San Francisco, CA: Northern California Chapter, Lands End Hike

Let’s welcome the New Year on our annual pilgrimage to our local Finisterre, Lands End in San Francisco. This year’s route is another grand tour of the city, beginning at Duboce Park and ending at the western edge of Judah Street at Ocean Beach. We’ll pass through forested parks, including Golden Gate Park and the Presidio; climb hidden city staircases; and see many iconic San Francisco landmarks. Walk the full 9 miles or peel off along the way — this is an urban hike with plenty of transit options to whisk you back. Bonus: Join us on an optional pre-hike labyrinth walk at Duboce Park (see below).

Schedule: Meet us at 10:00 AM in Duboce Park at the bottom of the stairs to the Harvey Milk Center. We’ll stop for lunch at Mountain Lake Park in the Presidio and expect to arrive at Judah Street by 3:30 PM. This is a rain or shine event! However, severe weather will cancel.

Pre-Hike Labyrinth Walk (optional): Arrive at 9:30 AM (same meeting spot/Harvey Milk stairs) for a meditative walk on the beautiful Duboce Park labyrinth. Experience this ancient tool of contemplation used in cultures around the world for reflection and renewal.

Level of Difficulty: This is a moderate hike. Total mileage is about 9 miles with total elevation gain of 755 feet. A combo of dirt and paved trails, sidewalks, and city and trail staircases.

This hike is not advisable for those who are new to hiking or have not been training regularly. Even though leaving along the way is OK, you must be able to sustain a consistent pace of 2.5 mph. Participants who are unable to keep up may be asked to drop out in order to prioritize the safety and cohesion of the group.

If you are not yet at a fitness level yet for this type of hike, we recommend building your endurance on your own with less demanding hikes or on our monthly Lake Merritt walks.

Advance online registration is required. Click the Register button to sign up. Because space is limited, please register if/when you are certain you can attend. Thank you!

Cancellation: If you are unable to attend, please email us as soon as possible at norcal@americanpilgrims.org so we can update our list.

Getting There & Back: Take BART to the Embarcadero Station (or Civic Center, if coming from the SFO/Millbrae direction). Go up two floors to the Concourse level and enter the Muni Metro station. Take an outbound N Judah/Ocean Beach train to the Duboce Park stop (Duboce and Noe, ~20 min). Enter the park and veer left past the playground and basketball court to the steps of the Harvey Milk Center. To return from Judah Street at the end, take an inbound N Judah train to the Embarcadero station (~55 min).

Parking: There is free, unlimited weekend parking on the streets around Duboce Park. Check signs for any special restrictions.

Carpooling: On the registration form is a link to an online “Carpool Bulletin Board” to post a message if you need a ride or can give one.

What to Bring: Bring a bag lunch, snacks, water and rain gear, if weather calls for it (we walk, rain or shine). Hiking poles will be helpful on the dirt trails and stairs. Clipper for your transit rides. You can also now “tap and pay” with a credit/debit card or Apple/Google Pay. Cash, if you plan to attend the post-walk social (see below).

Post-Hike Social: We’ll stop for drinks and pizza near our end location at Golden Gate Indian Cuisine & Pizza.

Leaders: Sue Lopez, Stephanie Dodaro, Guy Joaquin

The Ruff Stuff: For insurance purposes, we are unable to welcome dogs, except service animals, at our events.