McLaren Park Trails
Address
Mansell St & John F Shelley Dr San Francisco, CA 94134
Park Hours: 5 a.m. to Midnight
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Discover San Francisco’s second-largest park. In addition to playgrounds, picnic areas, and game courts, you’ll find the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, a golf course, McNab Lake, and the newly renovated Coffman Pool. Explore an immense Natural Area of scenic meadows, grassland, and wetland habitat. More than 7 miles of walking trails meander through its 312 acres, replete with native plants and wildlife. Established in 1927, the park is named for John McLaren, the ‘grandfather’ of Golden Gate Park.
McLaren Park Trails
Miles of paved and unpaved trails wind through the park, many of them built during the Depression by the Works Projects Administration (WPA). You can hike through a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and marshy riparian areas where springs feed Yosemite Creek.
Philosopher’s Way Trail
Built on the park’s existing trail network, the 2.7-mile Philosopher’s Way Trail is a curated hike with 14 musing stations featuring plaques with quotations, park history, or other interesting tidbits. The trail head is located at 1229 Mansell Street .
Map Description & Trail Layout
The McLaren Park trail system is centered around Mansell Street , which bisects the park east-to-west. Key features include:
- The North Loop: Encircles the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and McNab Lake.
- The South Loop: Features the Philosopher’s Way trail, winding through the lower meadows and the 280-corridor heights.
- Philosopher’s Way: A 2.7-mile perimeter loop with 14 marked stations, accessible from the main trailhead at 1229 Mansell Street.
- Connectivity: Trails connect to the Visitacion Valley Greenway to the south and University Street to the west.
Related Links
- McLaren Park Main Page
- Jerry Garcia Amphitheater
- Report a Maintenance Issue
- Report maintenance or vandalism via SF 311