Lincoln Park Steps-Legion of Honor Loop
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Lincoln Park Steps, California Street, at 32nd Ave., San Francisco
Location: Start at the Lincoln Park Steps in the Outer Richmond District, which starts at the end of California Street near 32nd Ave.
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Lincoln Park Steps information link (SF Parks Alliance):
http://www.lincolnparksteps.org
Lincoln Park Golf Course information link (SF Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Lincoln-Park-Golf-Course-41
Lincoln Park Golf Course information link (Lincoln Park Golf Course):
http://www.lincolnparkgolfcourse.com
Legion of Honor information link (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco):
https://legionofhonor.famsf.org
Distance:
The loop walk described here adds up to approximately 1.5 miles, including a brief stop at the Lands End Trail Eagles Point vista spot off Lincoln Highway near 32nd Ave. There are some moderate inclines but no extremely steep sections.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Read signs for street parking rules carefully. They differ from street to street.
• There is a toilet building up behind the Legion of Honor accessed by a walk up the narrow road off El Camino Del Mar that goes behind the museum.
• Stay alert for flying golf balls on paths near active play on the golf course.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Sun protection and water, as well as extra layers for chilly winds, are always advisable. Sometimes these are necessary within the same half hour as temperatures can change quickly.
• On any trail, avoid touching poison oak. A scrub such as Technu is good to have if accidentally contacted.
The trail:
The end bit of California Street where it intersects with 32nd Avenue is where walkers will find the colorful Lincoln Park Steps. Designed by one of the artists who also worked on the colorful Moraga Steps (Moraga Mosaic Stairs to Grandview Park), the Lincoln Park Steps are wider, allowing for a broader design. A bright blue sky with the tall trees shooting upward adds to the colorful effect of these steps, while fog gives a misty feel.
Once at the top of the stairs, turn right facing north. There is a foot path that parallels the Lincoln Park Golf Course on the left, and passes by school facilities on the right. This is a quiet, less populated part of the walk.
At the end of this northward path, cross Lincoln Highway (near its intersection with 32nd Ave.). Walk the few yards on the path to the Lands End Eagle Point vista spot and enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
Come back to the sidewalk that parallels the ocean view section of the golf course, walking gradually uphill with the ocean view to the right. There are several benches along the way, each having its own stunning view toward the bridge, with China Beach, Baker Beach and Marshall’s Beach visible to the right when looking toward the bridge.
At the top of the incline, there is a Japanese memorial at the right side of the path. The long parking area on El Camino del Mar (Lincoln Highway morphs into El Camino del Mar) for the Legion of Honor starts just past this. The Legion of Honor is up the hill to the left. Walk toward the Legion of Honor but take the small side road that leads up behind it. There is a small public toilet building here.
The back side of the Legion of Honor showcases statues and the building structure that was modeled after the Palace of the Legion of Honor in Paris. In the right season, flowers line this part of the pathway at the back of the museum, and a left turn brings walkers on a path leading to the front of the museum, with the building on the left and yet another section of the golf course to the right.
Statues, ocean and sky make for a great visual mix at the front of the Legion of Honor. Rodin’s “The Thinker” is just inside the courtyard entrance for those who’d like to make a short detour off the loop described here. The loop walk continues down Legion of Honor Drive along the golf course until it connects with Clement St. Here, Lincoln Park Playground comes into view, and a left turn from Clement onto 32nd Ave. brings walkers back toward the Lincoln Park Steps starting point at California.
We’ve done this approximately 1.5 mile loop many times, on foggy days as well as blue sky days, and it offers atmospheric views whatever the weather.
Lincoln Park Steps-Legion of Honor Loop Hike Notes were originally paired with the “One Step at a Time” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Lincoln Park Steps, California Street, at 32nd Ave., San Francisco
Location: Start at the Lincoln Park Steps in the Outer Richmond District, which starts at the end of California Street near 32nd Ave.
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Lincoln Park Steps information link (SF Parks Alliance):
http://www.lincolnparksteps.org
Lincoln Park Golf Course information link (SF Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Lincoln-Park-Golf-Course-41
Lincoln Park Golf Course information link (Lincoln Park Golf Course):
http://www.lincolnparkgolfcourse.com
Legion of Honor information link (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco):
https://legionofhonor.famsf.org
Distance:
The loop walk described here adds up to approximately 1.5 miles, including a brief stop at the Lands End Trail Eagles Point vista spot off Lincoln Highway near 32nd Ave. There are some moderate inclines but no extremely steep sections.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Read signs for street parking rules carefully. They differ from street to street.
• There is a toilet building up behind the Legion of Honor accessed by a walk up the narrow road off El Camino Del Mar that goes behind the museum.
• Stay alert for flying golf balls on paths near active play on the golf course.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Sun protection and water, as well as extra layers for chilly winds, are always advisable. Sometimes these are necessary within the same half hour as temperatures can change quickly.
• On any trail, avoid touching poison oak. A scrub such as Technu is good to have if accidentally contacted.
The trail:
The end bit of California Street where it intersects with 32nd Avenue is where walkers will find the colorful Lincoln Park Steps. Designed by one of the artists who also worked on the colorful Moraga Steps (Moraga Mosaic Stairs to Grandview Park), the Lincoln Park Steps are wider, allowing for a broader design. A bright blue sky with the tall trees shooting upward adds to the colorful effect of these steps, while fog gives a misty feel.
Once at the top of the stairs, turn right facing north. There is a foot path that parallels the Lincoln Park Golf Course on the left, and passes by school facilities on the right. This is a quiet, less populated part of the walk.
At the end of this northward path, cross Lincoln Highway (near its intersection with 32nd Ave.). Walk the few yards on the path to the Lands End Eagle Point vista spot and enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
Come back to the sidewalk that parallels the ocean view section of the golf course, walking gradually uphill with the ocean view to the right. There are several benches along the way, each having its own stunning view toward the bridge, with China Beach, Baker Beach and Marshall’s Beach visible to the right when looking toward the bridge.
At the top of the incline, there is a Japanese memorial at the right side of the path. The long parking area on El Camino del Mar (Lincoln Highway morphs into El Camino del Mar) for the Legion of Honor starts just past this. The Legion of Honor is up the hill to the left. Walk toward the Legion of Honor but take the small side road that leads up behind it. There is a small public toilet building here.
The back side of the Legion of Honor showcases statues and the building structure that was modeled after the Palace of the Legion of Honor in Paris. In the right season, flowers line this part of the pathway at the back of the museum, and a left turn brings walkers on a path leading to the front of the museum, with the building on the left and yet another section of the golf course to the right.
Statues, ocean and sky make for a great visual mix at the front of the Legion of Honor. Rodin’s “The Thinker” is just inside the courtyard entrance for those who’d like to make a short detour off the loop described here. The loop walk continues down Legion of Honor Drive along the golf course until it connects with Clement St. Here, Lincoln Park Playground comes into view, and a left turn from Clement onto 32nd Ave. brings walkers back toward the Lincoln Park Steps starting point at California.
We’ve done this approximately 1.5 mile loop many times, on foggy days as well as blue sky days, and it offers atmospheric views whatever the weather.
Lincoln Park Steps-Legion of Honor Loop Hike Notes were originally paired with the “One Step at a Time” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
