Urban Hiking in San Francisco: A Scenic Adventure Through the City by the Bay
- Neli Maneva
- Sep 2
- 6 min read
Every time I travel, I think about whether I can include hiking as part of my itinerary. Unfortunately, my hiking boots rarely make it into my suitcase since I try to pack as lightly as possible. For someone who flew at least once a month over the past year, getting through the airport quickly is essential — so I skip checking a bag whenever I can.
When we think of hiking, we often imagine being in the woods or near a lake, not surrounded by towering buildings, busy intersections, and honking cars. But hiking is really about movement — getting from one point to another, exploring along the way, and enjoying the journey. One of the best parts of travel is how easily it encourages physical activity just by walking. I love combining hiking with urban exploring, challenging myself to get good exercise while discovering new points of interest, local history, and fun experiences. Walking is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress and stay active.
Starting Point: The Ferry Building
The last urban hike I embarked on was in San Francisco, CA, a city built on hills and surrounded by water. It’s perfect for pedestrians and offers endless viewpoints around nearly every corner. My goal was to explore some of the city’s famous attractions while gaining enough elevation to truly call it a hike.
I started my journey at the Ferry Building, a historic landmark that serves as both a major transportation hub and a gathering place for locals and visitors. The building houses a variety of locally owned shops and restaurants that showcase Bay Area culture. From here, ferries run across the Bay to Oakland, Richmond, Vallejo, and Sausalito. Taking the ferry is one of my favorite ways to get around.
I headed up Market Street — one of San Francisco’s main thoroughfares, lined with iconic neighborhoods and historical sites. Market Street is also where you’re most likely to stumble upon a festival, holiday parade, or even a protest. I made a quick detour on Beale St. to visit Salesforce Park.
Salesforce Park: A Green Oasis Above the City
Urban parks are the lungs of a city — small escape from the stress of the concrete jungle. There you can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with nature while still being in the heart of the city. Even a short stroll through a park can boost your mental health and overall well-being.
Salesforce Park is a 5.4-acre green roof built atop the Salesforce Transit Center — essentially a massive park above a bus terminal. It’s a true landscape architecture masterpiece, featuring walking trails, gardens, children’s play areas, an amphitheater, and plenty of places to sit and relax. The park also hosts free public events such as yoga classes, drum circles, and toddler playtimes.
Union Square
After exploring the park from end to end, I returned to Market Street and continued toward Geary Street, making my way to Union Square.
Union Square is one of San Francisco’s most famous districts, known for its luxury shopping, upscale hotels, fine dining, and art galleries. The area centers around a 2.6-acre plaza that draws both locals and visitors from around the world and serves as a venue for seasonal events.
Right off the plaza, you’ll find The Westin St. Francis, a historic hotel famous for its elaborate holiday displays, including a giant edible sugar castle crafted each year by the hotel’s executive pastry chef.
Although I didn’t pass it this time, the iconic cable car turnaround at Market and Powell Streets is nearby. If it’s your first time in the city, it’s a must-see.
Climbing Toward Chinatown
From there, I started the climb up Powell Street, following the signature red cable car tracks. According to AllTrails, Powell Street gains about 376 feet in elevation from the Market Street turnaround to the top of Nob Hill. I turned onto Bush Street and headed for the green-roofed Dragon Gate at Grant Avenue, marking the entrance to Chinatown.
San Francisco’s Chinatown, established during the Gold Rush, is the oldest in North America and remains one of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. It offers a fascinating mix of history, culture, and of course, incredible food.
If you’re there in the afternoon, stop by Li Po Cocktail Lounge for Laura’s favorite Mai Tai in town. Fun fact: the Mai Tai was first created here in the Bay Area, at Trader Vic’s in Oakland.
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
I continued up Grant Avenue to Washington Street, browsing the eclectic shops and restaurants. Just off Washington, down a narrow alley, sits one of San Francisco’s sweetest hidden gems — the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
Here, you can watch fortune cookies being made and even try them in fun flavors. Another surprising fact: fortune cookies were first introduced right here in San Francisco by a Japanese immigrant!
After treating myself to some strawberry-chocolate fortune cookies, I climbed the steep section of Kearny Street, where the sidewalk turns into stairs, on my way to Coit Tower.
After climbing more than 500 steps (according to Google — I didn’t count!), I took a much-needed break on Coit Tower’s south-facing lawn to catch my breath and enjoy the city skyline. The view from the north-facing parking lot is more famous, it’s in countless tourist photos, but it’s often crowded and currently partially blocked by overgrown vegetation.
Lombard Street
I started my descent by taking the many steps of Greenwich St. down to Columbus Ave., then turned toward Lombard Street. This part of the hike gained elevation again, leading me to one of San Francisco’s most photographed spots — the switchback section of Lombard Street.
The block between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets has a natural 27% grade, but in 1922 eight sharp turns were engineered to reduce the grade to a more manageable 16% for cars and pedestrians. The view from the top is incredible and well worth the 250-step climb.
Lunch Break at The Buena Vista
By this point, it was almost lunchtime, and I was ready for a break. I headed down Hyde St. to The Buena Vista Café at Beach St. This café is famous for introducing Irish coffee to the United States, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a clam chowder bread bowl with a view of the Bay.
After lunch, I made a quick stop across the street at See’s Candies for some delicious chocolate before continuing.
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
I finally made it back down to sea level as I approached Fisherman’s Wharf. This waterfront area is one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations, filled with restaurants where you can enjoy freshly caught seafood, though expect big crowds, especially on weekends.
My final stop was Pier 39. It’s very tourist-oriented, so I usually only visit with out-of-town guests. Still, it’s worth seeing the famous colony of California sea lions lounging on the docks and taking in the views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
I walked to the end of the pier to add a few last steps to my hike before heading back to the Ferry Building to complete my loop.
Wrapping Up the Hike
By the time I returned to the Ferry Building, I had covered several miles, climbed hundreds of steps, and explored some of San Francisco’s most iconic spots — all without leaving the city. That’s what I love about urban hiking: it’s part sightseeing, part workout, and part adventure.
San Francisco is full of neighborhoods, parks, and hidden stairways to discover, so this route is just one of many ways to experience the city on foot. Whether you’re a local looking for a new challenge or a visitor hoping to see the city from a different perspective, an urban hike is the perfect way to combine movement, exploration, and breathtaking views.
Comments