The Polariod Chronicles, Part Three

February 23, 2009February 25, 2020 The Guardsman

Mount Sutro sits in the center of the city with UCSF on the eastern side and Victorian homes lining the western side. PHOTO COURTESY OF NIELS VAN ECK

My adventures into San Francisco have been fun so far and the weather lately has made my excursions only more enjoyable.
Two weekends ago, I went up to Mount Sutro, the third highest peak in the city, located above the University of California San Francisco. I didn’t go all the way to the top, just being there in the sweet smelling eucalyptus forest was enough.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Mount Sutro is its history.

Before it was renamed, Mount Sutro was known as Mount Parnassus. Like Mount Davidson and Land’s End, near the Cliff House and the Sutro Baths ruins, Mount Sutro is one of three stretches of land, which was owned by San Francisco’s 24th Mayor, Adolph Sutro. Most of Mount Sutro’s forested land is now the property of the University of California San Francisco.

The eucalyptus forest on top of the mountain is known as the Sutro Forest. It was planted by recommendation of Sutro to honor Arbor Day in 1886. Originally, Mount Sutro was covered in low brush, which allowed visitors of the summit to clearly see the city. But now, after 120 years, the forest has grown so tall that it’s difficult to see anything through the trees.

There are two easy ways to get up to Mount Sutro’s summit. The easiest way is by going through UCSF’s housing complex Aldea San Miguel, off Clarendon Avenue. If you’re driving to Laguna Honda Drive from the Upper Haight , you’ll make a left on Clarendon. If you’re coming from Forest Hill Station, you’ll turn right. Once you’re on Clarendon, you’ll need to take a left on Johnstone Drive and drive down until Johnstone Drive crosses Behr Avenue. A little parking area near a narrow paved road leads to the summit of Mount Sutro. The narrow paved road is not vehicle accessible.

But if you get around the city by Muni, like me, you’ll need to take the 36 Teresita bus up to the corner of Warren and Oakpark Drives. Go left on Oakpark Drive until you reach a set of 355-steps at Crestmont and Oakpark Drive to get to the trail that will lead you to the summit.
So if you’re in the mood for a nice walk, going up to Mount Sutro is the perfect place. The mountain is beautiful and the thick forest with its eucalyptus trees smells nice. Not to mention, the climb will do you good. So here’s to your health or as I like to say: salud!