The first time I went to San Francisco, while scouring the guidebook for less mainstream attractions, I read a little chapter about Twin Peaks and immediately thought of David Lynch’s famous TV series. Naively, I thought I had found the town where the mysterious events surrounding the death of Laura Palmer took place, but something didn’t add up. As you can read in our article dedicated to the filming locations of Twin Peaks, the series was filmed in the surroundings of Seattle and Los Angeles. So what is Twin Peaks in San Francisco? What are the reasons why it’s worth going there? How do you get there?
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What is Twin Peaks?
As the name implies, Twin Peaks are two peaks located very close to the center of San Francisco, not far from the Castro District, in an area where the highest hills of the city are located. The two peaks, known as Eureka and Noe, are just 656 feet apart and are about 920 ft tall, about 10 feet taller than Mount Sutro and 7 feet less than Mount Davidson, the highest hill in the city, which is located a couple of miles to the south. Twin Peaks is also the name of the residential neighborhood that lies on the slopes of the hill. Along the streets leading to the top of the hills, there are quite colorful modern houses in rows.
Directions to Twin Peaks
There are two ways to get to Twin Peaks, San Francisco.
- By car: If for some reason you are traveling by car (or you have already rented a car in San Francisco), just enter this destination in your GPS. You will arrive at the parking lot at the top of the hill. If you start from the Civic Center, more specifically, from the intersection of Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, it takes about 20 minutes, traffic permitting. After driving southwest on Market St and Portola Drive for about 2.5 miles, you will have to turn on Twin Peaks Boulevard and follow the green signs.
- By public transportation: Perhaps it will take a little longer, but it is very likely that it is an obligatory choice for you, especially if – as we have often advised – you do not use the car to visit San Francisco. In this case, then, you’ll have to take the 37 Muni Bus Corbett bus and get off at Burnett Ave & Crestline Dr (ID 13712). You’ll find yourself practically at the foot of Twin Peaks, so you’ll just have to climb a bit to get to the top. The bus line passes through Haight-Ashbury and also has a few stops on the south side of Market St, at the intersection of Church St and 14th St.
Twin Peaks Hike: Things to Do and Viewpoints
If you’ve made it all the way to the top of Twin Peaks, all you have to do is enjoy the view. The best place to view the entire city is Christmas Tree Point, located adjacent to the main parking lot, just down the hill to the north. From here, if there is no fog, you can see the city’s large skyscrapers and much of the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge (though somewhat screened by Golden Gate Park). If you want to see more scenic views, you can also climb to the top of the two hills. Just turn your back on Christmas Tree Point, cross the street and climb the steps on the hill to the north side.
Later, you can do the same by reaching the south side of the hill, where you can also see the southern side of the city, including nearby Mount Davidson. There is also a small parking lot between the hills (coordinates). Stop your car here if you want to avoid the busier main viewpoint. Be sure to dress appropriately because Twin Peaks is windy even in the summer!
Mount Sutro Hike
Since the hill is located in an urban area, the only trails are the ones connecting the various viewpoints, with the exception of an urban loop trail that starts here and leads to Mount Sutro, another hill nearby.
Mount Sutro
While the Twin Peaks are covered in grass, Mount Sutro – formerly known as Mount Parnassus – is covered by a dense forest of eucalyptus trees, planted in the late 1800s and fed by the typical San Francisco fog, which keeps the microsystem moist. This feature makes Mount Sutro a pleasant oasis in the chaos of the city, where you can walk in the shade of beautiful vegetation ready to provide an ideal habitat for various species of birds. Most of the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve is owned by the University of California (UCSF), which allows the public to access a handful of trails.
Among them is the Twin Peaks and Mount Sutro Loop, a 5.5-mile hike that allows you to climb both hills in one walk. If you start the loop from the Twin Peaks parking lot, you’ll have to descend one of the two hills (depending on your route) and follow a trail (not very well marked) that also passes adjacent to the neighborhood streets, before climbing Mount Sutro via the Historic Trail, which is the only trail on Mount Sutro that offers some scenic views through the trees. Since it’s not easy to follow this loop, I recommend using this helpful map. The Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve also offers other hiking options, for example, the Fairy Gates Trail, a short and easy trail in the shade of eucalyptus trees that crosses some striking rocky outcrops and gives you a chance to see some beautiful flora.
Neighborhoods and Attractions Nearby
If you’d like to plan a half-day trip to explore this side of San Francisco, which is not visited by as many tourists, you could combine a trip to Twin Peaks and Mount Sutro with a visit to Castro e Haight-Ashbury, two eclectic neighborhoods with a lively and engaging spirit. Also, a few miles northwest of Two Peaks, you’ll find the Golden Gate Park.
Where to Stay when Visiting Twin Peaks
The Twin Peaks area isn’t particularly touristy, so you’ll find very few accommodations. Since it is a bit far from the main attractions in San Francisco, it is not a very strategic location to stay overnight. My advice is to consider the recommendations you can find in our article dedicated to accommodations in San Francisco, and to organize the scenic excursion of Twin Peaks by public transportation or by car starting from public transportation hubs.
