POTRERO AND BERNAL HILLS
Hike Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Leader: Carl Stein
Leader Email: carl@sfhiking.com
Leader Phone: 415.794.2275
SF Meeting Location: 16th & Bryant streets (southeast corner by Franklin Square, across the street from Safeway). Muni bus lines 22, 27, 33, 55 come to that corner. The corner is a 10-minutes walk east from the 16th & Mission BART station.
SF Meeting Time at the trailhead: 9:30 AM
SF Departure Time: 9:45 AM
East Bay Meeting Location: Rockridge BART station if you want to carpool. Meet at the bottom of the escalators. (There's free and ample parking). Street parking at the hike starting point or risk parking in the parking lot across the street. However, I encourage East Bay hikers instead to ride BART to 16th & Mission station and walk 10 minutes east to the meeting point.
East Bay Meeting Time: 9:00 AM at Rockridge
East Bay Departure Time: Shortly after 9:00 AM
NOTE: Please only show up at the Rockridge BART station if you've arranged for a ride ahead of time.
Hike Rating: Level 3
Hike Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1200'
Description: Potrero and Bernal hills are easily recognized on the east side of San Francisco. We'll be walking through mostly residential neighborhoods as we hike to the tops of both hills. 6 of the steepest streets in SF are on these hills. We will hike them -- 3 uphill (including the steepest, Bradford St, 41% grade) and 3 downhill. I counted about 20 stairways on this hike, one stood out for being colorful. We will walk downhill on Vermont Street, the crookedest street in SF. We will pass one of the most colorfully painted houses in SF. We will stop at Garfield Square (rated the sunniest spot in SF). If the sky is clear, views will include Twin Peaks, Marin Headlands, 2 bridges, Mt Diablo, and San Bruno Mountain. This hike is one way. We will not return to the starting point.
Bring / Wear: lunch, water, hat, layers for a windy or chilly day, sunscreen, good hiking shoes, hiking poles if you like.
T-shirts: Did you know we have sfhiking.com T-shirts available? Click on the STORE menu above.
Rain Policy: Contact hike leader in the event of rain
Dogs: Club dogs are welcome and encouraged to come on the hike and to bring their human companions with them.
Trailhead Meeting Location: corner 16th & Bryant streets in San Francisco.
Trailhead Meeting Time: 9:30 AM
Trailhead Departure Time: 9:45 AM
Total Driving Distance (round trip): 24 miles (Rockridge BART).
Ride-Share Carpool Fees (per passenger): $5 (Rockridge BART).
Level-1
|
Level-2 |
Level-3 |
Level-4 |
Level-5 |
|
easiest
< 5 miles
< 500' gain
|
moderately easy
5-7 miles
< 1000' gain |
moderate
7-9 miles
< 1500' gain
|
strenuous
9-12 miles
< 2000' gain
|
very strenuous
12-15+ miles
>2000' gain |
