Presidio Coastal Trail and Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Now Open

San Francisco, CA: Improvements to the spectacular Presidio Coastal Trail corridor south of the Golden Gate Bridge, including the construction of a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge that connects the trail to Merchant Road is now open after several years of work by the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the Presidio Trust. The public will now be able to traverse a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge that connects the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Coastal Trail.

Previously, cyclists coming off the span had to loop through the Bridge Plaza in order to continue their southbound journey to Merchant Road and onward down the flank of the Presidio. But this new ADA accessible feature allows visitors to connect directly to the Coastal Trail, while taking them over the Covered Way and providing them with fresh perspectives on Battery Cranston and Battery Marcus Miller.

This long-awaited link is part of the larger Presidio Coastal Trail improvement project (launched in 2010), which has created multi-use segments, installed bike lanes along Lincoln Boulevard, restored native habitat along the trail corridor, and established new overlooks.

Work on this trail included safety fencing on the bridge, improved connections to help pedestrians and bicyclists access the new trail and parking lot, and fencing to protect newly planted vegetation areas. Cyclists can now use this portion of the California Coastal Trail in the Presidio, which is 8.9 miles from the Cliff House to Golden Gate Bridge.

The California Coastal Trail overall is a 1,200-mile route tracing the iconic Pacific coastline from Mexico to Oregon. The Presidio segment connects Baker Beach to the Golden Gate Bridge through the rugged coastal bluffs. At its northern end, the trail continues across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands, and also connects to the Bay Trail, which provides access to the Civil War era Fort Point and Crissy Field. At the southern end, the trail connects to the 25^th Avenue Gate to the Presidio and the Richmond District of San Francisco.

This project is part of a comprehensive trail improvement program made possible by generous support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Trails Forever Fund a Foot of Trail donors, federal and local agency grants, and members of the Parks Conservancy.

Presidio Trails. Bikeways, and Overlooks

The Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the NPS, and The Presidio Trust, is working to advance our “Trails Forever” initiative to create a world-class trail system and implement landmark Coastal Trail projects throughout the parks, in support of our mission to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future.

National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America’s most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, as well as 401 other park sites across the U.S. www.nps.gov/goga.

About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization that supports the Golden Gate National Parks—the most visited unit in the national park system in the U.S. Since 1981, the Parks Conservancy has provided over $362 million in aid for site transformations, trail improvements, habitat restoration, research and conservation, volunteer and youth engagement, and interpretive and educational programs. Conservancy funded projects, in partnership with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust, are visible across the parks’ 80,000 acres—including the Presidio, Crissy Field, Muir Woods, Lands End, Alcatraz, and more. The Conservancy’s work is made possible through the dedication of its members and donors; contributions from foundations, businesses, public agencies, and generous individuals; as well as earned income from visitor services. Learn more at parksconservancy.org.

About the Presidio Trust
Responsible for the transformation of the Presidio from an historic Army post into a premier national park that is financially self sustaining, the Presidio Trust is leading the nation’s largest historic preservation project, restoring the park’s buildings and landscapes, and creating innovative programs. For more information, visit www.presidio.gov.