MARVELOUS MCLAREN, a secret garden, and Jerry Day

Every year, the Excelsior neighbourhood holds a festival to honor its native son, Jerry Garcia, at the amphitheater named in his honor at McLaren Park. The route of this walk takes us right through it, so we'll take a longer lunch break and have the time to enjoy the music and the "vibes."

Hidden in plain sight is San Francisco's second largest park- McLaren. You may recognize its bright blue water tower, but nestled into the city's southwest side, this under-appreciated park is a real gem waiting to be explored. We'll visit the Lovers' Rock, The Philosophers' Way, the rock-legend amphitheater, two lakes, scenic meadows, hidden hiking trails, and may even stumble across a labyrinth. Marvelous! We'll also head outside the park for a few blocks to explore a secret garden surprise.

McLaren is a big park, and we don't go there often, so plan on at least 3 1/2 hours of walking time, plus the longer break. We walk along paved and unpaved paths, some narrow, have a couple of stairways, and go up and down several hills.

We'll meet at CROCKER AMAZON PLAYGROUND at the corner of Geneva Avenue and Moscow Street. We'll be on the corner, just outside the entrance to "The Purple Playground." WE START WALKING AT 12:00 Noon ON THE DOT. Please arrive a few minutes early to check-in. There are restrooms about one block away in either direction.

GETTING THERE:
By public transportation- MUNI bus #43 (Masonic) ends its route one block away at the corner of Geneva and Munich. Bus #8 (Bayshore) and #54 (Felton) each stop at Geneva and Moscow. BART users should exit at Balboa Park Station and transfer to a Muni bus 8, 43, or 54.
DRIVING: Geneva intersects with Mission Street about 10 blocks west of Moscow Street.
From 280 North, take the Geneva Avenue exit. From 280 South, exit at Alemany, then take Naples to Moscow.
Free parking is available at the lot on Moscow between France and Italy (across from the fire station). If there are games at the soccer field, this lot may fill up, but street parking is plentiful. There are restrooms adjacent to this lot.

Dress for the weather and the event . If you own some tie-dye, you'll fit right in.

Bring water and a snack for the break. There will food trucks at the festival, but in the past the queues have been very long.

Don't forget your camera

Be prepared to meet fun people, explore a variety of terrain, and discover new spots.

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 Safety Tips and Waiver of Liability that can be found at the bottom of every Meetup.com page.

DOG FRIENDLY WALK- this is a great walk for dogs (on leash). They won't have a chance to go swimming in the lake. The festival discourages, but does not prohibit, dogs. They must be kept on a short leash, and the organizers request that you stay to the perimeter of the venue.

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 shows. We keep track of placeholders. Crashers will be turned away. Anyone with a history of flaking may be removed from the group. This walk is only open to City Steps members.