Run the Golden Gate Dozen | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

San Francisco is one of those cities where a good run can easily turn into an astonishing sightseeing tour. The Golden Gate Dozen Trail is a perfect example.

This 12-mile route takes runners from Crissy Field, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, through the Presidio and along the Pacific coast before finishing at Fort Funston. Along the way, you’ll get to see a dozen, or twelve, beloved National Park sites.

There are plenty of hills, a few stretches of unpaved trail, and some spectacular scenery, but the real attraction is how much of San Francisco you get to experience on your own two feet.

Plus, for runners planning to run the San Francisco Marathon, much of the first third of the Golden Gate Dozen follows the race course.

Written by SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow
Edited by Pavlína Marek

Start Easy, But Get Ready to Climb

Start at the East Beach Parking Lot at Crissy Field, where the terrain is flat and the running is easy. The trail winds through the marsh with the Golden Gate Bridge ahead, and it is a beautiful place to settle into the run. Eventually, though, the route sends you uphill toward the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Consider that your first reminder that this is San Francisco, not a flat city park.

Hopper’s Hands, a Cup of Coffee, and the Most Beautiful Bridge

From there, make your way toward Fort Point and underneath the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of those places where even runners who know San Francisco well are likely to stop for a moment. Be sure to find Hopper’s Hands beneath the bridge and give them a high ten (two high fives). It is a small ritual, but it makes the run feel like an event. If you look near the ground under Hopper’s Hands, you’ll see a similar sign intended for dogs.

After you (and potentially your four-legged friend) get your high tens head toward the bridge itself, where the views open up to the Golden Gate, the Bay, and the Marin Headlands. If you need a little caffeine, the Round House Café is an excellent place for a break.

Once you leave the bridge behind, the route settles into a more familiar rhythm for San Francisco Marathon runners. Much of the running through the Presidio follows the same course used by the Marathon and 1st Half Marathon.

This makes this section particularly useful if you’re training for the race. You get your miles in while seeing the course from a different perspective, and you can start to appreciate how the hills and turns fit together when you’re not surrounded by thousands of other runners.

Running on the Edge of the Continent

The character of the run changes dramatically when you reach Lands End. The paved streets give way to an unpaved trail that follows the edge of the Bay, with the Pacific Ocean stretching out in front of you and the Marin Headlands visible across the water. This is one of the best sections of the route for simply running and looking around. You may find yourself slowing down, not because you are tired, but because there is something worth seeing around every turn.

At Sutro Baths, give yourself permission to stop running for a few minutes. The ruins of the enormous nineteenth-century bathhouse are one of San Francisco’s most unusual landmarks, and scrambling around the remains is worth the brief interruption. From there, climb toward Sutro Heights, which provides another spectacular viewpoint.

Then comes Ocean Beach, where the route opens onto a long, flat, straight stretch of coastline. At Lincoln Boulevard, you have a choice. Continue through Sunset Dunes Park for a distinctly San Francisco running experience, or, if you’re confident in the elasticity of your Achilles tendons, head about 100 meters west and run on the sand. At Judah Street, Java Beach offers an excellent excuse for another coffee break. And if you are looking for a longer pause at Sloat Boulevard, the San Francisco Zoo is right there.

Look Up. You’re at Fort Funston

The final miles take you south along the coast toward Fort Funston. By this point, you have crossed much of the western side of the city, and the scenery has changed again. The ocean remains your constant companion, but the urban landscape gradually falls away.

Fort Funston is a fitting finish, with cliffs, wide Pacific views, and hang gliders soaring overhead. It is a good place to stop, catch your breath and appreciate just how much ground you have covered.

The Golden Gate Dozen is a reminder of why running in San Francisco is so rewarding. In 12 miles, you see marshland, hills, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio, coastal trails, historic ruins, and one of the city’s great beaches. You can run it straight through if you’re focused on the mileage, or build in a few short stops and turn the day into a tour of San Francisco at running pace. Either way, finish at Fort Funston, look out over the Pacific and give yourself a minute to enjoy the view.

About Scott

Scott Benbow is a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador, attorney, nonprofit specialist, and passionate SFM runner. He lives in San Francisco and runs the hills of our incredibly beautiful city with us every year.