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The Best SF Trail Runs Not Programmed into Your Treadmill

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San Francisco is lucky to be one of the rare urban areas with lots of hiking trails within our city limits. It's also one of the fittest cities in the country, ranking No. 5 in an annual list of health and community fitness. Instead of watching your progress up a blinking digital staircase, try hitting the road dirt on one of SF's many trails. We've even drawn up a map with courses to make things easy for you (just click the course photos to enlarge them). The shortest trail we've mapped is 1.7 miles and the longest is 10, so don't limit yourself by length, or even shoes—there's a barefoot jog right this way.


· Outdoors Week 2014 [Curbed SF]

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Inspiration Point

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There’s a mix of paved paths and dirt trails, and you’ll go through some cypress and eucalyptus forests with views of Andy Goldsworthy's public artwork. TOTAL DISTANCE: 3.0 miles

Batteries To Bluffs Trail

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This out-and-back trail overlooks the ocean with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and climbs over (you guessed it) old military batteries. TOTAL DISTANCE: 5.4 miles

Glen Canyon Park

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We’ve already sung the praises of Glen Canyon for Outdoors Week, so get out there and see it! TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.4 miles

Mount Davidson Park

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At 927 feet, Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco. The trails are not marked and it is weirdly easy to get lost, so keep track of where you’re going. TOTAL DISTANCE: 1.7 miles

Twin Peaks & Mount Sutro

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Since these two are pretty close, it’s easy to combine them into one megarun with some of the most amazing views of the city. TOTAL DISTANCE: 4.1 miles

Lands End

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Awesome vistas of the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands abound at Lands End on this out-and-back trail, but use caution—there are some steep, unprotected drop-offs. TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.5 miles

Fort Funston

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Ditch your shoes altogether and go for a barefoot jog on the packed sand. Ocean Beach out-and-back from Cliff House is about 6 miles, but if you want to go all the way out Fort Funston, be sure you time it at low tide or you’ll never make it past the rock embankments. TOTAL DISTANCE: 10 miles

Angel Island State Park

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Angel Island has miles of trails, but remember you can only get there by ferry. Make sure to time your run so you can catch the last one home! TOTAL DISTANCE: 5 miles

John McLaren Park

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At 318 acres, McLaren is the third-biggest park in the city. There are tons of hills, so even though the trails may be short, the elevation changes can definitely be tough. TOTAL DISTANCE: 3.4 miles

Golden Gate Park

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Golden Gate Park has a maze of criss-crossing trails, but pretty much all of JFK Drive has a dirt path running along its side. TOTAL DISTANCE: 6.6 miles

Corona Heights Park

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This is another twofer trail since the parks are so close to each other. Creepy side note: Buena Vista Park’s trails and drainage system are lined in part with headstones from the old SF cemeteries. TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.1 miles

San Bruno Mountain State Park

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OK, so technically San Bruno Mountain is part of San Mateo County, but since it’s blocks from the city line we can't overlook it. At the top, you'll get eyeful of the Pacific, the Bay, the downtown skyline, and Marin in one mindboggling panorama. TOTAL DISTANCE: 6.75 miles

Inspiration Point

There’s a mix of paved paths and dirt trails, and you’ll go through some cypress and eucalyptus forests with views of Andy Goldsworthy's public artwork. TOTAL DISTANCE: 3.0 miles

Batteries To Bluffs Trail

This out-and-back trail overlooks the ocean with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and climbs over (you guessed it) old military batteries. TOTAL DISTANCE: 5.4 miles

Glen Canyon Park

We’ve already sung the praises of Glen Canyon for Outdoors Week, so get out there and see it! TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.4 miles

Mount Davidson Park

At 927 feet, Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco. The trails are not marked and it is weirdly easy to get lost, so keep track of where you’re going. TOTAL DISTANCE: 1.7 miles

Twin Peaks & Mount Sutro

Since these two are pretty close, it’s easy to combine them into one megarun with some of the most amazing views of the city. TOTAL DISTANCE: 4.1 miles

Lands End

Awesome vistas of the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands abound at Lands End on this out-and-back trail, but use caution—there are some steep, unprotected drop-offs. TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.5 miles

Fort Funston

Ditch your shoes altogether and go for a barefoot jog on the packed sand. Ocean Beach out-and-back from Cliff House is about 6 miles, but if you want to go all the way out Fort Funston, be sure you time it at low tide or you’ll never make it past the rock embankments. TOTAL DISTANCE: 10 miles

Angel Island State Park

Angel Island has miles of trails, but remember you can only get there by ferry. Make sure to time your run so you can catch the last one home! TOTAL DISTANCE: 5 miles

John McLaren Park

At 318 acres, McLaren is the third-biggest park in the city. There are tons of hills, so even though the trails may be short, the elevation changes can definitely be tough. TOTAL DISTANCE: 3.4 miles

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park has a maze of criss-crossing trails, but pretty much all of JFK Drive has a dirt path running along its side. TOTAL DISTANCE: 6.6 miles

Corona Heights Park

This is another twofer trail since the parks are so close to each other. Creepy side note: Buena Vista Park’s trails and drainage system are lined in part with headstones from the old SF cemeteries. TOTAL DISTANCE: 2.1 miles

San Bruno Mountain State Park

OK, so technically San Bruno Mountain is part of San Mateo County, but since it’s blocks from the city line we can't overlook it. At the top, you'll get eyeful of the Pacific, the Bay, the downtown skyline, and Marin in one mindboggling panorama. TOTAL DISTANCE: 6.75 miles