Iconic San Francisco Urban Hiking Tour
Description
See epic views of the iconic sites of San Francisco’s northern neighborhoods in this 5-mile small-group, locally-led urban hike that takes you from city sidewalks to park trails ending in a local-favorite, truly-SF neighborhood with plenty of food and drink options for after the tour. Learn about life in San Francisco while understanding how history shaped the urban landscape we experience today – from the battles over bike lanes to the private enclave off the city grid – shared with humor and realism. Get top tips from your guide on other authentic San Francisco experiences to make your visit unique. She has seen it all and can help you discover the best San Francisco for you. We’ll cover about 450 feet of elevation gain over gradual hills at a moderate pace with lots of opportunities for photos. Good walking shoes and layers are all you'll need.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We won't go onto the Golden Gate Bridge, but will pause for photos at some of the best viewpoints of it in the city.
We'll walk through the main promenade of the Palace of Fine Arts with plenty of time for photos.
We'll explore the sidewalks and side trails of the Presidio with several viewpoints and a nice mix of city and nature.
See the famous Yoda fountain as we pass by on our way from the Palace of Fine Arts to Tunnel Top park with time for photos.
We'll explore a good portion of Tunnel Tops Park and pause at some amazing viewpoints for photos. There are also restrooms available at this location.
With views from below and above, appreciate the magnitude of the 30,000 veterans and family members buried here.
Experience the magnificent homes of San Francisco's wealthy merchant families bordering the park, and hear the story of how one woman's love of music sprouted our own Petit Trianon and San Francisco arts as we know it.
Get a glimpse of the mansions that make up San Francisco's first planned development on the city's west side.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children 12 years and younger not permitted
Reviews(10)
Lisa was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of San Francisco. We’ve previously visited this city multiple times. Lisa took us to places we have not seen in the past. She also did a great job with pointing out the best places to take photos. Highly recommend this tour!
Lisa is a very knowledgeable and down to earth person. A good person to spend the day with while seeing some interesting parts of the City.
The hike was excellent. Lisa was very nice and knowledgeable. It was a very fun experience!
Joined this tour with my partner, who is from out of town, and we both really enjoyed the experience. I've lived in the area for many years but still saw things I didn't know about and learned a lot of interesting historical context. It was basically all new to my partner and they got great answers to their questions. The distance and pacing was really reasonable and it was nice to end at an informal restaurant, we definitely worked up an appetite. There's often a long line for the public bathroom nearest the starting location, so plan accordingly. Would recommend for both locals and others!
Excellent hike. Tour guide was really knowledgeable. Great urban hike through some really cool San Francisco sites. Thanks!
If you're looking for a tour that visits unique spots in the city with stunning views this is the tour for you. From Palace of Fine Arts to the National Cemetery to Richmond district, every stop had a sprinkling of history and views of the city. Just be prepared for fair amount of hills.
This was a fun walk on a route that was specially selected to show off what's great about SF's neighborhoods and the Presidio. Great views, and the route led through a variety of different settings, from brand new parks to old trails and monuments. The guide is local and was great at explaining the greater context, why that particular route was chosen, and the history along the way. Even though I'm a local myself, we went to a few places I'd never been, and I learned a thing or two. Be prepared for a long walk and some hills!
This route shows San Francisco in its full glory. You get to walk past the regal Palace of Fine Arts, into the Presidio wherein sometimes you are in the middle of just trees and it feels like you are far from any city and then suddenly it opens up to magnificent views of the Golden Gate bridge, the ocean, and even the SF skyline. At 5 miles, it’s paced right with enough stops for history and stories about SF.
Although it was a bit foggy the views were amazing in the Presidio. Lisa’s knowledge of SF history was a plus! This is a great hike tour if you want more than a 2 mile stroll. You’ll see the main tourist spots and areas only locals know.
We did the Iconic San Francisco Urban Hiking Tour with Path and Story, and it was a unique trip for this San Francisco resident! I went with a group of friends, and we all agreed this tour was way more than just sightseeing—it definitely felt like experiencing the city as a local. Lisa, our guide, was fantastic—fun, super knowledgeable, laid-back, and genuinely passionate about the city. She shared great stories at each stop, and her tips on using the MUNI bus system were so helpful! We felt confident getting around the city on our own after the tour. The walk took us through some of the most scenic and lesser-known parts of San Francisco—from stunning Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints, the serene Palace of Fine Arts, and peaceful trails in the Presidio, to cool local neighborhoods we’d never have discovered on our own. We even stopped by the Yoda fountain (a fun surprise!) and paused at Tunnel Tops Park for some amazing views and photo ops. Lisa wrapped up the tour at a local brewpub where we enjoyed delicious food, great beers, and relaxed conversation—far from the usual tourist spots. It was the perfect ending to a day exploring the city. Highly recommend this tour if you want to really experience San Francisco. Already telling all my local and out-of-town friends to book with Lisa next time they want an urban hike!
