Marina/Crissy Field/Golden Gate Bridge/Sausalito
Marina Yacht Harbor, Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, Fort Point, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Ferry ride back to San Francisco
|
Duration: 1/2 day - full day
Distance: 10.3 miles/16.5 km; Extension to Tiburon: + 10.3 miles/ 16,5 km Bike rentals at Fisherman's Wharf:
Bike Rental San Francisco, 425 Jefferson Street, San Francisco www.bikerentalsanfrancisco.com Blazing Saddles, 721 Beach Street, San Francisco http://www.blazingsaddles.com Bay City Bike, 2661 Taylor Street, San Francisco http://baycitybike.com/ Bike&Roll, 3 locations along Fisherman’s Wharf http://bikeandroll.com/sanfrancisco/ On demand bikes rental: BayWheels or Jump |
Make sure that a bike lock is included in your rental to be more flexible during the stops.
Moreover ask for their closing hours, so you return the bike on time! Check pages like Groupon.com, Travelzoo.com or LivingSocial.com for special bike offers. Getting to Fisherman’s Wharf from Union Square: Either take the cable car from Powell Street down to Hyde Street or take the streetcar from Market Street along Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf. |
1st stop: Marina
Pick up your bikes and follow the waterfront past San Francisco Swim Club at Beach Street towards McDowell Ave. Before you climb up the hill make a right onto the long concrete pier. Enjoy great views towards Alcatraz and San Francisco's skyline.
Continue to Marina. From the yacht harbor you have fantastic views towards Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay. The Marina runs in between Fort Mason and Crissy Field, a former airfield next to the Bay that was turned into a recreation area.
Crissy Field’s hiking, biking, and running path leads you toward the old fortification ‘Fort Point’ that is located right underneath Golden Gate Bridge. From the top of the Fort and the path, you have an unusual perspective towards the bridge.
At the end of Marina Blvd, you are approaching the Palace of Fine Arts that you can see from the far already.
2nd stop: Palace of Fine Arts
The impressive structure was built in 1915 for the Panama Pacific International Exposition and is the only building that was kept.
You might recognize the building from movies like Vertigo, The Rock, and TV shows like Monk and The Streets of San Francisco. The best way to explore the Palace of Fine Arts is by taking the loop trail starting to your right and left. Take a great photo from the duck pond facing the building.
3rd stop: Crissy Field (http://www.parksconservancy.org/our-work/crissy/)
Follow Yacht Boulevard towards the water. At the end and to the left you have some stairs that lead into the Bay. This is a great vantage point over Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Sausalito, the small village on the other side of the Bay. The red-colored rocks along the beach are debris from the big earthquake in 1906.
At the ‘Crissy Field Visitor Center,’ you get more information about its history and development. Moreover, you can buy nice souvenirs if you need some presents for family and friends.
The lawn to your left was a former runway of the Presidio Army Base. The old Presidio buildings are lined on top of the hill to your left. From the Presidio hills, you have wonderful views over the Bay, the Pacific and of course Golden Gate Bridge.
4th stop: Warming Hut
At the end of Crissy Field, you come across the Warming Hut. The café sells delicious snacks and has a small souvenir shop with outlandish gifts. For a nice view of the city’s skyline, I recommend to entering the pier in front of the Warming Hut.
5th stop: Fort Point – (http://www.nps.gov/fopo/)
– check the Fort's hours online!
From the Warming Hut, you can see Fort Point. During winter and spring, this area of the Bay turns into a popular surf spot.
Fort Point was a former deterrence to naval attacks in California. Today a small exhibition informs about the life of the army officers and soldiers in the Fort and shows uniforms, furniture, and more from the time of the civil war. The best vantage point over Golden Gate Bridge is from the roof.
At the Fort's exit is a tiny box collecting donations to keep the Fort open to the public. If you can spare some money I think it’s worth to support them.
To get to the upper level of Golden Gate Bridge and the upcoming bike path ride back towards the Warming Hut. Before the hut use Long Avenue to your right and make another right into Lincoln Boulevard. Keep a right along the bike path and towards the Golden Gate Lookout. Cross the lot to enter the bike and walking path on the bridge.
6th stop: Golden Gate Bridge
Stay on the right side of Golden Gate Bridge to have a better view of San Francisco. If you cross under the bridge to the left you can see the South Bay with Baker Beach.
Golden Gate Bridge was built from 1933 to 1937 after long disputes with the Department of War and the Southern Pacific Railroad. One party was concerned that the bridge would affect the ship traffic; the other was afraid of losing its monopoly in transportation.
There are no records of how many people worked on the Golden Gate Bridge. However, eleven men died during the construction and 19 were saved by a safety net that was running from one side to the other. Those guys were nicknamed the ‘Halfway-to-Hell-Club’.
At the end of the bridge is a lookout on the right-hand side. It opens views over the bridge, the Bay, San Francisco’s skyline, and Alcatraz.
The vista points on your left are only recommended for advanced climbing cyclists! The incline is very steep and you have to share the road with cars and motorbikes. Take the stairwell below the bridge to cross over to the left. From there you have to follow the signs to Conzelman Road where you find three vista points, the lowest is below an old fortification right next to the bridge. From the vista points bike back to the bridge and further down to Alexander Ave.
The non-climbers continue from the right-hand vista point to the far end of the parking lot. Continue on Alexander Avenue, make a right onto Bunker Road and take a left into East Rd that takes you along the luxurious Cavallo Point Resort and Sausalito.
7th stop: Sausalito
Sausalito is a picturesque small seacoast village with beautiful homes that are lined along rolling hills. Its center is packed with tiny souvenir shops, boutiques, and restaurants. From the long waterfront promenade, visitors have stunning views towards San Francisco.
If you plan to bike further North to the Marina a great place to have lunch is Fish at the yacht harbor.
Sausalito is a picturesque small seacoast village with beautiful homes that are lined along rolling hills. Its center is packed with tiny souvenir shops, boutiques, and restaurants. From the long waterfront promenade, visitors have stunning views towards San Francisco.
If you plan to bike further North to the Marina a great place to have lunch is Fish at the yacht harbor.
In Sausalito you have several choices on how to continue:
Take the ferry back to San Francisco
The ferry schedule and pricing from Sausalito to San Francisco Pier 41 is listed under www.blueandgoldfleet.com/
Please note: There is another ferry connection to San Francisco’s ferry building, which is a bit off Fisherman’s Wharf.
For getting back to the wharf to return your bikes follow Embarcadero.
Ride back to San Francisco
This might be a bit lame since the only difference is the perspective. A nice addition would be a detour through the Presidio and Sea Cliff area with Baker Beach. Take the right side of Golden Gate Bridge coming from Sausalito and make a right after the toll booth (Merchant Road parking lot). On Merchant Rd turn right at the first possibility to follow Lincoln Blvd until Bowley Road. There you make 2 right turns to end up at the Baker Beach parking lot.
The beach offers a great view onto Golden Gate Bridge – in case this is not getting old. The beach is very popular during the sunset. However, it can get very cold and you should bring warm layers.
Extend your bike tour to Tiburon to take the ferry back to San Francisco
For Tiburon just follow Bridgeway to the North. Stay parallel to HWY 101 on ‘Mill Valley-Sausalito Path’ and follow the signs to Tiburon.
Along Main Street you have cute little shops and restaurants that run-up to the shore and the ferry terminal. Take the time to explore the shoreline path with beautiful views over Angel Island, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay.
All info about the ferry connection and prices from Tiburon to San Francisco Pier 41 is listed at www.blueandgoldfleet.com/
Please note: There is another ferry connection to San Francisco’s ferry building, which is a bit off Fisherman’s Wharf. Just follow Embarcadero to return your bikes at Fisherman’s Wharf.