views and trees, baby! all day everyday! walking here brings such joy to my soul because you can almost instantly feel like you've travelled somewhere far off as soon as you walk up from the entrance (bus stop side). the trails are wide at the head of the trail and narrow down as you inch closer to the peak. and while it can be exposing at the peak, you can easily cool off on the way back taking the trail under the shady trees. you won't regret visiting this place and going on a short walk, boo! read more

Mount Davidson Park - down to the top - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a great place to take someone who has seen all the usual tourist spots. It's a fairly easy hike to the top and there's a couple of different ways of getting there. The first time I went up there I wanted to see the big cross but I did not know there were amazing views from the top as well. I had imagined it as a completely wooded area at the top but there's a clearing on the east that provides those spectacular vistas. On a side note, I once walked here from the Forest Hill MUNI station and it was a tougher hike getting to the park than actually getting to the cross. There are some steep streets around there! read more

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One of the most underrated spots in the city. The 103-foot white cross at the top has a ton of history over the Easter Sunday of the mid-20th century, and of course you should go for your picture of #thatSFtree with an amazing overlook of the city at large, as well as views over the East Bay and south towards San Bruno. You can easily spy on people at the top of Twin Peaks and near the Sutro Tower too! Easy climbs to the top. read more

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This place isn't really a hike, but it is a nice walk and a nice place to take photos of SF since you can see the downtown area from far away. It gets chilly while walking uphill and I went the day after it rained, so the floor was super muddy and wet still. The huge cross was tall and dirty, and it's amazing how the monument lasts so long throughout these years. Very cool cross though! I also walked towards the famous tree with multiple branches sticking out. It's a struggle to get on the branch and sit on top of the branch, but it's doable! Just need to use them abs and have a person help out. The branches are really smooth so you can't really fall. I was scared cause to me it seemed really high up! This park is a nice place to just chill and I recommend tourists to come see the cross. read more

Mount Davidson Park - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a great place to go and still yourself. It is beautiful on sunny days, but you must check it out when it is partly cloudy and there is a mist in the air. Mount Davidson has this foggy mysteriousness about it when it's like this. Make sure you bring a jacket (with a hood), wear layers if you decide to go up there on a day like this (well, if you get cold easily like I do =D). It's really quiet and calm. It's a good place to pop open your Bible and seek Jesus, look up at that big cross, and contemplate or seek out God's love and truth. Last time I was up there, I went with a couple of friends. I dunno why I don't feel comfortable going up there by myself, but maybe it was because of the foggy mysteriousness and my vivid imagination of creepy people hiding behind the thick forestlike landscape (so, four stars for me).... Otherwise, it's a great place. read more

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Beautiful breathtaking place!!!! So obsessed with the view.. Just look at the pictures read more

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The tall cross on top of Mount Davidson is so spiritual, esp when it's Easter Sunday. You can see the Bay Area on a clear day. I may have driven up the crooked and narrow streets, as well as walk up the rocky hill, but seeing the Holy Cross is worth it. read more

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Mt. Davidson is San Francisco's highest natural peak at an elevation of 927 feet. THAT'S ABOVE SEA LEVEL! I WISH they would CUT DOWN THE TREES at the top of Mt. Davidson because they obstruct what could be a stunning 360 degree view of the bay area. As it is, the dense eucalyptus trees obstructs views toward the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. I can't see the sea for the forest. The view would be SO MONEY if they'd at least thin out the trees. Furthermore, those menacing tall trees also muddle the silhouette of the 103 foot concrete cross when viewed from far distances across the city. Perhaps if they MAKE THE CROSS BIGGER then it wouldn't be an issue. The monument resides on a portion of land that the City auctioned in 1997 to the Council of Armenian-American Organizations, and has since served as a memorial of the 1915 Armenian genocide. A 160-pound bronze plaque commemorating the genocide was once displayed at the base of the cross, but it was discovered missing in 2007. From bottom to top, Mt. Davidson is more of a casual stroll that a hiking place. You can ascend to the peak in 10 mins if you walk very slowly. On the clearing, you have a view from SF's downtown to the Oakland ship yard to San Bruno. Easter sunrise services have been held at this site for many years, I think since 1923. I'm awed when I look up at the towering cross. The view companied with the solitude and spiritual overtones, yields a good place for some quiet reflection: "...am I a good person...." "..........will I make a difference........." "......where will I be in five years......" "...can I get cell phone reception here...." ".......I wonder if this place has been yelped yet....." read more

Such a beautiful walk. Up hill, but worth every huff and puff My dog lived it too The cross is also amazing On a clear day, you can see forever read more

A very short trail literally in our own back yard! It's only about a mile if you just do the loop, but the landscape is very damp and cool, and can even be a bit muddy when there is consistent fog. It seems like it would be a nice escape on a hot day in the city. You'll see alot of ferns, blackberry brambles, wild strawberries, and ivy everywhere. From the top, on a clear day, you can see San Bruno. An interesting tidbit: Although the park is owned by the city of San Francisco, the top of the mountain was sold in 1997 to the Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California because of the 100 foot Cross on top, which is a memorial to an Armenian massacre in 1915. The sale was to make a clear separation of church and state, which I think is fair, as I do believe strongly in separation of church & state, but I also support freedom of expression. The quote at the bottom of the cross reads in both Armenian and English: "If evil of this magnitude can be ignored, if our own children forget then we deserve oblivion and earn the world's scorn." Avedis Aharonian (writer and educator, 1866-1948). A suggestion: Stand at the foot of the cross in this open space among all the trees, slightly shrouded in fog, meditate for a second on the efforts of all the people involved in erecting this monument, and look up to the top of the cross. It's a moving experience (and I'm not even Christian). Some seem to think it's an assertation of Christianity, but it's obviously simply a memorial to people who died in a massacre. read more

Twin Peaks - pshaw! This is the real top of San Francisco. I live on the slopes of Mt Davidson and the fact that I can walk or jog through this park right from my front door still amazes me. The Eucalyptus forest here is incredibly beautiful, especially around sunset with the light coming through the trees. This is what having an urban forest is about. Granted, the view isn't as impressive as Twin Peaks, unless you're in love with SFCC & Mt San Bruno. Along with Saint Croix Road, there are two great trailheads to approach this from: one at 275 Juanita and one on Rockdale. Check out Ron Proctor's awesome hand-drawn map: http://www.mtdavidson.org/_detail/mtdavidsontrails.jpg?id=mount_davidson_trail_map&cache=cache read more

twin peaks forgotten older brother, mt davidson is literally my home. this has got to be the foggiest neighborhood in the city. literally some nights i come home, i cant see five feet in front of me, SOLID FREAKING WHITENESS. raspberry bushes basically took over the neighborhood. bushes abound everyfreakingwhere. i like to take out my lil happy on mt davidson itself. MY DOG happy, you pervs. this is the highest peak in sf, you get some badass views on the top and all without the kids smoking weed in cars and the blanket of tourist twin peaks has. it gets a bit muddy up here so you might not wanna where you all white leather 95 airmax with exclusive blue swoosh up here. easter, they have sunrise service, surprisingly i havent made *cough* to one yet. cant seem to wake up that early. come on a clear day, you can see mt diablo, the eastbay, san mo bridge and the farallons. didnt i say nice views? read more

Mount Davidson Park - ggb, twin peaks to the right of pic - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One word for my first time visit the other day - creepy! Climbing through the darkened trees, wind and fog whipping around, hair flying in all directions while fat drops of water drip from above in my eyes and on my glasses. I get a rock in my shoe and my husband teases me with stories of a witch buried under the cross at the top, and how she chooses her victims by placing pebbles in their shoes. Suddenly, looming out of the mist is that monstrous cross, it's hard white edges so surreal and out of place amidst the trees. I think I actually shivered when I saw it towering over me in the swirling fog. Reading about the plight of the Armenians was touching and it was interesting to know the history of that large yet hidden monument. But now I need to find out more about that whole witch thing... read more

Pretty, easy hike! More for scenic adventures! The coolest part was reaching the big cross in the middle of nowhere!!! It was beautiful :) A pleasant surprise :) There are a lot of trails leading to random directions and some are really muddy so bring proper shoes! read more

At nine hundred twenty-seven feet, the summit of Mt. Davidson is the highest point in San Francisco. For years it has been crowned by a giant cross, which in a PC-era raised Constitutional concerns that led to the sale of the cross and the land immediately around it to the Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California in 1997. The park - which is bounded by Juanita, Dalewood, and Myra Ways and Molimo Drive - remains open to the public and provides a pleasant hike with spectacular views in practically every direction, and an appropriate setting for non-denominational sunrise services on Easter Sunday morning. read more

Mount Davidson Park - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Highest point in San Francisco (I guess people think those honors belong to Twin Peaks for some reason). Mt. Davidson is an absolute gem in SF. It offers some pretty killer views of East and downtown SF. You can whip out your iPhone and take some panorama photos and show off to all your friends what a beautiful city you live in. The main attraction here is a huge cross owned by an Armenian organization. The cross is surrounded by a grove of trees, which offer some much needed solitude from the bustling urban life below. For a bonus, put on some LOTR music or something while strolling through Mt. Davidson. You will feel epic. read more

Beautiful easy stroll. I wouldn't call it a hike, but it definitely has the views of sf to daly city when you reach the top. Not to mention, a huge cross.... read more

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Loved my first "hike" on Mount Davidson. Really accessible and easy to do with a toddler and infant in an ergo. Not strenuous, but fantastic views of the city in many directions (no Golden Gate Bridge, though). I have no idea how it took me so long to get here... Half hour drive from mid-peninsula well worth it for an easy trek with multi-million dollar views. This is now a new go-to spot to bring out oft owners who don't want anything too strenuous. read more

You would never know you are in a city if it weren't for the spectacular views! My favorite memory of this little gem of an urban park is from a time I lived on Twin Peaks about 7 years ago - and I walked up through the stairways and neighborhoods - emerging in a clearing where there was a man in a kilt playing bagpipes. It was one of the most ridiculous things - only in San Francisco, right? It was surreal and it was a lovely treat. Enjoy your local urban parks - get some fresh air and exercise - you never know who you will meet! read more

Short hike up, but enjoyed climbing that flimsy tree to take a photo with my friend. Also, I enjoyed walking to the center of the park to find the huge cross and the history placard below it with some history of the location. A short 15-20 minute stroll that's perfect after a meal and to just chat with friends. read more

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THE VIEW IS AMAZING! My friend took me to Mt. Davison on a sunny morning. We took the 43 bus and got off at Miraloma Dr and Junita Way. When you get off the bus you can see a whole bunch of trees up top on a mountain, that looks like a forest up there! When we got to the entrance of one of the paths, we took pictures and then began the hike up! The hike up isn't difficult at all and as you are walking through, you can see a lot of trees and nature all around. All the paths eventually intertwine with each other, so it isn't as likely to get lost. Definitely a change of scenery compared to all the buildings that we see around the city. The view at the top is simply AMAZING! BREATHTAKING! We were able to see all the buildings, houses, and even the bay bridge! There are even stair paths that lead down to get "closer" to the sight. My friend told me that on a foggy day, you can't see all the view of the city but it is still a great experience! read more

Beautiful place but I have to say... Dog Owners: There's a sign at the entrance to keep your dog on it's leash. I am so tired of people's yappy, annoying dogs running at me and bothering me while their slow owners are nowhere to be seen. This has happened on several occasions. If you're too unfit to keep up with your dog, try finding a trail you can handle. Also, obey the signs and stop ruining it for others. Not everyone likes your mangy mutt. read more

Beautiful views, deep green forest. What more could you ask? Get rid of that monstrosity of a concrete cross? Well, yeah, that'd be an improvement, but otherwise Mt. Davidson Park is one of SF's less traveled gems. People rarely visit this park. Usually when I'm up there, at most there are only two or three other people. Lots of nice wildlife to see as well. Probably a good idea to bring a jacket. It can be cold, especially when the fog blows in. For a special, SF treat, go up when we get a thick fog. The forest will be raining with condensation. I think it's an incredible experience. :) read more

1/17/09 - Today's hike with 50-60 attendees from SF City Guides and Yelp turned out a successful attendance. The weather was warm and sunny. Jacqueline Proctor led our tour with the history of this area and shared her binder full of pictures and stories. We were led through an easy path up to the summit where the cross stands and vantage points look out over the city. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bet you didn't know that Mt. Davidson is the highest peak in San Francisco. It's sort of my back yard. It's a quiet little get away from city bustle. It's a short steep hike if you enter from the southeast side of the mountain where I take my dog here for walks. There was a hidden Tarzan like swing here at one time. I'm not sure if it is still there. I once tried to exit the mountain through the northwest side but lost the trail and got scratched badly by the brush. I was headed in the right direction but ran into deep brush as I descend off trail on the mountain. The view of the cross from the base is awesome! I actually hiked up here one Easter morning with hundreds of other people before sunrise for its nondenominational service. If you have the time, this is a nice San Francisco off the beaten path to explore. read more

Mount Davidson Park - Base of Mt. Davidson - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great place, better than Twin Peaks and FAR less crowded! BUT, when the fog rolls in, you will freeze! A must place for any Dirty Harry fan to visit, and you can then wonder how in the heck Inspector Callahan was supposed to get to here in such a short time from the marina. Ahh, the Hollywood reality! read more

This park works on early Easter Sunday morning. I saw Louis Manapuak..(think that's how he spells his name) play trumpet at 5 am and that is difficult when your lips are next to some cold metal. Hey, I am not Christian, but I don't mind the idea of a hill with a cross on it because if you think about it many of the things you see in this city have crosses on it are are just plain cross with the world..so to speak. I love the smell of the eucalyptus leaves on the trails and it was featured in a dirty Harry movie too...scarry at night, but check it out 5 am on Easter Sunday...pretty cool. read more

Great location for photos in SF!! Not a huge park but many varied scenes for photos - interesting tree, huge cross, lots of greenery, view of the city. I went yesterday for an instameet and if you go around 9am the fog is there so you can get some interesting shots. Only downside is the location is not the easiest to get to. read more

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Lived in SF my whole life and just never took the time to explore. Last weekend, we decided to take a hike up to the 'big cross' we always see from the road. It's a beautiful and peaceful (and easy) walk up to the top. Gorgeous views of the city. The only bad thing that kind of took away from it all was the fenced off areas along the trail and part of the peak. I guess if we came up from the other side, it would have been easier to get to, but we maneuvered our way between the bushes and the chain link fence and made it to the cross. It's such a humbling experience to see that cross looming over you, and it's so very peaceful up there. It was just us and two bikers who had stopped to have lunch there. So serene, with only the sound of the dry leaves crunching under my feet cutting through the quiet. read more

So I'm not crazy about the gigantic cross at the top of the hill, but Mount Davidson offers amazing views of the Bay area and makes you feel like you've been transported out the city. We were lucky and headed up there on a very sunny day, but I imagine it gets pretty cold on your average foggy, windy SF kind of day. It's a great place for a quick escape from city life. Mount Davidson is in a neighborhood called "Sherwood Forest" that is very close to West Portal, Twin Peaks, and Diamond Heights. I think there are all sorts of micro-neighborhoods up there that I never knew about. You will be pleasantly surprised as you walk up the easy paths to the top of the hill...you really are in a forest and it's beautiful. We could see Bernal Hill from the top and it looked like an ant hill. This place was impressive, dog friendly, and very peaceful. read more

The cross is nice, the views are totally different than any other hill, but the jungly interior is definitely something else. Find the great glenn just North of the cross and have a picnic with the fairies and leprechauns that obviously live there. Access across from 27 Dalewood Way. read more

Now don't come here expecting something like Golden Gate Park...but if you like to hike and enjoy awesome views of our great city-by-the-bay, you'll enjoy meandering through some of the shady trails and stepping over old fallen trees. You'll score cool-points with kids, dogs and dates in this serene setting. The hike up the hill is just enough to take off the high heels for (I always do lol) and once you reach the top, you'll swear that ol' Dirty Harry is hanging around somewhere looking for the bad guy. The memorial underneath the cross is a worthwhile stop, and the story told about the Armenian Genocide during 1915-23 is one that needs to be told to everyone. read more

Simply Put: - Beautiful view of the city - There's a muni stop at the bottom of the hill - great for pictures - it's not really a hike, more like a small 5 minute uphill stroll - there were coyote warnings when we went. just be careful :) read more

Mount Davidson Park has such amazing views of San Francisco! It's such a hidden gem that no one knows about. There's multiple entrances, my boyfriend and I went through the entrance on the neighborhood. The entrance is a stairway IN BETWEEN the houses, it's hard to see but just look out for the stairs! The hike is very easy and there's so many alternative routes which make it fun! There's the cross you'll see as you keep hiking! The hike has a lot of trees and brushes. It's nice to see nature in the city. read more

Mount Davidson Park - The cross! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We loved our little walk to Mt. Davidson. It is beautiful and pretty easy. Note that if you use the address listed here on YELP that is puts you really close to the cross. We were not aware of that and ended up walking around after making it up to the cross. There are lots of little trails and paths to check out, we didn't get too lost, but did end up having to talk up the biggest hill I have ever seen. We felt very accomplished after and hungry :-P read more

I'm not sure about hiking where there are coyotes but I love the view here. You can see the view of all the houses and also the big branch that people take lots of pictures at. If you go a little bit higher, you can see a cross. It's cool that you can take a look at how fast the fog is moving into the city. read more

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Cool park hidden in the middle of SF. Huge freakin' cross. All sorts of paths to hike on. Where are the bathrooms in this place? i guess I'll just go...anywhere. lol Kind of a long walk to get to the top. only for healthy people, not wheelchair friendly. read more

When we came here as kids, I thought this place was a major mountain. A couple miles to a 2.5' tall tyke is a big deal. It's the same feeling you may have had when you thought your childhood backyard was huge because it could fit a pool and there was a forest (read in adult talk: kiddie pool and 0.02 acres total Noe Valley backyard.) ... much like Mount Davidson. My Middle eastern blood particularly appreciates the Armenian Genocide memorial. It reminded me of the Armenian quarters I went to in Jerusalem some 13 years ago. Check this out if you never have, see where that ginormous cross stems from. read more

Breathtakingly beautiful views. I've been thinking about places in my City that are, how should I describe it, mmm. . . mood-changing, in a positive way. Like, you could be feeling like total crap, but then you arrive at this place, or some place finds you unexpectedly, and then you feel that much better. The power of place. This is one of those places. I've only been here once, but that experience was good enough for me to write a review praising this place. It was at least five years ago; I was silly, young, bright-eyed (well, not that I'm not still those things, but I think less so than before) and was packed in a car at 3am in the morning with several other silly, young bright-eyed souls. Ready for something amazing. I don't find myself in this area of the city often, so when the leader of our pack drove us here, I was excited, curious, and as always, ready for a new adventure. Things quickly turned sour when we got here, and I realized that it was pitch dark and we'd have to climb through a literal jungle to get to the top. I started complaining about how ridiculous it was; how it was so dark and late and we were blindly trying to find our way through bushes and twigs and trees to get to lord knows where. It was all uphill too, and I was getting dirty and couldn't see my way. So, needless to say, I was not a happy camper. But. We eventually got to the top, and here's what I mean by "mood-changing." I immediately forgot about how annoyed and irritated I was during the climb. Because the view was gorgeous. I could see EVERYTHING. All the lights. The entire city of shining lights against the backdrop of the piercing black night sky. It was breathtaking. I couldn't believe we were here, lucky enough to take it all in. Lucky enough to live here. You just stand up there, shivering in the cold, but warm from those bubbles that come out of you when you're amazed or overjoyed. I've never been up here during the day, but I imagine it's just as awesome. But I am a fan of the night and the dark and the lights that come with it all. Maybe you'll find yourself up here too, one of these nights, with your own group of silly, bright-eyed souls. That view is totally worth the dirty, messy climb anyday. read more

FYI this is not really a hike. I don't know where we got the idea that it was, but we made the effort to wake up early on a Saturday, came fully geared and ready to sweat, only to take a 15 minute stroll straight to the top. In this kind of situation, you can't even pretend it was a workout. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city and most definitely worth it. Considering how easy it is to get here, I can see why it's a destination for so many photographers. And as predicted, we did see someone with a tripod at the top. If anything, Mount Davidson is probably better for a run since there are multiple short trails around the park. It wasn't that crowded (even for a Saturday!) so this might just be the perfect escape from the pedestrian-filled sidewalks and roads of SF! Plus it's always nice to go running somewhere with a view! read more

Very pretty hike! Small, but nice and awesome views of the city. Better than twin peaks since its always crowded with tourists. The cross itself was beautiful and represent the Armenian genocide. Sad to see beer bottles and trash around the place since I'm guessing certain locals take advantage of the isolated park. Has numerous trails surrounding it though, can be muddy so wear comfortable shoes. read more