and bonfire pits.
View Park DetailsLincoln Park
Lincoln Park in San Francisco is home to the Legion of Honor museum, a golf course, and coastal trails with Golden Gate Bridge views.
View Park DetailsFort Funston
Fort Funston is a coastal park in southwestern San Francisco with dramatic cliffs, hang gliding, and hiking trails with ocean views.
View Park DetailsLafayette Park
Lafayette Park is a hilltop park in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, offering panoramic city and bay views.
View Park DetailsChina Camp State Park
China Camp State Park in San Rafael offers hiking and biking trails, a historic Chinese fishing village, and bay shoreline access.
View Park DetailsAngel Island State Park
Angel Island State Park in San Francisco Bay offers hiking, biking, panoramic views, and historic immigration and military sites.
View Park DetailsTennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley in Marin County offers a scenic hiking trail through a coastal valley to a beautiful beach with ocean views.
View Park DetailsStinson Beach
Stinson Beach is a beautiful sandy beach in Marin County, popular for swimming, sunbathing, and as a destination for the Dipsea Trail.
View Park DetailsCoyote Point Recreation Area
Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo offers a beach, trails, a marina, and the CuriOdyssey science museum.
View Park DetailsSan Bruno Mountain State & County Park
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park offers hiking trails with panoramic views of the Bay Area from the summit of San Bruno Mountain.
View Park DetailsPurisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve on the Peninsula offers hiking trails through redwood forests with creek views.
View Park DetailsHuddart Park
Huddart Park in Woodside offers hiking and equestrian trails through redwood and oak forests with picnic areas.
View Park DetailsHalf Moon Bay State Beach
Half Moon Bay State Beach is a miles-long sandy beach on the San Mateo County coast, popular for walking, sunbathing, and surfing.
View Park DetailsRancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Cupertino offers hiking trails with panoramic views and a deer farm.
View Park DetailsAlum Rock Park
Alum Rock Park in San Jose is California's oldest municipal park, offering hiking trails, mineral springs, and canyon scenery.
View Park DetailsKelley Park
Kelley Park in San Jose is a 156-acre park with the Japanese Friendship Garden, History Park, and the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo.
View Park DetailsGuadalupe River Park
Guadalupe River Park is a 3-mile urban park along the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose, offering trails, gardens, and public art.
View Park DetailsCastle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains offers hiking trails, rock climbing, and scenic rock formations.
View Park DetailsBig Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest state park, home to a pristine old-growth redwood forest with towering trees.
View Park DetailsShoreline at Mountain View
Shoreline at Mountain View is a 750-acre park with a lake, golf course, trails, and the Shoreline Amphitheatre.
View Park DetailsTrione-Annadel State Park
Trione-Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails through rolling hills and wildflower meadows.
View Park DetailsArmstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville is a pristine redwood forest with towering trees and walking trails.
View Park DetailsSpring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa offers a lake for swimming and boating, hiking trails, and a camping area.
View Park DetailsBothe-Napa Valley State Park
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park near St. Helena offers hiking trails, a swimming pool, camping, and redwood trees in the Napa Valley.
View Park DetailsSkyline Wilderness Park
Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa offers hiking and biking trails with panoramic views of the Napa Valley.
View Park DetailsRockville Hills Regional Park
Rockville Hills Regional Park in Fairfield offers hiking and biking trails through volcanic rock formations and oak woodlands.
View Park DetailsGreat Parks for Families
Families in San Francisco have plenty of great options for spending time outdoors. Many parks feature beaches, playgrounds, open lawns, shaded picnic areas, hiking trails, and recreational facilities that make it easy to spend several hours outside.
- Playgrounds and play structures
- Picnic tables and pavilions
- Open lawns for games
- Walking and biking paths
- Shaded areas
- Family-friendly recreation
Walking, Biking & Outdoor Fitness
San Francisco's parks make it easy to stay active year-round with the region's mild climate. Residents use parks for morning hikes, jogging, biking, outdoor workouts, and casual recreation.
Explore San Francisco's Natural Side
The Bay Area is shaped by its coastline, mountains, and redwood forests. Parks such as Mount Tamalpais, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the Marin Headlands provide opportunities to enjoy a quieter side of the region while taking in beautiful Northern California scenery.
Perfect for walking, wildlife viewing, photography, and simply relaxing outdoors.
Find Parks Near San Francisco Cities & Neighborhoods
Living near a quality park can make a big difference in everyday life. Parks provide recreation, community gathering spaces, walking opportunities, and easy access to outdoor activities.
Explore San Francisco Cities & NeighborhoodsWhy Parks Matter When Choosing Where to Live
Outdoor Recreation
Easy access to walking, biking, sports, and family activities.
Family Lifestyle
Playgrounds and green spaces give families more options close to home.
Community
Parks often serve as gathering places for events, recreation, and neighborhood activities.
Quality of Life
Access to attractive outdoor spaces adds to the overall appeal of a neighborhood.
San Francisco Parks FAQs
Discover More of San Francisco
Explore Bay Area cities, neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, shopping, local businesses, and things to do throughout the region.