Lions, Cows and Bears! The Remarkable History of Glen Park and Glen Canyon
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About the Tour
About the Tour
The village of Glen Park is nestled among the slopes of the San Miguel Hills near the heart of San Francisco, just south of Twin Peaks. It is the gateway to a hidden gem of 70 acres of open space known as Glen Canyon, of which 60 acres is officially designated as a Significant Natural Resource Area.
Much of the history of Glen Park and Glen Canyon is closely intertwined, from early open-range cattle grazing and milch
ranches, to an explosive direct link with today's prestigious Nobel Prizes, to a radical sales gimmick for selling home lots that included just about everything from lions and bears to trick shooters and high-flying aeronauts!
Our route will take us from the bustling village of Glen Park through the neighborhood into Glen Canyon. In addition to the area's remarkable cultural history, we'll also discover some of the highlights of the canyon's natural history as we trek through.
Join me as we rediscover the forgotten histories of Glen Park and Glen Canyon!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
I'm the Chief Tramping Officer of my history blog, Tramps of San Francisco. Walk with me through the streets of San Francisco as we rediscover some of our City's forgotten history. I'm a long-term resident of San Francisco, served as a history docent with the National Park Service for 15 years, and founder of the Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project at www.GlenParkHistory.org.
History is out there, just waiting for us to find it! Join me on a journey to rediscover our forgotten histories!
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 1
Welcome to the Village of Glen Park!
You should now be standing on the plaza of the Glen Park BART Stati... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Village of Glen Park
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Glen Park BART Station
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Glen Park Recreation Center
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Glen Canyon Park
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location40 Brompton Ave, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
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Total distance4km
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Final location600-624 Bosworth St, San Francisco, CA 94131, USA
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Distance back to start location89.37m
Directions to Starting Point
Hike begins in the plaza of the Glen Park BART Station, 2901 Diamond Street (at Bosworth Street) in the village of Glen Park, San Francisco. Arrival by public transit is encouraged.
BART lines serving Glen Park: Pittsburg/Bay Point to San Francisco International Airport/Millbrae; Dublin/Pleasanton to Daly City; Fremont to Daly City; and Richmond to Daly City/Millbrae.
SF MUNI lines serving Glen Park: 23-Monterey; 36-Teresita; 44-O'Shaughnessy; 52-Excelsior; J-Church.
Driving: Parking is limited in Glen Park. Some parking spaces are metered. Be aware that most parking spaces without meters have limits of two to four hours. Also be aware of street cleaning schedules.
From downtown San Francisco: Take Highway 101 southbound to Interstate 280 southbound. Take Exit 52 at Monterey Boulevard. Turn right on Diamond Street at the end of the exit. Follow Diamond as it veers left towards the intersection with Bosworth Street. The BART station will be on your right.
From Highway 101 Northbound: Take the Interstate 280 southbound exit. In about one mile, take Exit 52 at Monterey Boulevard. Turn right on Diamond Street at the end of the exit. Follow Diamond as it veers left towards the intersection with Bosworth Street. The BART station will be on your right.
From Interstate 280 northbound, use the right lane to take the San Jose Avenue exit. After merging on to San Jose Avenue, stay in the right lane. Beware of bicyclists. Turn right on Rousseau Street. At the first stop sign, turn right on to Bosworth Street. At the intersection with Diamond Street, the BART Station will be on your left.
From the Golden Gate Bridge: After passing the toll booths, merge right. Take the Highway 1 southbound exit to 19th Avenue. Continue southbound for 5.3 miles on Veterans Boulevard that becomes Park Presidio, then Crossover Drive through Golden Gate Park, then finally 19th Avenue. Turn left on Sloat Boulevard. At Juniper Serra Boulevard, veer left (not sharp left) on to Portola Drive. After about 1 mile, turn right on O'Shaughnessy Boulevard. Follow O'Shaughnessy for about 1 mile as it turns into Bosworth Street. Travel 0.5 miles to the intersection with Diamond Street. The BART Station will be ahead on the right.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are a variety of restaurants, cafes, groceries, and shops in the village of Glen Park, and near the midway point of the hike at Diamond Heights Shopping Center.
The Glen Park Branch of the San Francisco Public Library is located at 2825 Diamond Street.
Best time of day
Daytime hike only. Weekends tend to be busier.
Precautions
Always be aware of your surroundings on the streets and in Glen Canyon Park. Use caution crossing all intersections.
This is a moderate 2.4-mile hike with an approximate 225-foot elevation change. Plan at least 90 minutes to complete the route. Some terrain is steep or uneven. Wear good hiking shoes as terrain will change from asphalt and concrete to partially improved dirt trails.
Sunscreen is recommended. Wear layers as the temperature and wind speed can change quickly as the fog begins to move onshore in afternoon hours.
Bring adequate water. You can also buy bottled water before leaving the village of Glen Park, or when you are about midway through the hike near Diamond Heights Shopping Center .
Wild coyotes live in Glen Canyon Park. Please do not approach them, and keep your pets on a leash. Also, carry all trash and pet waste to the nearest receptacle, and stay on trails to protect habitat and avoid poison oak.
Smoking and fires are prohibited in Glen Canyon Park.
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