From the 49 Mile Scenic Walk to the Crosstown Trail, walks to remember
In 2019, we led new walking adventures that made headlines and went far off the beaten path: the 49 Mile Scenic Walk and the Crosstown Trail. We also celebrated the 15th anniversary of Peak2Peak, our popular fundraiser held each fall.
Here’s more about our walks in 2019, including some recommended reading so you can try them yourself in 2020.
The 49 Mile Scenic Walk
We kicked off walking the historic 49 Mile Scenic Drive in March, with our Walk Lab volunteers leading 75 participants on the entire route over the course of nine months. You can get some fun insights on the route from Walk SF volunteer Cole Brennan (who also created the souvenir postcards for participants), plus this KCBS piece. And we have lots of photos!
Jodie Medeiros, Walk SF’s executive director, met up with Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub for part of their trek of the entire 49 Mile Scenic Drive.
Speaking of fun, San Francisco Chronicle reporters Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub decided to rethink the 49 Mile Scenic Drive. Knight and Hartlaub attempted the entire route in one day (Walk SF’s executive director Jodie Medeiros joined for part of it!) – and later decided to remake the route without the “drive” part.
Check out their fantastic revised route. As Knight says, “Walking is certainly the best way to see San Francisco.”
Our 49 Mile Scenic Walk was inspired by and possible thanks to Kristine Poggioli and Carolyn Eidson, authors of Walking San Francisco’s 49 Mile Scenic Drive.
We’re also pretty impressed with Eric Kingsbury, who walked the entire route in one day!
The 17-mile Crosstown Trail
We made history as some of the first people to walk the new Crosstown Trail, which is an incredible new route that opened in June connecting the southeast and northwest corners of the city. Check out our photos.
Some of our awesome members, including Bob Siegel and Karen Rhodes, were instrumental in the creation of the Crosstown Trail. You can learn about their efforts and get a real flavor for the route in this New York Times article, plus this piece by Carl Nolte.
The 15th Annual Peak2Peak
As Caille Millner said so aptly in her article about Peak2Peak: “I’ve lived in San Francisco all of these years, and there are still mysteries I have yet to figure out. Guess I’ll have to take another walk soon.”
The top-secret Peak2Peak route in 2019 was nothing short of incredible. You can check out the photos, and if you want to do the 2019 Peak2Peak route, we’re offering a “rogue” kit for you and your friends to pitch in and hit the trails with.
What’s Next?
Our monthly member walks are always a great way to explore different parts and aspects of our city. And of course Peak2Peak will be back in the fall.
But… our fabulous WalkLab volunteers are designing a brand-new walk series for 2020 called “Circling the City.” This six-part series will explore the lesser known routes around the city’s edge and pass through areas unfamiliar to tourists and even most locals, ranging from urban grit to green open space. Tickets will go on sale soon, with walks beginning in March.
