John McLaren Park

Top choice


At 312 acres, McLaren is the second largest park in San Francisco proper, and arguably the most underrated. There are some 7 miles of trails (including the lovely Philosopher’s Way) that spread over forests, fields and excellent hillside views of the city. This is a wilder park than Golden Gate, and is great for urban hiking, bird-watching and spotting the random coyote.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Mission Street

0.97 MILES

Mission Street is Excelsior's main commercial drag starting from around Silver Ave and continuing all the way to Daly City. This is one of the most…

2. Bernal Heights Park

1.69 MILES

The breezy, grassland slopes of 475ft Bernal Hill are decidedly non-touristy, and hiking them on a clear day offers 360-degree city views, along with rare…

3. San Bruno Mountain State & County Park

1.73 MILES

Look at a driving map of the Bay Area and you may wonder at an odd island just south of San Francisco where roads are absent. This is San Bruno mountain,…

4. Ratio 3

2.27 MILES

Art-fair buzz begins at this trippy gallery that's all black outside and stark white inside for maximum impact. While some artists are recognizable from…

5. Balmy Alley

2.29 MILES

Since at least the 1980s, if you stroll through San Francisco's Mission District you've likely noticed the neighborhood's profusion of colorful murals and…

6. 24th & York Mini Park

2.41 MILES

Take a ride on dazzling mosaic serpent-god Quetzalcoatl, who raises his fierce head from the rubberized ground of this pioneering pocket park…

7. 22nd St Hill

2.52 MILES

The prize for SF's steepest street is shared by this street and Filbert St (between Hyde and Leavenworth). Both have 31.5% grades (17-degree slopes), but…

8. Twin Peaks

2.72 MILES

See that hill with the sci-fi forked radio tower at its summit? That's Twin Peaks, with a 925ft summit that's the highest point in SF. A giant pink…