San Franciscans are truly spoiled when it comes to nature—and hills. But one natural spot, which happens to be the city's third highest hill, is too often ignored, even by the locals. And, boy, are they missing out. Mount Sutro, located near the geographical center of San Francisco, is a true natural oasis that includes 5 miles of multi-use trails that snake through a dense, often foggy, forest of Monterey Pine, Monterey Cyprus, and Blue Gem Eucalyptus. Many of these trees were planted in the 19th century, thanks to the 24th mayor of San Francisco, Adolph Sutro, whom the hill was named in honor of—and, yes, that's the same guy who can be credited with this awesome attraction.
Sutro Tower serves as a sort of compass for San Franciscans. No matter where you are in the city, you can always look for the great tower to help you find your way.
But have you ever really focused on that dense forest right beside the tower?
That's the eucalyptus-filled forest atop Mount Sutro. At 909 feet, this is the third highest hill in San Francisco, just behind Mount Davidson and the nearby Noe Peak of Twin Peaks.
There are a few different entrances to the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. This is our favorite starting point, with this wooden staircase located at Stanyan and 17th Streets.
From the staircase, you'll hit the Stanyan Trail, which eventually branches off into various other trails. We recommend heading toward the summit.
Did you read that sign in the last photo? You definitely want to watch for poison oak—it's all over, but so are other native and wild plants, like cucumber!
With all of the moisture and fog that gets caught up in Mount Sutro, you'll likely spot some fungi as well.
Some of the trees are 200 feet tall. To get some perspective: the tallest redwood in Muir Woods is 258 feet.
San Francisco's beloved fog often gets caught up here—and even though it can steal you from the views, it makes for quite an ethereal experience.
You may even come across some interesting woodland creatures along the way, some wooden, some real. There are around 45 species of birds, including the downy woodpecker and the Great Horned Owl. Even coyotes have been spotted on occasion.
Catch spectacular downtown views like this (which can be found on the East Ridge Trail). At the summit, you'll reach Rotary Meadow, which features a native plant garden.
After exploring Mount Sutro, we highly recommend checking out these other great trails and natural oases in San Francisco.
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