Jason F.
Yelp
If you are the type of hiker who enjoys their up-hill climbs with numerous expansive views of the ocean, not to mention the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin headlands, then you will be thoroughly invigorated by taking the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, which is a short but majestic route that snakes along the Presidio's jagged western shoreline. Batteries to Bluffs is named after the trail that literally goes from the numerous "batteries" or guard posts that help protect San Francisco from any imminent attack that leads you all the way to the dramatic bluffs that tumble to the rocky shoreline below. The trail runs parallel to and downward slope from Lincoln Boulevard and is comprised mostly beachy sand-like trails of flat sections and a multitude of steps up and down to the bluffs that cover both Baker and Marshall beaches. You can hike in either direction, starting from the parking lot at the Golden Gate Overlook
I came on a windy Friday afternoon, this being late summer in San Francisco, the weather was an expected windy and nippy. We began our journey by parking in a secluded area near Golden Gate Overlook, it is literally a dirt and pebbled parking lot and you may miss it if you aren't looking in the right area, but don't let that deter you from finding a parking space because believe it or not, there are plenty to be found. If you do want to take in the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, follow the paved path to the north right past the Battery Marcus Miller. But if you're headed west bound, there are some different paths you can take, one departs to the south edging along right Lincoln Boulevard which gives you a great overall view of the ocean and it is flat and steady, save for the cars whizzing by you at top speed on Lincoln Blvd. The other trail heads north-ward and bobs and weaves between sand of the beach and the cliffs nearby with a ton of uneven mostly wooden steps in between. The wide and dirt trail weaves through a thin forest of rustic Monterey cypress and pine trees while under foot is mostly invasive ivy.
While the scenery around the trail is exceptional, with crashing waves around the cliff and various sea life and boats in the bay, it's best to pay attention to literally what's under your feet. Depending on the season, the paths can come alive with native dune-like plants and wildflowers. And on sunnier days, butterflies and birds can cluster around you to equally enjoy the bounty of bright flora around them. Batteries to Bluffs crisscrosses trickling seeps and hidden springs along the way to Battery Crosby, a historic gun battery you can explore to your heart's content. In fact, all of the Batteries are filled with man-made historical treasures, I just wish there were plaques to go with these so-called monuments to explain how they once protected our fair city. When you do get the beaches, Marshall's is more secluded and give you a better picturesque view of the Golden Gate, while Baker is more expansive and filled with a nude sunbather or two, neither of whom should be sunbathing at all, nude or otherwise.
The Batteries to Bluffs trail offers the option to descend a greenish blue serpentine hillside that connects to tranquil Marshall's Beach. Ultimately, it connects back to the California Coastal Trail at each end. On the blue chance we in the Bay Area can catch a truly clear and sunny day, I plan on returning for the highly recommend sunset hike for the ultimate hiking experience, but I can't but think that even on a day that's foggy or cloudy, this trail can make for a memorable exploration of the city's still untouched natural resources.