Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio
Alison Taggart-Barone/Parks Conservancy
Since the Spanish first arrived in 1776, the Presidio’s soldiers have maintained their guard over the riches of San Francisco Bay. This serene corner of San Francisco is the oldest continuously used military post in the nation—and it’s also one of the most beautiful.
Transferred from the Army to the National Park Service in 1994, the Presidio offers forests, creeks, trails, views, architecture, and history for today’s park visitors.
Presidio Visitor Center
Located at the north end of the Main Post, the William Penn Mott, Jr. Presidio Visitor Center is a 4,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art starting point for exploring this unique national park. The ADA-accessible visitor center includes interactive displays; a video wall showing the day's events and activities; and interpretive exhibits about the Presidio's natural, cultural, and historic features.
It is the first piece of a transformative park-making project-the Presidio Tunnel Tops-taking place across the rooftop of the Presidio Parkway between Crissy Field and the Main Post.
The Presidio Visitor Center, at 210 Lincoln Boulevard, is open from 10 am to 5 pm, every day of the week. The phone number is (415) 561-4323.
Learn about Presidio Visitor job openings.
Officers’ Club
Touted as San Francisco’s most historic building, the Officers’ Club—once a social hub for U.S. Army officers and their families—has roots that go back to the earliest days of Spanish settlement, in the late 18th century.
A three-year revitalization project improved seismic safety, repaired the historic adobe walls, and transformed the Officers’ Club into a multifaceted cultural destination.
There’s a lot to see and do in this new visitor gateway, which also houses new classrooms and event spaces.
Rob Hill Campground
The Presidio’s Rob Hill Campground re-opened in May 2010 after undergoing 20 months of improvements made possible by a $4 million grant from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The campground serves as the home of the Camping at the Presidio (CAP) program.
Rob Hill sits atop the Presidio’s highest point in a stand of eucalyptus trees overlooking Baker Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The campground welcomes scouts, school groups, and families for a wilderness experience just a stone’s throw from city life.
The rustic site originally featured just two campfire rings and had minimal amenities. Now the campground has been expanded to include four group campsites that can accommodate 30 people each, new restrooms, a large stone campfire circle, and an indoor “Great Room” for educational programs.
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Presidio Tunnel Tops is a new area within the Presidio national park site, free and accessible to all and now open! Built on the Presidio Parkway Tunnels, these 14 acres of outdoor space with educational facilities connect the historic center of the park to the Presidio’s waterfront at Crissy Field. Learn more about site features and upcoming events and how Presidio Tunnel Tops was designed and shaped by our community.
Share
Western Presidio
The Parks Conservancy, National Park Service, and Presidio Trust have been working together for decades on projects along the Presidio’s rugged western coastline that restore important habitats, improve trails, and preserve and share its history. These efforts include the building the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, creating new visitor overlooks, retiring social trails, and removing invasive species.
Heart of the Presidio
The central part of the Presidio is an eclectic mix of neighborhoods, businesses, historic sites, forests, and grasslands, connected by a winding network of trails. This part of the park is officially managed by the Presidio Trust, which the Parks Conservancy has partnered with on and a number of projects. Many of these efforts have focused on improving trails and protecting key habitats including the ongoing restoration of the entire Tennessee Hollow Watershed.
Crissy Field
Once a former Army airfield, Crissy Field has been transformed into a highly popular mile-long waterfront park. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Parks Conservancy led community engagement, planning, construction, and fundraising for this project, and continues to support and care for this beloved site today.
Golden Gate Bridge and Battery East
As a part of the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th Anniversary in 2015, the south visitor plaza was updated and expanded, a welcome and information center created, and the historic Round House and Bridge Café renovated. Improvements to nearby trails and new overlooks have improved access the bridge and surrounding parklands for the millions of visitors who come through this site each year.
Events
Find your passion through the many events available at the park.
Wed, Nov 27 9:00am-12:00pm
Presidio Main Post Transit Center
Events
Trails & Activities
Explore what kind of activities are available near the park.
Related Content
Park E-Ventures Article
