Presidio Ecology Trail

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

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Overview: The United States Army created this trail in 1980 so that San Francisco residents could walk through the woods near their homes. Parts of this trail are through open grass areas while other ares are through more densely wooded areas, and there are a few short detours to picnic areas and Inspiration Point with views of the Presidio, the bay (including Alcatraz) and downtown San Francisco.

Points of Interest

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Trailhead

The Ecology Trail loop starts here. After walking down the path turn right at the sign and continue along the ecology trail.

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Inspiration Point

Climb the steps to your left to reach Inspiration Point with views of the entire Presidio area with the bay in the distance.

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Trail Junction

Here you will start the loop portion of the hike: you can go either direction, and you will come back on the other trail.

To the right of this junction you will find a nice redwood grove where you can walk around.

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Trail Junction

The trail spits again here. Straight ahead you will find the El Polin Picnic area with BBQs and tables. To the left you will follow a road through an area that is currently being developed to improve the trail here.

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El Polin Picnic Area

Here you will find a number of picnic tables, a grassy area, and stands for BBQs

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Trail Junction

The trail to the right extends a little ways to the other trailhead. If you are doing the full loop, you won't miss anything in particular by skipping this section and continuing along the loop.

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Parking

You can park in the Presidio golf course parking lot and cross the street to find the trailhead for the Ecology Trail.

Pictures in this guide taken by: chris

How does this work?

This trail currently has a few sections that are under construction, so I would opt for the others trails in the Presidio if you are coming here any time soon. The views from inspiration point were nice, as was the walk through the trees on the loop back (the western part of the loop). Most of the eastern section of the loop is under construction right now.
Visited on Jan 30, 2011

by chris on Feb 10, 2011