Mt. Davidson is a quick hike in the center of San Francisco. Aaron and I decided to check it out a couple weekends ago, and it was the perfect afternoon.
I subscribe to a texting service called, Nudge. It is a service that sends you weekend and mid-week plans a few times a week. They are usually aligned with the forecast, or special events each weekend. On a nice sunny weekend they might send a plan for a drive down HWY 1, or to kayak around the bay, or if there is a special event like the Pride parade they send you all the details.
A few weeks ago, Nudge sent a plan for an after-work hike up Mt. Davidson and I saved it for a future date. We decided a Saturday afternoon would be perfect.
The entrance to Mt. Davidson is in a neighborhood in the city. There is only street parking available, so we took a bus to get there. There isn’t a ton of signage, so you just have to trust Google Maps that these stairs are for Mt. Davidson and not a path to murder.
While steep at times, the trail is clearly marked through the woods. Mt. Davidson is the highest point in San Francisco, at 927 feet. It consists of a 40-acre park with a giant cross at the top. You can barely see the cross through the trees, and it is much bigger than I had imagined.
The hike took about 35 minutes, and wasn’t too bad. I had done a leg workout that morning, so my thighs were already sore, but I still made it. Once you reach the top, the views of the city are unbeatable.
It was chilly and foggy this day, but I the views were still amazing.
There are some park benches at the top, as well as a tree that everyone takes photos with. There was a line at the tree, so we will do that next time.
One of my friends in Michigan hosts a yoga class on top of a mountain, and it was one of my favorite things to do. This mountain would be a great place to do the same thing. The ground is a little more rocky, but its all part of the experience right?
The trail is also full of beautiful greenery and flowers. Living in the city, we don’t see flowers or trees as often as we are used to, so it was fun for us to literally stop and smell the flowers.
If you get the chance to visit the city, and have a free afternoon, I highly recommend this hike. It is easy and beautiful. I can’t wait to go back on a sunny day.
