Ecology Trail at the Presidio

Beautiful and well maintained. You feel very far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Good for jogging and simply walking.

Pretty smooth trail. I love jogging uphill & then back downhill.
There’s a great view at the top.
Minus one star for the bush full of bees. I know this is nature, but give me a break!

The trail is well less than a mile total, so it’s nothing spectacular. However, it does make for a great workout locally when I used it as part of a large loop combining it with West Pacific Ave, Lovers Lane, part of Presidio Blvd, and Funston Ave (the lower trailhead of the Ecology Trail).

Construction going on we needed to stop and go back several times it was annoying to constantly be «lost». (I did manage to take some cool photos tho).
Not very scenic but hike trails were good. Lots of dogs walkers.

PEOPLE SERIOUSLY NEED TO PICK UP AFTER THEIR DOGS! It makes me soo mad seeing poop every where, it disgust the SH*T out of me.
+: Very short trail. It is a very nice place to walk your dog, but be sure to pick up after your dog!!! This is a very kid friendly trail. You can pick up a Ecology Trail activity book in the Presidio Visitor’s Center on 50 Moraga which is very close by to the starting point of this trail. I love the view of Inspiration Point.
-: Too much dog poop everywhere! I do not know why people do not understand that dog poop is a biological hazard! The fine is $ 100 to $ 250 if you do not pick up after your dog.

They’re in the middle of a fair amount of restoration work and the views aren’t all that great (you mainly see trees). The trail is quite popular with dog walkers. Near Inspiration Point you can hook up to trails that lead to the Golden Gate Bridge and Mountain Lake.
I started at Inspiration Point on Arguello where you can park for free (the trailhead is by the Pershing House in the Presidio). Take the stairs down to the trail. The trail signs aren’t that clear. If you go towards the right, you’ll find a loop that takes you back to where you started. If you go towards the left, you’ll find yourself among the trees, going downhill on a wide, dirt path. Though it isn’t a long trail overall (2 miles), it’s good for practicing running uphill for long stretches.

While I will always be a city girl, I can’t deny my need for nature either. Therefore, the Ecology Trail is a perfect place for me. It’s right in the city and accessible by MUNI, but a minute onto the trail and it’s like I’m far away in the wooded countryside. There is a mix of non-​native (eucalyptus trees) and native (California poppies, redwoods) flora, but the park is dedicated to restoring the land by helping native plants flourish. There are lots of birds and insects, too, which make the experience even better. It is possible to walk awhile and be completely oblivious of the city around you, but there are spots where you can see the Palace of Fine Arts, the ships on the bay, and the nearby houses (an especially good view of all three can be had at Inspiration Point).
The only downside of this lovely trail is the great number of professional dog-​walkers who take their (off-​leash – which is not supposed to be allowed) charges here. I don’t mind a few dogs, but I hardly went a minute on the trail without a pack of dogs going by me. Still, it was a nice place to walk, and I will definitely go back.