San Francisco is not only a great city to walk around but also features many nice hiking trails close to town. There are good short walks at both Corona Heights and Buena Vista Parks that gain elevation quickly and afford good views of the city and bay. The Coastal Trail runs 1200 miles of the California coast and some of the more spectacular parts are right around San Francisco. We picked it up in the Richmond area of the city, a half hour bus ride from the city center.