About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

With over 40 hilltops (and 70 by some accounts), San Francisco is the second hilliest city in the world. While we residents are accustomed to our unusual topography, visitors can get weak in the knees just thinking about some of our epic ascents. As the founder of Urban Hiker SF, it’s my job and my pleasure to show people around the stairways, hills, and hiking trails of San Francisco. What I’ve learned through my work is that San Francisco has hikes of every level! Here are five easy hikes in San Francisco that people of all fitness levels can enjoy (ranked from shortest to longest).

1. Crissy Field to Fort Point

Fort Point
Photo via C. Hanchey on Flickr

Distance: 2 miles roundtrip

Elevation: none

A favorite spot for locals and tourists alike, Crissy Field hosts thousands of walkers, runners, and bikers daily. Start this hike at the Warming Hut and take a paved path toward the Golden Gate Bridge. At the end of the path, you’ll reach Fort Point, a Civil War-era fort just underneath the bridge. Return on the same path to get back to your start.

2.  Fort Funston Loop

Fort Funston
Photo credit: Alexandra Kenin

Distance: 2 miles roundtrip

Elevation: ~100 feet

Located in the southwestern corner of the city, Fort Funston is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This former military fort features an old gun battery plus a collection of walking paths that cut through sand dunes, ice plants, and Monterey Cypress groves. For an easy loop around the park (full details here), take the paved Coastal Trail from the main parking lot and continue straight until you reach the Horse Trail. Take the Horse Trail back to your start.

Bonus points: Take the “sand ladder” (a steep stairway) 200 feet down to the beach – and climb back up.

3. Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill

Stow Lake
Photo via duluoz cats on Flickr

Distance: 2 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 150 feet

Manmade Stow Lake is one of 11 lakes in Golden Gate Park. Surrounding the lake is a one-mile paved path where you can observe birds, turtles, and paddle boaters enjoying the water. After a lake loop, take a bridge from either the northern or southern end of the park to enter Strawberry Hill, the island in the middle of the lake. From there, you can visit the Chinese Pagoda, Huntington Falls, or climb to the top of the island for views of downtown San Francisco.

4. Philosopher’s Way

Philosphers Way
Photo credit: Alexandra Kenin

Distance: 2.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 400 feet

McLaren Park is San Francisco’s second largest park (after Golden Gate Park). It includes seven miles of walking trails including the 2.7 mile Philosopher’s Way. This trail guides you through the park’s perimeter using 60+ stone markers and 14 “musing stations.” This path is designed for contemplation, and the downtown views from the northern part of the loop will have you in awe.

Take it easy: Use this map to make this hike even shorter.

5. Lands End

Lands End
Photo credit: Alexandra Kenin

Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 270 feet (some stairs)

The Lands End Trail is located in the northwestern corner of the city. On a sunny day, you’ll get stunning views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands with occasional “interruptions” by cypress and fragrant eucalyptus trees. You can also connect with history as this route traces a late 1800s railroad route that led to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths.

Bonus points: Visit the ruins of the Sutro Baths or travel down to the Eagle Point labyrinth.

Marybeth Bond