Walks to do now & mark your calendar for in 2026
The new year often brings new commitments to walk more, and the spectacular January weather doesn’t hurt, either!
A recent New York Times article talks about how to get more out of your walks – and the suggestions are easy to apply in our hill-filled city.
So as you make 2026 a year of more walking, here are some walks to take today, plus our signature walking events to mark your calendar for!
3 big walks to try in the new year
The Big Art Loop
If you love long walks and oversized sculptures, then the Big Art Loop is for you! This 34-mile route is dedicated to displaying only sculptures that are more than 10 feet tall or wide.
Installations are ongoing, making this a great walk to visit and revisit throughout the year. Route details can be found here. Highlights include a 100-foot-long sea serpent named Naga that blows bubbles out of its nose and a giant fish made out of recycled pizza pans.
The Roundabout
Last October, our friends at the Crosstown Trail unveiled the Roundabout: a 38-mile route that takes hikers along the entire outer edge of San Francisco. Some extra hearty hikers have taken on the entire route in a single day, starting before sunrise and ending long after the sun sets!
But you can hike the route in sections. Detailed turn-by-turn directions and maps can be found here.
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
For years, Candlestick Point was infamous for its rotten-egg stench, making attending baseball games in San Francisco an exercise in how long you can hold your breath.
Since then, however, the space has turned into a gorgeous, 204-acre green space, perfect for kayaking or bird-watching. We highly recommend making your way to this hidden gem for an early morning walk (the kind that takes you further than just first base).
Read San Francisco Chronicle culture critic Peter Hartlaub’s review of the park here to get oriented for your walk.
Our signature walks are already scheduled for 2026
We’re already testing out and fine-tuning the routes for our annual signature walks: the SF Stair Challenge and Peak2Peak.
Mark your calendars for the 4th annual SF Stair Challenge on Saturday, May 2, 2026 and the 22nd annual Peak2Peak on Saturday, September 12, 2026. These don’t-miss supported hikes are crafted by our expert WalkLab volunteers, bringing the community together to celebrate walking in our city.
Note that Walk SF members get early bird access and discounts for tickets to both.
Share your walks with us
As always, we love to see and share your walks in San Francisco. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with #IWalkSF and @walksf. We may feature your photo in our newsletter.
Banner image: Fiona Yim
