Twin Peaks Day Hike

21 June 2016

A couple of years ago, I ran across a web site by Bill Choisser describing an urban day hike to Twin Peaks, the second highest mountain in the city of San Francisco.  I carefully made notes for the hike and following his route, I made it to the top.  It almost killed me.  It’s a 700 foot climb in elevation to 910 feet, straight up.  Yes, it’s paved most of the way, with stairs in several places, but it’s a killer if you are not in shape.

I later met Bill and his partner and treated them to dinner in the Castro.  Strangely, Bill grew up in Fort Lauderdale and went to Pinecrest as a kid when it was on Broward Blvd.  You can read his hike description at http://www.choisser.com/hiking/twinpeaks/html.

I decided to retrace my trip and fortunately I didn’t have to rely on my notes (they got soaked with sweat and were virtually unreadable by the end).   Bill made the web site readable on the iPhone and iPad so I could easily follow his description this time.

You start on 18th Street and Castro. You immediately walk past the Harvey Milk School and get to view some interesting mosaics done by the students.

The walk takes you through some wonderful neighborhoods and everyone seems to be quite the gardener.  You get to see plants totally foreign to south Florida because of the very temperate climate of San Francisco.

On Douglas and 20th Streets you take your first set of stairs.  There are 92 steps and you walk next to an apartment complex with no internal stairs to each apartment since the 92 steps allow you entry into each apartment.

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Eventually you make your way to Corbett and Hopkins. Hopkins is a steep climb, probably the steepest of the trip. When you look back, you see a little reddish brown house at the bottom.  The house is notorious for runaway cars crashing into it from loss of brakes down the steep grade. Bill relates one went through the entire house and hung off the other side as it crashed through the outside wall.

Next are four sets of stairs. The first is 40 steps, the second is 62, the third is 34, and the last is 55 (not that I’m counting). It’s at this point you are at the Trailhead to Twin Peaks.

Now you get to climb to the peaks and then you get to climb each peak.  Bill says the names of the peaks are seldom used but the south peak is Noe Peak and the north peak is Eureka Peak.  Sutro tower is not on either peak but off west of the two.  A drive forms a figure 8 around the peaks and this is where the danger comes in.  There have been many traffic fatalities from speeding  cars interacting with day hikers.

From either peak you can look west and see the Pacific Ocean.  A look to the northwest shows the Golden Gate Bridge.  Due North lies the city with a good view of the Transamerica pyramid building, and a straight shot view down Market Street to the Embarcadero.

I had my water bottle, day pack and I stole a banana and tangerine from the guest house so I paused on Noe Peak for refreshments.  Both peaks have steps made from cross ties but you still need to be careful going up and down. My first hike, I fell going up Noe Peak and hurt my knee. I’m pleased to say I made this trip without damage.  I must also be in better shape.  It was a lot easier this time but I do admit it was disheartening to see several joggers running up the stairs past me.