San Francisco Running Guide
There’s a strong running community here and maybe the highest concentration of steep urban climbs in the world. Bring: Layers, light-tint sunglasses, dark-tint sunglasses, strong calves. Keep an eye out for Strava running tees… you’re on our home turf and we’d love to point you in the right direction.
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Crissy Field to Hopper's Hands
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Distance 3.2 mi
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Elevation 48 ft
This is "The" classic San Francisco run. It is an out and back route along the San Francisco Bay. This uber-popular, flat route is great for doing speed work and for people watching. It continues to the far end of the Fort Point parking lot, where a fence stops you from going any further. On this fence you'll see a plaque with a pair of hands labeled "Hopper's Hands". Legend states that Hopper is a Golden Gate Bridge ironworker who noticed that runners were ritually tapping the fence as they turned around. He had a sign made with hands on it so people could slap the hands when they reached the end of the road.
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Golden Gate Park
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Distance 6.9 mi
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Elevation 427 ft
Golden Gate Park is a forested oasis nestled between the perfect grid of avenues in the Richmond and Sunset districts. The running options here are endless. You have your choice of paved sidewalks, single-track trails, hill repeats on Strawberry Hill, a dirt running track at the Polo Fields, or a 400 meter rubberized track at Kezar Stadium. Runs in the park can easily be extended by adding on mileage through the Panhandle, the narrow eastern extension of the park, or by heading out along the Great Highway, which parallels the ocean.
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Embarcadero
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Distance 5.0 mi
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Elevation 126 ft
If you are looking for a flat place to run in a city famous for hills, look no further than the Embarcadero. This road borders the eastern waterfront of San Francisco and is gratifyingly flat. Traveling the Embarcadero gives one the opportunity to take in some of the sights of San Francisco as you run. When you get to Fisherman's Wharf be alert and ready to weave through plenty of distracted tourists. When you finish, hang out at the Ferry Building, home to shops and a fantastic farmer's market.
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Marin Headlands
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Distance 8.4 mi
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Elevation 1,912 ft
The Marin Headlands boasts some of the most spectacular views in all of the Bay Area. The climb is extremely popular among local runners and cyclists, and it's easy to see why — the view from the top is second-to-none. Trails in the headlands are well-marked, but bring your own water!
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City Loop
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Distance 16.1 mi
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Elevation 1,224 ft
This route combines some of the most scenic stretches San Francisco has to offer to form a long run you won't soon forget. You'll experience the liveliness of Golden Gate Park, the rugged coastline of Land's End, crashing waves and views of the city's most iconic bridge, the cypress forests in the Presidio and more. Make it shorter, make it longer — you can't go wrong!
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Presidio Trail Run
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Distance 5.4 mi
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Elevation 603 ft
Originally a Spanish military outpost in 1776, and more recently a U.S. Army post, the Presidio is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It is a stunning place to experience nature within the confines of the city. It also happens to be one of the best places in the city to hit the trails and some challenging hills. This route is about half on single-track trail and half on paved sidewalks. You will wind your way through the cypress forests of the Presidio until you pop out along the coast and even run underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Double Dipsea
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Distance 14.2 mi
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Elevation 4,298 ft
The Dipsea Trail has become legendary because of the famous Dipsea Race, the oldest trail race dating back to 1905, which starts in Mill Valley and finishes in Stinson Beach for a total of 7.4 miles. This challenging course features a significant amount of climbing, some incredible views and a whole lot of bragging rights. If you have never done the Dipsea before it is recommended to run with someone who is familiar with the course as the trails are not well marked and navigating the road crossings can be a bit tricky.
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Golden Gate Bridge
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Distance 6.1 mi
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Elevation 446 ft
Who can resist running across that iconic behemoth of orange steel known as the Golden Gate Bridge? It is a rite of passage for San Franciscans to cross the bridge on foot. It is also a huge tourist attraction so if you don't fancy dodging masses of picture taking, strolling tourists then make sure to get an early start!
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Ninja Loop
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Distance 11.5 mi
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Elevation 2,266 ft
This route's tradition goes back several years to when a few ultra-runners decided to squeeze in a trail run into the early morning hours. If you want to start your run before dawn (like a true ninja!), be sure to bring a headlamp. You'll earn your breakfast as you log over 2,000 feet of climbing including two epic climbs on the Miwok and Marincello trails. The early wake-up will ultimately pay off as you crest the final ridge and witness a breathtaking sunrise over San Francisco.
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Northside Loop
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Distance 8.3 mi
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Elevation 1,143 ft
The beauty of the Northside loop is that it follows the contours around the top of Mt. Tamalpais so you never encounter any insurmountable climbs. Instead you will experience gentle rolling hills, lush green forests on the Northside Trail and amazing views of the entire bay from the south face of the mountain. The terrain on this route varies from technical single-track including a stretch of loose shale, to spacious fire roads.
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