Guests can only climb aboard the ships on Saturdays and Sundays, so we took advantage while in the city this past weekend. There are 7 total if you include the Lewis Bay Ark which isn't actually on the water. But only half of the vessels were accessible during our recent visit. The walkway to the pier had a few interactive and educational exhibits, and there's a tiny beach area to the side where visitors can relax and look out into the water, or shoot some photos of the boats like I did. The Bay Ark and schooner C.A. Thayer were cool to check out, but only took a few minutes as most of the areas are actually roped or chained off with no entry allowed. The highlight of our visit was the square rigger Balclutha with a rich history as a cargo ship. Multiple levels inside and out can be accessed by guests, from the giant anchors on display on the upper deck to the sleeping quarters below. There are also several educational videos and interactive displays within the ship that require some time to really explore and appreciate. Even though there's a fee for admission, I'd say it's worth checking out this attraction at SF's Maritime National Historical Park. You'll learn some amazing history about the pier and various ships on display, but what's more you'll feel like you are experiencing history as well. read more

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Today I got enter Hyde Street pier for a tour of the balclutha old ship ...it was so cool ..big underground area ..so much to explore ...old Titanic ..nicely kept and refurbished ...amazing old boat ..views of Ghirardelli ...near maritime Park ..nice deck to experience..underground ..so much to explore in sf read more

"San Francisco, open your Golden Gate! You let no stranger wait outside your door!" It's hard to imagine what life was like before the Golden Gate Bridge was built. Going to Marin was probably as exotically remote as taking a vacation to Hawaii. This was where the principal automobile ferry terminal was back when people cranked up their Model T's. It was considered part of Hwy 101, and it's easy to envision as Hyde currently comes to a grinding halt here at Fisherman's Wharf. Now it costs $15 to enter the pier, and the chief attraction is the fleet of historical ships moored to the pier. Only three vessels were open when I visited, but gratefully one of them was the Balclutha, a fully rigged ship built in 1886 that could've doubled for the Mayflower for all I know about naval history (photo: https://bit.ly/3RTmjGl). That blatant ignorance probably explains the fact that I've never been here before even since the ships are quite visible from Aquatic Park. The difference is that you can walk on the boat decks if that tickles your maritime fancy. BTW the admission includes the nearby Art Deco-styled Maritime Museum (review: https://bit.ly/3eYJ5hj). RELATED - Exploring Fisherman's Whatf? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HyFdzC read more

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Went to this tourist attraction as a consultant. We are designing a new and improved pier and it will be fantastic. The steam boats and paddle boats are amazing and I am proud to honor them with a new facility. read more

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Today was our third visit. Only two ships were open and parts of those were closed due to repairs but still so totally worth it. The ships are awesome, the history details encourage wonder. We will be back! read more

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The National Park Service offers five free days a year where the entrance fee is waived and admission is free to everyone. On Veterans' Day, I decided to check out the Hyde St. Pier, which is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Located at the foot of Hyde St., there are six historical ships on display. Two schooners, Alma and Thayer, two tugs, Hercules and Eppleton Hall, and the largest boats, the Eureka ferryboat and the Balclutha square-rigged ship. There were six smaller historical boats displayed at the end of the pier. The Balclutha was an interesting boat and you get to see the lower level of the ship. It was like a museum as it had displays of cargo and various things that this ship carried. A park ranger gave a nice presentation and tour of the boat. The Eureka was a large steam paddle car ferry that transported passengers and vehicles across the Bay. A nice National Park attraction in Fisherman's Wharf that's not touristy where you can see and learn about the boats that sailed the Bay and seas. read more

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Date: 7/10/2017 Time: 1:05 PM 65° Sunny My husband and I caught the ferry from Alameda to Pier 41 to pay a visit to the Hyde Street Pier. We haven't been in this area for over seven years and we have become slightly forgetful in our old age as to which direction to head on Jefferson Street. We went left and ended up at Pier 39. Oops, wrong way. It's in the opposite direction. Duh uh! I'm feeling clueless about right now, feeling like a lost tourist. I am local, not loco. LOL. However, Google map app to the rescue to steer us in the right direction. The Hyde Street Pier is located not too far from Capurro's Restaurant and Bar. The purpose of our visit was to enroll in a lifetime membership and get our senior pass to any national park at the cost of $10.00. This pass is only for U.S. citizens 62 years or older. Requirement: a valid State driver's license or ID to prove one's age is necessary. The lifetime membership has been $10 since the Y2K. This fee will increase in the future. I also received an email from one of my friends that the lifetime membership fee will go up to $80 effective August 27, 2017 for those of us who are 62 or older. The card is presented in person at the Federal recreation entrance or standard amenity fee sites for a pass holder. The gentleman assisting us mentioned that each member can bring along three guests (16 and older) to visit parks like Yosemite, San Francisco Maritime, Golden Gate National Park and other national parks. Here I am a 65 years old native Californian and I have never been to Yosemite. It's on my bucket list to visit it in the future. Finally, the Hyde Street Pier is quite a sight to see with the tall ships docked nearby and the all around views of Alcatraz Island, the Coit Tower, Ghirardelli building. Surprisingly, it was not as crowded as Pier 39 and all the eateries, shops, the Cannery (Del Monte) etc. along Jefferson Street. Return visit: Of course with the ferry service as a reliable source of public transportation. read more

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HSP was a nice little place to visit. I stopped here on my walk to Pier 39. The first half of the pier has a bit of history and educational stuff. There's also a phone call tour you can do. You dial up the number on your phone and you type in the number to hear information about that specific location. I think I failed to say, there's signage of what numbers you can choose from. You can see the ships that are berthed at the pier. But if you want a closer look, you have to pay a nominal fee. I really wasn't interest and the telephonic tour sufficed for me. Glad I had my headphones with me so I didn't have to be holding the phone up to one ear. If you just walk around the pier, it's not going to take long to take in a bit of its history. Depending on your interest in reading signage and/or actually going onto the ships, I'd say it could be 30-60 minutes. read more

We found this a fascinating place to learn about maritime history of San Francisco. There are work shops to visit, historic houses, and more. For a fee, one can then explore the various four ships there. One of which is the historic Eureka, a ferry boat. read more

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Hyde Street Pier it's been here for years it's great for kids to run around learn history it's free you only pay if you want to go aboard one of the ships I forgot the name of it. But you can see my picture here and yes it is hunted because I actually did a overnight a few times with kids at the time I didn't know it was haunted until now. (Hello!) FYI it's not open on the holidays and if you live in the city come enjoy your own experience it gets kind of busy, so come early take pictures walk around enjoy some history. read more

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This is my child's favorite place to spend an afternoon, period. To board the ships, admission for children under 15 is free and for adults, $5 and the pass is good for a week. We go so often that I sprung for the annual membership (a skinny $20) which has already paid for itself twice over. Rainy days, sunny days, fog or wind, it's a guaranteed good day for my 4 year old when he goes to see "the ocean ships." Especially for adults, the views, particularly on the deck of the tall, masted ship, the Balclutha, are stunning. This is a great place to renew your romance with the City and to take your out-of-town guests for photo opps they won't get on any postcard. read more

One of my favorite walks in the city is through Fort Mason and the Maritime National Historic Park while taking in the views. Hyde Street Pier is a nice stop and where I catch my breath before tackling the city's hills. It is nautical, nice and absolute free if you stick to the pier and don't board the ships. There are also nice public restrooms near the entrance. You laugh, but these little amenities are important when you are visiting a city and don't want the hassle of Fisherman's Wharf. Since the pier juts out from the shore, the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are particularly nice. There is even a free cell phone audio tour of the area. http://www.nps.gov/safr/planyourvisit/cellphoneaudiotours.htm read more

Hyde Street Pier - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you have a fourth grader, you an enter for free to see all the historic ships and boats. My 4th grader enjoyed it very much. You also get to enjoy the beautiful view of the Bay. Too bad the nearby museums are still closed. It would have been better if we could visit the museums. read more

I randomly decided to visit one Wednesday morning around 11 AM and there was plenty of free parking around the pier area. It ended up being a free day which was awesome. If you are planning to go call in and see when they have a free day. I have always seen the ships in the distance but never knew I could actually visit them. There are four or five main ships that you can walk on top of and take pictures. They span from large wood boats to more recent ferries. There are also park people walking around that can answer questions about the boats. On Wednesdays are maintenance days so there are also people repainting and repairing which can answer questions as well. If you look towards the northern side you can also see all the people swimming around. This is a great place to walk around and take pictures. I really appreciated the live history around the place. read more

I don't know if I had on a "You look like you know what's going on!" face while I stood in line for the field trip to Hyde Street Pier but, seriously like all these strangers who didn't know why 200+ people were crowding in for this event gravitated directly to me. My +1 friend kept laughing at me cause she didn't quite understand why I was the only one getting asked and entertaining all these questions. Anyway getting back to why I'm writing this: Hyde Street Pier Field Trip...old boat, classic cars, plenty of drinks, and photo bombing! Honestly, probably would have been better during the day so I could see enough to take more photos. read more

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Dead center in the waterfront San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (next to touristy Fisherman's Wharf) is historical Hyde Street Pier. Before the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge opened, it was busy Hyde Street Pier which was the primary ferry connection for San Francisco with Sausalito & Marin County. PLANNING * Open 9:30 am - 5:00 pm (last entry 4:30) * Open 7 days a week except Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day * The Pier is one-block from the Powell-Hyde Cable Car Line terminus * It's between Aquatic Park and Fisherman's Wharf * Entrance fee: $5; Children under 16: Free * FREE days are a good alternative (2014 dates below) --- MLK Day (Jan 20) --- Presidents Day Weekend (Feb 15-17) --- National Park Weekend (Apr 19-20) --- National Park Service Birthday (Apr 25) --- National Public Lands Day (Sep 27) --- Veteran's Day (Nov 11) HISTORY * Hyde Street Pier was built in 1922 for automobile ferries * The ferry route between San Francisco and Sausalito was part of U.S. 101 * The Golden Gate Bridge (1937) & Bay Bridge (1936) effectively killed the ferry system TOUR INFO * Six historic ships are docked at the pier for you to explore --- 1886 Scottish triple-mast square-rigger Balclutha --- 1890 sidewheel paddle steam ferryboat Eureka (currently closed) --- 1895 wooden-hulled schooner C.A. Thayer --- 1907 steam tug boat Hercules --- 1914 English paddlwheel tugboat Eppleton Hall "Eppie" --- 1891 schow schooner Alma * Guided tours are available, but the schedule varies * You can easily explore the ships at your own leisure * Maritime Voices is a free phone tour option using your cellphone --- 8 stops with 28 total recordings --- Dial 415-294-6754; enter the tour number and # --- Or get the PDFs of the text for each from nps.gov Hyde Street Pier is a relatively inexpensive way to explore some historical ships while learning more about maritime history plus life and adventure on the high seas. read more

This is a National Park Pier full of historical seafaring vessels. They have Tall ships here. I remember my first time walking down Larkin Street on my way to work at The Cannery. "OMG, I work next door to a Pirate Ship." ... alright, it's not a Pirate Ship. It's the Balcutha, an old square-sailed ship dating back to 1886. You'll also find the lumber scow CA Thayer, the Alma, which took cargo through the delta to Sac, and the ferry-boat Eureka. Access to the actual vessels requires a pass (which, they do on a one-week basis - brilliant) but you can come by for free if you just want to smell the salt air and day-dream about the past. I would say that given that this place is a National Park in the middle of a major (The) City, it is one of the places to put high on your list of places to check out. I love the sense of history. I love the view of The Bay. I love thinking about these boats sailing. I love the water, myself. This is a place you can stroll around and learn why The City is The City. SF is so diverse and has an amazing history. This is such an insight into the maritime world that that made us who we are. They also have a terrific gift store called KingSpoke. I would say you should definitely visit this and the SFNMHP Visitor Center, too. It's way better than you would imagine. Great historic portrayal of the development of SF. read more

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As a card-carrying resident of one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S., I am required from time to time to host out of town guests. Invariably, first-time out of towners (OOTs) request a visit to Fisherman's Wharf. Please. God. No. I have a diversionary tactic --- Hyde Street Pier. The conversation goes like this: OOT: So when are we going to go see Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf? ME: (when hell freezes over) We're going to a pier on Tuesday. OOT: Oh, this is great! Aunt Marge asked me to take lots of pictures. ME: Yeah, Aunt Marge is a demon for pics. Oh, did I mention where we're going for dinner tonight? OOT: *immediately distracted* No, where? Tuesday morning: OOT: *stuffed full of brunch and primed with a couple of mimosas* So where are we? ME: This is the pier. OOT: Really? Wow, it doesn't look like I imagined. I expected more shops and - ME: Oh look, there's the ticket booth. Let's go see the ships. Isn't this cool? OOT: Wow, this is cool --- you must come down here all the time. ME: You have no idea. On top of everything else, this is a great place for kids, your admission helps support National Parks and it really is at the beginning of Fisherman's Wharf so you are not lying to your guests. Hooray for misdirection! Oh, and my father LOVED the tall ship. That's five stars right there. read more

Hyde Street Pier - NPS photo - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of those yelp entries that confuses people. The Hyde Street Pier (also called sometimes the Hyde Street Historical Pier. Also sometimes considered part of fisherman's wharf even though it's very much on the far end of those things) is technically part of the San Francisco Maritime Park, yet logically it's own separate thing. At any rate this review is for the former ferry landing at Hyde Street what has all the historical ships and whatnot. Parking? Yeah, no. There is a limited amount of street parking but unless it's four am it's never gonna happen. Also this area is one of the most popular destinations in San Francisco so the traffic is heavy to even get to a few miles of this spot. I'd recommend taking the trolley or the cable car on down (both of which terminate-have their final stop- within a few blocks), or well anything that does not involve driving a car. This is an interesting place. There are about a dozen or so ships from various era's of San Francisco's history. They are working on restoring a Chinese style junk of all things, and the age of sail is well represented. Among other things there is fully restored clipper ship. Additionally there is a fully operational set of workshops to restore and support the ships on display. If there are carpenters or mechanics at work they'll open them up so's you can watch ships being built or repaired. The entrance is free, and so is walking around enjoying the views, but if you want to board any ship to look at them in detail, you'll have to pay a fee at the front office. You can buy an all day all inclusive pass for everything, or just the ships you want to board. Whatever you chose I recommend getting on the ferry, as it is loaded with preserved cars from the 1900's thru the 1940's. If you have the time, the guided tours are also excellent, but there really isn't anything wrong with just wandering around taking pictures either. All in all this is an excellent addition to whatever San Francisco adventures you may be planning, and in my opinion is a far better spot to enjoy then that godawful pier 39, if for no other reason then the fact that it has much better views of the bridge and super awesome old timey ships that are fully explorable. read more

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If you have any interest in boats or maritime history it's worth a visit. Remember it is part of the national park service so hours are limited. There is a gate, so you can't just go anytime. You can wander the pier for free, but you have to get a pass to go on the historic vessels. My favorites are the 1886 square rigger named Balclutha, he lumber schooner, C. A. THAYER built in 1895. and the tug boat named Hercules. Take advantage of a guided tour or daily activities. There is a board in the park with what is being offered or you can search by date on the website. Aquatic Park, Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf are all in close proximity. read more

I usually hit this spot while biking to the Golden Gate Bridge . It's a nice costal path with great views of the Golden Gate and bay. Always people out and about which makes it feel relatively safe. On a nice day, it's nice to watch the fisherman cast off the pier . read more

Hyde Street Pier - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Nice place to walk around, but if you're wanting to see the sea lions you'll need to go down to pier 39! There were several food vendors and musicians set up in this area which was nice. read more

Hyde Street Pier - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is one of San Francisco's hidden gems. It's a little off the beaten track and closes early. I've been here about 3 times and it never gets old. The historical ships are fun to explore and discover. The beautiful views of The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Skyline are an added bonus. read more

Hyde Street Pier - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hidden and overshadowed by the Fisherman's Wharf on one side and the Ghirardelli Square on the other. But I love the anchored ship that has flags from all over the world. Really cool! The Italian restaurants selling calamari, chowder and ciopino aren't so bad either... read more

Really a neat little walk down the pier. I've walked the Fisherman's Wharf up to Ghirardelli a million times and never actually taken this little detour. There's no admission to walk down the pier. There's a bunch of historic boats docked there, some being renovated. You can buy tickets to get on some of the boats, but my six year old and I just strolled the pier leisurely looking at all of the boats. It's a neat little ten minute free diversion! read more

Whereas many tourists flock to Pier 39 to enjoy a carnival-like atmosphere, I would rather stroll through Ghirardelli Square and walk down the Hyde Street Pier. It offers some great views of old ships, the city, bay, North Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. When you're finished, you can walk to the Ghirardelli Square and enjoy fresh fudge or a creamy sundae. read more

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Looking for cheap things to do with your kids in the city? Hyde Street Pier! After getting gouged for a sundae at Ghiradelli Square, you can let the little buggers work off their sugar buzz by climbing up and down steep stairwells and looking at all kinds of cool old nautical stuff. It's only $5 for adults and kids under 15 are free! Well worth the price (a way better value than those sundaes). Here's the kicker, if the kids want to go back the next day and look at the ships again, like mine did, go ahead, your admission is good for seven freakin' days. read more

A lovely sunny Friday it was My dad and I taking a walk by the water just because and came across this love pier Us landlubbers gave a cheer For most of the pier is free mind you If you're feeling boat-ish, it'll cost you 5 clams per crew To see historic boats and where commuter boats once docked And now a gathering place where tourist flock. 5 docked boats. All shore! read more

***I never knew a national park was located here (Hyde Street Pier); the good thing is that this is a very inexpensive national park to visit (the pier is free and boarding the historical ships is only $5); the bad thing though is that the pier is small, a little uninteresting and in ways seems like an extension of the touristy Fisherman's Wharf next door; maybe exploring the ships will deliver a more worthwhile experience*** This is a very busy area; pay parking structures are located nearby. read more

If cheap fun is what you seek look no further than the ADMISSION FREE chantey sing aboard the historic sailing ship Balclutha on Hyde Street Pier. From 8pm to midnight on the first Saturday of every month you and yours can climb aboard, sip FREE hot cider/hot chocolate/hot coffee and join in with National Park Rangers (and a great many sea chantey nerds) as they lead several rounds of sailor's work songs, nautical inspired folk tunes and other varied galley jams, the bawdier stuff gets aired in the wee hours. The ship Balcutha itself is open for exploration if you tire of singing and multiple breaks between chantey sets ensure a sunset on deck (provided the fog allows it, naturally). Did I mention this is FREE?! Visitors are required to make a reservation: call 415-561-7171 and leave your name and number of your party. Your info will be on a list at the gate of Hyde Street Pier where waiting volunteers grant guests entry to the otherwise closed attraction. Bring your accordion, your fiddle, your fife, your wife and all your youngin's if you please, but leave your wallet behind as there be for it no need! read more

This place is great. The boats and exhibits are quite interesting and the gift shop has some neato items (including a great selection of sea chanteys). I second Jay H's review of Chantey Sing -- lots of fun, and it's FREE! I also enjoyed the Tugboat Tug of War during the festival. (The festival's signature ale is nice too.) read more

This pier, with its historical ships, can be enjoyed at different levels. You can take a nice walk down the pier and enjoy seeing the various ships along the way, enjoy the spectacular views and marvel at the adventurous swimmers in the bay--for free .It's nice break from the tacky looking souvenir shops along Jefferson St. in Fisherman's Wharf. Or you can make a day of it. First, go across the street and see the exhibits at the Visitors' Center (in the Argonaut Hotel building) which orient you to SF's nautical history. This experience is free and really first rate. (Also, good bathrooms and water fountain.) Stop at the desk to inquire about special tours and activities for the day. We learned that there would be a 2:15 tour of the magnificent tall sailing ship the Balclutha. Back across at the Hyde St. Pier, we purchased our $5 tickets. (Kids are free.) This gives you permission to board any of the ships. You can explore a lumber hauling ship, an old steamboat ferry, a houseboat, a junk--just a great array of the different kinds of sailing vessels that frequented the SF waterfront. The Balclutha, though, is the crown glory of the collection. A National Park ranger gave the 2:15 tour. Took about an hour and was really fascinating. Note: all the ships have stairs to navigate, so they are not really accessible. Tip: We avoided the high priced Fisherman's Wharf eateries and had one of the reasonably priced, hearty breakfasts at the historical Buena Vista Cafe, just a block away. Highly recommend spending some time at the Hyde St. Pier, matey! read more

I was one of those annoying tourists that the locals complain about. I stayed one block away from this pier, and every morning I would pick up my Starbucks (just can't get rid of my bad New Yorker habits) and walk along the pier to take in the bay view. Speaking of the view... it's amazing. The misty water in the foreground, set against the green/grey mountain landscape in the background. If I were to live in San Francisco (and now I'm very tempted to move here), I would want to live in this neighborhood. It's also the only one with a Starbucks. Like I said, darn New York habits. This is a great photo opp with the historic cable cars that stop at Hyde. read more

Walking down fishermans wharf I ended up at Hyde street Park. It's MLK day and all the old ships are free to board! Went on the ships and it's just amazing history. Seeing how things were back in the days always peeks my interest. It's great to see things were and how far we have come today. It's a great place to brings family and kids. And it's only $5 and free for kids 15 and under read more

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Pretend you're a old timey sailor and take a trip to Hyde Street Pier. The boats are from way way WAY back in the day. You can pretend to be a tourist and go visit the Maritime Museum or just walk down the pier and check out the ships that are docked at the pier. Some are open to the public, some aren't. BUT!!!,,,,,,,, Nothing beats Chantey Sing!! Once a month they conduct a sing along on one of the ships from 8-midnight. They sing old songs that sailors used to sing to keep time on the ships. After 11pm comes the dirty songs...didn't stay for those though next time I will. Arrrr Matey!! Aw yeah...how juiced was I when one of the old skool men started singing a song about a PIRATE!!! It was fun. It was hilarity. It was sailor sing-a-long!!! Check it out one night...fun times. And they have free hot apple cider to drink at the break. read more

Thank God the Hyde Street Pier exists. The ships are beautifuly restored and it's so much fun to walk through these vessels. What many people don't realize is that this pier was THE way to cross through to the north bay before the Golden Gate Bridge came to be. And as cool as the 'pirate' ships are, you can see the ferries that would transport thousands of travelers a day from SF to Marin. This is a great way to spend an afternoon for pirate buffs, knot buffs, transportation buffs, and seagull buffs. read more

This is a cool little spot to check out some of the ships that are docked at thee pier. If you want to get onto the ships, you will need to pay a nominal fee. We opted not to board any so we did not purchase tickets. On a sunny day, the pier is a beautiful short walk. It resides next to the aquatic park so you will see swimmers and paddle boarders nearby. You can hear the seal barking from the pier so if this is your first stop, make sure you make your way over to pier 39 to check them out! read more

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While I'm not a huge fan of the crowds near fisherman's wharf, I must admit I love this pier. It's a great place to walk off the calories consumed at Ghirardelli. Living in the Richmond district, I can fully appreciate the nice sunny weather this place usually gets. The ships are great to look at; the plaques tell you some of their history, and occasionally you'll come across a lesson on how to tie some random knot. Overall it's a wonderful place to spend an afternoon in the city. read more

A great way to get a glimpse back in time of SF through the last two centuries.

Your tax dollars at work in a well-conceived, fun, educational setting. A great place to take almost anyone who visits you. Kids will have an amazing time just climbing up and down the ladders and trying out the bunks in the restored old ships. This applies whether they're 5 or 15. Adults can read all of the interpretive info and check out cool things like the video of the old salt reminiscing about his days on the boat. The views from the pier are great and if you don't feel like learning anything, you don't have to. Just kick back and enjoy the scene. read more