Destinations
Randall Museum/Corona Heights Park
One of my favorite things about “the city” is that almost anywhere you walk, ride or drive, you can catch a piece of some sort of spectacular view.Randall Museum Roosevelt and Museum Ways San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 554-9600
Location
If you’re taking public transportation then you want to jump on the “24” Muni Bus line. You can catch it from the corner of Haight St. and Divisidero headed north, or you can take it from any point on Castro Street toward Divisidero (south). Jump off at the corner of 14th and Castro.
If you want to drive, head north on Divisidero from Haight St. Divisidero turns into Castro. As soon as you hit 14th and Castro, look for parking. There is also parking at the museum but you’re going to want to tackle the rest of this trek on foot!
There will be signs that say Randall Museum at the corner of 14th and Castro and from this point on, you‘ll want to follow the road by staying to the left. There will be two more signs to guide you along the way. Before you head up the hill, stop by one of San Francisco’s best fresh Produce Stands. You can’t miss Courtney’s Produce (Courtney’s Produce, 101 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 626-1850) with its multi-colored fresh fruit boxes set outside. For a quick protein boost, you may also want to peak inside and pick up a couple PB&J’s from the cooler. They’ll run you about $1.50, and every bite is worth it.
What It's All About
The Randall Museum and Corona Heights Park are both part of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The park itself includes a dog play area with tons of fun climbing and hiking. The hills are bound by chert bedrock and red peaks which stand a bit over 500 ft. above sea level. Below the peaks there is a large flat lawn with picnic tables facing awesome downtown views.
Randall Museum was named after Josephine D. Randall, a zoologist and one of the first organizers of the Girl Scout troops in the United States. Josephine Randall was also the first Superintendent of Recreation for San Francisco. The museum is an arts, history and science museum for all ages. No pets are allowed on museum grounds.
Why Should You Go
The Randall Museum Park is one of San Francisco’s best kept secrets. One of my favorite things about “the city” is that almost anywhere you walk, ride or drive, you can catch a piece of some sort of spectacular view. The sites you’ll see from the top of Randall Park, also known as Corona Heights Park, will either leave you considering the length of time you’ll stay at your current home state address (if you’re a visitor), or remind you exactly why you live in this awesome city.
As you walk into the park, head to the right and start the fun short hike up to the clay colored rocks. The rocks take on different shapes depending on what time of day it is, but you can’t help feeling you have just been zapped into a hidden southwestern mountain. Have fun climbing around the rocks and checking out the entire city, and even Oakland, in one view. The houses and apartment buildings in the valley below remind me of old South American pueblos with their mixtures of yellows, pinks and blues all stacked next to each other in uneven layers. They are nestled in the green hills right below Sutro Tower. While the Golden Gate Bridge is obstructed, you can see Downtown, the Mission, Market St., Civic Center, Potrero Hill, Noe Valley, and the Bay Bridge.
If you have a dog, you will discover this to be one of the coolest dog parks that doesn’t carry the usual dog-park stigma. Not a lot of standing around or regulars sizing you or your dog up and down. The park is big enough and intimate enough that you can feel you have the whole place to yourself even during the typical happy-hour dog times.
I especially dig the different kinds of trees that keep the park enclosed and hidden. Enjoy the fresh scent of Eucalyptus and the laid back feel of palm trees. If it’s cold or rainy, or both--cuddle into the grips of the pine trees for your own wintry, mountain vibe.
Don't Forget
It gets super windy up there and the high rocks themselves don’t offer much protection- so take warm clothes especially if you are going in the afternoon/evening times. Also, wear comfortable shoes and be ready for unpaved walkways and paths up to the red windy chert peaks. There is only one short hand rail which isn’t too sturdy so don’t count on too much other than nature to support your balance.
There are restrooms inside the museum below the park.
Help! I Forgot Stuff
There isn’t too much around the park other than the museum and a few tennis courts. BUT- if you head south out of the park and follow the road down, pass the museum, you can start walking down toward the Castro where you can find plenty of eats, bars, and coffee shops.