Twin Peaks

Bring your binoculars to the Twin Peaks look-out points and you will hear a range of accents and languages as you adjust your focus on the Bay Bridge. The sounds accompanying your sightseeing will belong to an international crowd, as this destination is a must-see on every tourist’s to-do list.

It’s easy to see why. Twin Peaks is located on one of the highest summits in San Francisco, standing at an impressive 922 feet, with views of the Bay from every angle. Ride up Twin Peaks Boulevard from the Castro District, watching the cheerful rainbow flags wave as you pass, or from the Haight, where you can stop for a meal at Cha Cha Cha. After making your way down, visit the gardens in the Golden Gate or order a cup of coffee in one of the Outer Sunset’s many mom-and-pop joints. Twin Peaks is in the middle of it all and doesn’t have to take all day. But it does make for a refreshing detour, where you can literally put the S.F. map down and take in a whole new perspective on the lay of the land.

The twin peaks, Noe and Eureka, are so named because they are two identical, cone-shaped summit points standing shoulder to shoulder. You can imagine the anatomical comparisons that the peaks inspire from a distance. Steps built into the hillsides make them an easy and short climb. Nearby, there’s also a paved walkway bordering the parking area, where telescopes line the sidewalk viewing areas and a concrete wall forms a border along the edge of the summit. There’s usually a truck here serving street food, and the occasional event tent will post up with flyers and paraphernalia.

From Twin Peaks, you can see 360-degree views of more than just San Francisco but Marin, Oakland, Berkeley, and beyond. You can see the blue Bay and both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. You can make a game out of finding one famous street after another. You can see the city of Alameda, understanding, perhaps for the first time, that it really is an island. There’s inspiration in this view for sure, whether you’re a visitor or a resident of one of the endless homes you’ll see from above.

HelloSanFrancisco Tip: Click here for the City of San Francisco PDF-based web site that provides further details of the Twin Peaks area, including specific recreational and volunteer opportunities.

 

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.