Easy stroll along the edge of the Pacific Ocean
By Austin Explorer on 9/27/2026
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.17 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Coppertone and I were in the city dropping off some things for the Texas Exes SF chapter and we figured we'd check off one thing to do while we were there. We parked at the north edge of the Great Highway and walked its length down the the SF zoo.
We brought jackets and we were happy that we did so. There was a consistent, cool gusty breeze coming off of the ocean. To the west, one was treated to views of the Pacific Ocean, though sometimes sand dunes were large enough to block that view.
There were a large number of people on the trail, so this is not the place to come for solitude. Don't let my photos deceive you. In addition to a paved area for walking or biking there were also areas for kids to play and climb as well as art and rest spots. Our favorite stop was the enormous balanced boulder. With enough effort one can spin it on its axis. Although it took some straining to get it started, its mass and momentum continued long after we stood back to admire our work.
The trail on the Great Highway ends at the San Francisco Zoo, which is where we turned around and made this about a 4 mile walk.