Can't Top This

Visit Presidio Tunnel Tops park in San Francisco

05.10.2023

San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And the Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top.

Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio. That's more picnic and bbq tables (including wheelchair accessible options) in addition to many of Tunnel Tops' other outstanding features, including a campfire circle and impressive lookouts with seating for taking in a San Francisco sunset over the Golden Gate.

Tunnel Tops is just as it sounds: a park on top of tunnels! Presidio Parkway tunnels to be precise.

It’s a beautifully laid-out park designed for the community, with picnic tables and benches, reservable barbecue pits, expansive lawns, lush gardens, and playgrounds for kids. There's also the beautifully curated and informative Presidio Visitor Center.

And that view?! Pure San Francisco gold … as in the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.

The short and easy Cliff Walk is a great way to see the park. Take a seat on one of the comfy giant benches carved from Presidio trees. And if that chilly summer weather rolls in, don’t worry! There’s a gas firepit carved into big boulders where you can warm up while admiring those marvelous bay views.

BONUS: Time your visit for a Presidio Pop Up Food + Beverage. Pick up some delicious eats from a selection of food trucks parked along the Main Parade Lawn.

CAMPFIRE TALKS: Drop in for a complimentary 30-minute campfire talk at Tunnel Tops' Campfire Circle, every Friday to Sunday at 4:00 p.m. National Park Service rangers share stories of people who have been an important and vital part of the Presidio's story, including Buffalo Soldiers, indigenous history, and Japanese Americans interned during World War II.

STAY: Lodge at the Presidio is worth a splurge for an overnight escape in the heart of the Presidio, and directly across the street from Tunnel Tops. Quiet, with plenty of outdoor patio space for relaxing, including around a firepit, the Lodge is registered under Historic Hotels of America. It's modern, with a nice complimentary wine & cheese reception in the evening, along with a morning breakfast. It's also dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View