Walk them any weekend
Self-guided hikes
The pack provides the route — you choose the time. These count toward the Pack 345 50-mile hiking award.
All seven routes are designed to work for scouts of any age, kindergarten through 5th grade, and they’re all easy to get to in or around San Francisco. Most are dog-friendly.
Log your miles
Email pack345sf@gmail.com with your scout’s name, the hike name and the number of miles, and we’ll record it in ScoutBook for you — it counts toward the hiking stick.
Bring the Essential Six, and wear a Class A or Class B uniform. Take photos of your favourite bits and make some notes on the plants and animals you saw.
North Beach & the waterfront
Starts at the southwest corner of Washington Square at Union and Columbus. Up Filbert to Grant, north to the hidden path at Pfeiffer up to Jack Early Park — a secluded lookout with bay views most locals have never found. Then down to Beach, across the Embarcadero, out to the end of Pier 39 for the sea lions, west past the tour boats and Musée Mécanique to the Fisherman's & Seamen's Memorial Chapel, back along the plank dock, out to the end of Muni Pier, and home via Beach, Columbus and Powell.
Comes with a 25-point touchless scavenger hunt — how fast can a sea lion swim in short bursts, what's the number stencilled on the hydrant at Stockton & Bay, when was Jack Early Park founded. Ask us for the question sheet.
The Presidio — choose your loop
Download the Presidio trails map, pick one of the four recommended trails, and walk it. Print it or save it to your phone before you go.
Mount Sutro to Twin Peaks
An often-overlooked hike close to home, with views of just about the entire city in every direction. The loop takes most families two to three hours and is doable at any age. Dog-friendly, on leash. It can get busy on a nice weekend.
The Geocaching Series
Hap Velleno of Troop 3 planted twelve geocaches around San Francisco, each one representing a point of the Scout Law. Each of these three routes — one of them a waterfront route — visits two or three of them. Download the Geocaching app before you set off.
San Bruno Mountain
Sweeping views of Colma, Daly City and San Francisco — and on a clear day much of the East Bay. Part I is very easy: a wide gravel road on a gentle grade, starting at the Crocker Gate trailhead (free parking on Crocker Ave near S Hill Blvd). Take the first left onto Saddle Loop Trail and follow it around the perimeter to the picnic area. Part II is harder: single-track switchbacks up Summit Loop Trail to the transmitter buildings at the top, which are a good windbreak for a rest. Coming down, stay left at every fork. Both parts back-to-back take 3½–4 hours including lunch.
The trails are very windy. Even so, pack extra water on a hot day — there is almost no shade. Wear shoes with real tread for Part II.
Got a route we should add?
Send it to pack345sf@gmail.com. Happy trails.