Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve

Mount Sutro is an area in San Francisco just outside of the University of California San Francisco. The space is owned by the university and spans over sixty acres. This dense forest environment is home to Monterey pine, Cyprus, and other wonderful species of trees and plants. Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve also has a system of trails that runs over five miles in total. The trails wind through the dreamlike woods of the premises and welcome hikers accompanied by furry paws!

You and your dog will love this hidden gem; to get there, first find parking on one of the nearby streets (there is no official parking lot for the reserve, but there are plenty of spaces around Clarendon Avenue). There are six trailheads with access to the reserve. Going clockwise: in the south, you’ll find the Clarendon, Christopher, and Crestmont Trailheads, and in the north are the Campus, Edgewood, and Stanyan Trailheads. 

Each trailhead will lead you to the Historic Trail, which circles the premises and gives you access to the trails in the central parts of the reserve. To get to the top of Mount Sutro in the center of the reserve, you can take the East, North, or South Ridge Trails. You can identify the trails by the markers that are posted throughout the reserve, and there are also maps at the site to help guide you through the dreamlike San Francisco forests.

Always be sure to follow proper trail etiquette and obey the rules of the trail. Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve requires dogs to remain leashed at all times, and make sure you bring bags to clean up after your furry friend. Note that there are no restrooms inside the reserve, but there are restrooms located just outside at the Aldea San Miguel Community Center and at UCSF.

You and your dog are guaranteed to love the trails at Mount Sutro Open Space, whether you’re stopping by for a short stroll or hiking to the top of the mountain!