The Fairy Gates. The Mystery Trail. The Gash. The exciting and enchanting world of The Sutro Forest is just waiting to be explored. Situated in the middle of the city, it truly feels like it's in another world. The misty fog lingers in the tree canopy throughout the day, enveloping us in cloud-like canyons. The 200 foot tall trees, the solitude, and the mist hovering in the treetops might give us the feeling of being transported to a dreamlike kingdom... The forest is lightly used by local walkers, joggers, and bicyclists during the week,.
DUE TO TREE WORK, THERE IS A VERY STEEP DETOUR. It's only the equivalent of about a block long, but it is very steep, It's dirt and gravel and quite slippery with nothing to hold on to. Please be prepared to traverse this section. Bring poles if preferred and definitely wear shoes with a good tread.
We meet outside the GRATTAN PLAYGROUND (restrooms) at the corner of ALMA and STANYAN (Grattan is a large school, so make sure you're on the Stanyan side). WE START WALKING AT 6:00 PM ON THE DOT. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in. The walk will take under 2 hours. The first half is mostly a steady uphill, but the route has several downhill and flat sections as well. We will walk a few minutes along a paved road, but most of the walk is on a single-file path of uneven terrain. The east side is steeper but firmer- the ground on the west side stays pretty damp. Even though it hasn't rained in quite a while, the tree coverage ensures that we're certain to find a bit of mud on the trail here and there. There will be one, very short restroom break, about 1/2 way in. We'll also try to take a few minutes to have a seat and relax at the top, but if the wind picks up, we'll probably want to keep moving....
GETTING THERE:
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The playground is only a couple of blocks from Stanyan and Parnassus. MUNI lines #6 (Parnassus) and #43 (Masonic) each stop there. The "N' Judah streetcar is one block further at Carl and Stanyan. Muni line #7 (Haight/Noriega) has a stop one block past that at Frederick and Stanyan, and line #37 (Corbett) stops at Cole. It's a bit of an uphill from there. BART users should exit at Civic Center and transfer to an underground N, or overground 6.
DRIVING: The forest is in the middle of the city, near UCSF. Both Stanyan and Parnassus are large streets and should be easy to navigate. Parking is neighborhood only, and it's the time of day that people are coming home and looking for a space. I suppose in a pinch you could park at the UCSF garage, but that would be quite spendy. Don't park in the Walgreens' lot- you will be towed.
AFTER THE WALK-
The walk ends just by the lovely shops, cafes, and restaurants of the charming Cole Valley, If it's a nice evening, try a frosty treat at the Ice Cream Bar, (they have "boozy floats" ). We'll also be just a few blocks from Haight Street, with its fun vibe and funky cafe bars.
LIABILITY & SAFETY
You are responsible for your own safety. When you RSVP yes for any SF City Steps walk, you are confirming that you have read and agree to the Waiver of Liability that can be found at the bottom of every Meetup page.
DOG FRIENDLY WALK-
This is a great walk for dogs: DOGS MUST BE ON LEASH FOR THIS WALK. NO EXCEPTIONS. I know that your dog would probably prefer off-leash trail walking, but there have been issues between hikers, runners, and trail bikers in this park, and we're not going to contribute to it.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Be sure to change your RSVP from yes to no at least 12 hours before the walk if you need to cancel. Late cancellations are marked the same as a no show and anyone with a history of flaking or place holding will be removed from the group. This walk is only available to City Steps group members.
WHAT TO BRING:
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. This is the foggy side of town. Your pants may get a bit muddy, so wear ankle length, or pants that you don't mind getting dirty.
Water (you can refill at the restroom stop).
We may not stop for a snack break, so if you're peckish, bring something you can eat while walking.
Camera for those amazing fog shots.
Your sense of adventure, camaraderie, and fun.
