The Five Best Views of San Francisco

Coit Tower

One of the best known views of San Francisco is from Coit Tower. This 180 foot structure that sits atop Telegraph Hill affords views of Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the East Bay and it is the most accessible of the Bay Area vistas. The tower, completed 1933, is named after its benefactress, Lillie Coit. Depression era murals cover the walls on the first floor of the tower and are considered some of the best examples of WPA (Work Progress Administration) art.

There is limited parking, so at peak times (weekends and during the summer) there can be a long line of cars waiting for a parking place. Alternatively, you can either walk up Telegraph Hill or take the #39 MUNI bus that leaves from Washington Square.

The murals on first floor of Coit Tower are free. There is a $3 charge to take the elevator up to the top of the Tower. The Tower is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Yerba Buena / Treasure Island

The view from Yerba Buena/Treasure Island provides a terrific view of the San Francisco skyline. Yerba Buena (the original name of San Francisco) is the island that the Oakland Bay Bridge tunnels through on its way to the East Bay. Treasure Island is a man-made island that sits adjacent to Yerba Buena Island to north. Treasure Island connects to Yerba Buena Island with a causeway. The island was created for the San Francisco Golden Gate Exhibition that ran from 1939 to 1940. At one time, it was the world’s largest man-made island. During World War II it was converted to a Naval Station. Clipper Cove, between Yerba Buena and Treasure islands was once used as seaplane harbor for Pan American Airline’s clipper service to Asia.

The island is accessible by car or with the #108 MUNI bus that leaves from the Transbay Terminal.

Mt. Tamalpais

On a clear day, the view from the top of Mt. Tamalpais (2,571 feet) is breathtaking. The mountain, known as Mt. Tam by the locals, is across the Golden Gate Bridge north of San Francisco in Marin County. The drive to Mt. Tamalpais State Park is about 45 minutes. There is a $6 fee for the parking lot near the summit.

On a clear day, vistas can include the Farallon Islands, Mt. Diablo, the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate. It is said that you can sometime see the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

If you are up for a 15 minute hike, take the trail to the mountain summit. If you are up for stroll but find the uphill trek to the summit daunting, take the easy half hour trail that circles the summit.

If you are in good shape and up for an all day hike, you can hike from Stinson Beach to the top of Mt. Tam. (You don’t want to do this unless you know what it means to hike 18+ miles with a 2600 foot elevation gain. The best way to do this is to go up the Steep Ravine Trail to Pantoll and traverse the south side of Mt. Tam. On the return trip, you can make a loop by traversing the north side of Mt. Tam and returning to Stinson Beach on the Matt Davis Trail.).

If time permits, you’ll want to check out nearby Muir Woods National Monument. Nestled on the side of Mt. Tam, it is the most accessible location to view the gigantic coastal redwoods, the tallest trees in the world. The best way to get a sense of these magnificent trees is to take the easy Ã?½ -1 hour loop trail (wheelchair and stroller accessible). It is also possible to hike from Muir Woods to the summit of Mt. Tam (moderately strenuous). Muir Woods is best enjoyed on the weekdays as it can get crowed during weekends. There is a $3 per person fee to enter the park.

A spectacular afternoon outing is to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, stop at the first turnoff after the bridge for a quick look at the bridge, head up to Mt. Tam, and then on your way back, stop off at Muir Woods National Monument and Marin Headlands (see below).

If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus from San Francisco to Sausilito and then take the #63 Golden Gate bus from Sausalito (Marin County) that will take you within hiking distance of Mt. Tam. The bus leaves you off at Mountain Inn (this is shortest hike), Bootjack Parking Lot, or the Pan Toll Ranger Station. These are moderately strenuous hikes.

Marin Headlands

On your way to or from Mt. Tam, you have to stop off at the Marin Headlands. For many years this was a restricted military base, but is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

There is a one lane road that follows the ridge offering spectacular views of The City. These views should not be rushed, so park the car, enjoy the panorama, and wander around the old military fortifications that used to guard San Francisco Bay. Detailed driving instructions are provided on the Marin Headlands website of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (see below).

If you have time, check out Point Bonita Lighthouse. Access is by a half mile trail at the very tip of Marin Headlands. Entrance to lighthouse itself is restricted to Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 12:30 to 3:30 PM and requires walking through a tunnel and across a suspension footbridge (some people seem uncomfortable with this).

On weekends and holidays, the #76 MUNI bus will take you from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands.

Angel Island

Less accessible, but equally magnificent is the view from Angel Island. This takes a minimum of about 3-4 hours and is accessible by ferry (or private yacht if you have rich friends). The ferries leave you off at Ayala Cove where there is a visitor’s center and a little museum.

Angel Island has a long history as a military base and also as an immigration center for immigrants coming from Asia who often spent months on Angel Island awaiting clearance. It is now a California state park.

The best view is from the top of 788 foot Mt. Livermore. The 1 – 1Ã?½ hour hike to the top awards magnificent 360 degrees views of the Bay. It takes about 45 minutes to return to Ayala Cove. Consider packing a lunch and eating at the summit. You can also rent bicycles (open daily during the summer, less frequently in spring and fall, and closed in winter), go on a sea kayaking tour (2Ã?½ hour or all day, summer only), or take an hour-long tram tour (open daily during the summer, less frequently in spring and fall, and closed in winter).

Angel Island is not part of the normal visitor’s quick trip to San Francisco. You will mostly find locals there. It is best enjoyed as a leisurely day’s outing. If you are rushed for time, it is probably better to head elsewhere. Especially in the winter when the ferry service is less frequent, you can spend your time worried about catching the return ferry instead of enjoying yourselves.

You can access Angel Island from ferries that leave from:

• Pier 41 in San Francisco. Winter schedules are once daily. During the summer there is more frequent service, especially during weekend and holidays.
• Downtown Tiburon (Marin County). During the summer, there is hourly service. In the winter on weekends and holidays, there are four ferries a day. Check the schedule for weekday winter service as they vary.
• Jack London Square, Oakland or Alameda Ferry Terminal (East Bay). Once a day service on the weekends and holidays during the summer.

During the summer, one-day combined Angel Island and Alcatraz tours are available from the Blue & Gold Fleet.

If you have more money than time and helicopters don’t bother you, take a helicopter tour of the bay. (If you are afraid of flying, don’t worry, helicopters don’t fly, they beat the air into submission.)

References

Coit Tower
o For information on Coit Tower
o For bus service

Yerba Buena / Treasure Island
o For bus service
o For more information on the history of Treasure Island

Mt. Tamalpais
o For information on Mt. Tam
o For Golden Gate bus service from Sausalito (Marin County)
o For a Mt. Tam hiking map
o For Mt. Tam hiking guide, North Bay Trails by David Weintraub available from at Amazon.com
o For information on Muir Woods National Monument

Marin Headlands
o For bus service
o For information on the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (including access to Point Bonita Lighthouse)
o For information on Muir Woods National Monument

Angel Island
o For more on Angel Island, see http://www.angelisland.com or http://www.angelisland.org
o For a ferry from Pier 41 in San Francisco: Blue & Gold Fleet
o For a ferry from downtown Tiburon (Marin County): The Angel Island/Tiburon Ferry
o For a ferry from Oakland/Alameda (East Bay): Alameda/Oakland Ferry
o For more information on bike rentals or tram tour
o For more on kayaking: Sea Trek Kayaks