Now: This area might offer the best outdoor views in San Francisco - not a small honor, as there is a lot of competition. Once you've been to the top of Grand View Park, it is hard to disagree. Many of the homes along the crests of Golden Gate Heights face strategically westward, but Grand View Park rises just that much higher, and offers a spread view of the entire Sunset district, Golden Gate Park, and from a distance, downtown and the ocean. Golden Gate Heights Park and Hawk Hill Park also offer views.
Then: The sandy ground and native plant habitats at the tops of these park hills show us what the entire region was like before anyone settled here.
How To Get There: From the Inner Sunset, you can walk to Grand View Park (though it is two blocks uphill) from the stairway at Kirkham and 15th Avenue. If you're driving, you can stop at the foot of the beautiful tiled stairway at Moraga Street and 16th Avenue. Or you can park on the other side, near 14th Avenue and Moraga, where the stairway is shorter.
Looking east toward Golden Gate Heights from Ortega at 22nd Avenue
Tiled stairway at 16th Avenue and Moraga, on the west side of Grand View Park
Tiled steps leading up to Grand View Park
Detail of tiled steps
North view from western edge of Grand View Park
Second stairway after crossing 15th Avenue, leading to the top of Grand View Park
Northwest view from Grand View Park, including Sunset District, Golden Gate Park, bay and Pacific Ocean
West from Grand View Park, toward Pacific Ocean
Trees at the top of Grand View Park
View through the trees at Grand View Park
The top rocky perch at Grand View Park
From the top of Grand View Park near sunset
Looking north from top Grand View Park, including mid-section view of Golden Gate Park
East from Grand View Park, toward Mt. Sutro and Twin Peaks (Park can also be reached from a short stairway on the east side, at 14th Avenue and Moraga)
Northeast from Grand View Park, including east section of Golden Gate Park and downtown skyline
South from Grand View Park, toward Golden Gate Heights Park
Toward the Pacific, from Grand View Park
Shadows on the hill
Walking path at Grand View Park
Moraga and 14th Avenue, at the east edge of Grand View Park
Stairs on the east side of Grand View Park
The north side of Grand View Park, at the intersection of 14th and 15th Avenues
Dirt path leading up the north side of Grand View Park
Grand View Park, from the path on the north slope
Stairway at Kirkham and 15th Avenue, leading up to Lawton Street
North view from the stairway at Kirkham and 15th Avenue
Stairway at 16th Avenue and Kirkham
Trees on Golden Gate Heights Park, south of Grand View Park (at Pacheco and 12th Avenue)
Path leading around the top of Golden Gate Heights Park
Lawn at the edge of 12th Avenue, at Golden Gate Heights Park (also known as Sunset Heights Playground)
Looking south over house roofs from Golden Gate Heights Park
Hawk Hill Park (at Riviera Street and Funston Avenue, south of Golden Gate Heights Park), looking southeast toward Mt. Davidson
View of Mt. Davidson from Hawk Hill Park
West, from Hawk Hill Park
Path Street Stairway, at the Magellan Avenue intersection, leading up to Castenada Avenue in Forest Hill
Near the top of the Path Street Stairway, looking down toward Magellan Avenue
Stairway near the bend of Castenada Avenue, leading up to San Marcos Avenue
Castenada Street Stairway to San Marcos Avenue
View from San Marcos Avenue, at the top of the Castenada Avenue Stairway
House on Castenada Street near the top of the Path Street Stairway in Forest Hill
At the corner of Pacheco Street and Castenada Avenue in Forest Hill
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