America's Cup - SF 2013

America's Cup and The Bay Trail
January 2013

People have asked me if they can view the 34th America's Cup (AC34) yacht races (Summer 2013) from the San Francisco Bay and Bay Trail. The answer is yes, and maybe. The races are expected to draw thousands of visitors, and walking and bike paths will be an important part of getting people there and limiting car congestion.

Construction has been underway for some time to get ready for this event, along the Embarcadero, Piers 15-17 (new home of the Exploratorium), and Fisherman's Wharf, and other areas near or including the Bay Trail -- including segments of refurbished Trail segments for bicyclists and pedestrians. I look forward to walking these segments when they're completed.

More on the America's Cup
The races take place in 3 stages. The earliest America's Cup World Series took place in August and October 2012.

The races in 2013 begin with the Louis Vuitton Challenge Cup (July 4 - Sept. 1), and culminate with the America's Cup Finals from Sept. 7 until as late as Sept. 23, 2013. For more information and final dates, check with the America's Cup website.  Also check the Port of San Francisco site and the San Francisco Bay Trail website (click on the Maps/Guides tab).

The Red Bull Youth America's Cup selection series of races will be coming up in February (with final races in September) 2013.

Where to Watch
Most of the action is happening in northeast San Francisco, and viewing areas may stretch from the Marina Green/Presidio area in the north, to several piers south of the Bay Bridge.

Note: odd numbered piers start at the San Francisco Ferry Building (located at the end of Market Street), and extend north. Even numbered piers start at the SF Ferry Building and increase in number further south.

Possible viewing areas on the Bay Trail: Crissy Field (Warming Hut), Marina, Fort Mason (Greens), Aquatic Park, Hyde St. Pier, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and places along the Embarcadero that offer Bay views. (See also previous walk entries and places to eat page on this site for more places in San Francisco.) There are also small pocket parks, some benches, and pier areas where boats may be visible.

Boats may also be viewable (depending on weather, fog) from the Bay Trail in other areas: Northwest Alameda; Alcatraz Island; Angel Island; Fort Baker; Fort Point; the Golden Gate Bridge; and Treasure Island. Bring your binoculars.

Where to Stay
Many of the hotels will have been booked by now. However, there are some great alternative sites that may have units or rooms available in San Francisco. Or, why not stay on a houseboat in Sausalito? Sausalito is a waterfront community (on the Bay Trail) on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge; ferries travel between Sausalito and San Francisco, Tiburon, Angel Island, Alameda, and other destinations. (See my earlier entries on Sausalito to get a feel of the place.)

San Francisco, The Embarcadero - Apr. 4, '12

Walking Distance: 1.7 miles
Walking Time: 57 min. (8:25 - 9:22 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Street parking, on Washington Street near Embarcadero (next to tennis courts), San Francisco, CA

This evening, I was up in San Francisco, setting up for my "Walking the Bay" photo exhibit a few blocks west of the Bay Trail at the Canessa Gallery.

A note about the evolving nature of trails: Canessa Gallery is situated inside a historic (old printing company) brick building. A few hundred years ago, before considerable amounts of Bay fill (including parts of old ships left behind from the Gold Rush from the mid 1800s), this gallery would have been close to the Bay shore (perhaps near/on an old version of a Bay trail). So, it's a perfect location for a show and talk about walking the San Francisco Bay Trail.

After a stop at the gallery, I headed east on Washington Street to The Embarcadero, and walked to the public promenade area along the waterfront, on a combination of paved and wood planked sections. Most activity was blurred in these night photos taken on the move.

I strolled around the boardwalk closest to the water as part of this section of Bay Trail that is shown as a set of double red lines on the Bay Trail map; and I enjoyed a view of city lights reflected on the bay and the Bay Bridge.


The Port of San Francisco building at Pier 1 was closed; but I could see the Bayside History Walk, and large photos on the walls behind glass, that I'd seen on my first round-the-bay walk in 2009. I recommend a stop here.

By the time I reached the Ferry Building, a great historic landmark, it was too late for a snack. This was a shame, as the place was/is stuffed with small shops and vendors selling delicious food items. I made a trip there a few days ago, to make sure I didn't miss out on the chocolates, macarons, salami, and the Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam cheese (which I plan to serve at my exhibit, as I have dozens of photographs of this north bay peak - from different angles and locations on the Bay Trail).

I passed several large public art pieces, sculptures -- such as the gleaming silver retro, Raygun Gothic Rocketship; the giant bow and arrow; and various memorials (black and white posts with tiny names inscribed on them from the past).

If you count neon signs as public art, then I suppose I should count the cocktail (Open) sign at the Hi-Dive bar.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 sea gulls; too dark to see anything else

To Golden Gate Bridge Part #2/2 - Jan. 2, 2010

Walking Distance: .72 mile
Walking Time: 23 minutes (6:35 - 6:58 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Fort Point East Battery (unpaved) parking lot, San Francisco, CA

From this parking lot, Alec and I walked to the Golden Gate Bridge, hoping to make a crossing. However, pedestrians were not allowed on the bridge after 6:30 p.m., so we got as far as the closed gate, then turned back. Too bad, it was a relatively pleasant, non-windy, fog-free evening.

Wildlife Sightings:
None - It was too dark and too late in the evening

To Golden Gate Bridge Part #1/2, Jan. 2, 2010

Walking Distance: .63 mile
Walking Time: 22 minutes (6:07 - 6:29 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked near the Warming Hut, San Francisco, CA

It was wonderful to climb up the stairs and path leading up to the Golden Gate Bridge, that is to see the bridge, lit up in the dark. However, a flashlight does help, as there were no lights on this staircase (shown in daylight from a previous day's photo). We also walked along East Battery (which turned) into Lincoln Blvd., to Long Ave. - a curvy short street that ran downhill, back to where our car was parked. I would not suggest walking Long Ave. in the dark either. But, we were eager to get to the bridge at this point.

Wildlife Sightings:
None, too late and dark.

Hyde St. Pier, SF - Jan. 2, 2010

Walking Distance: 1.58 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 28 min. (3:17 - 4:45 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Parked at north end of Van Ness, near Aquatic Park, San Francisco, CA

Today we revisited Hyde St. Pier, this having been closed previously. The Pier is located at the foot of the Hyde Street hill (shown).

Walking around inside old boats, including the Eureka, a large (car and people) ferry from long ago, complete with old cars in place on the car deck, was very interesting. We also looked inside the Balclutha, which had made the trip around Cape Horn more than a dozen times. Exciting times if you like being on deck in high winds, covered with a thin sheet of ice.

Wildlife Sightings:
7 sea gulls; 2 pigeons; 2 cormorants; bay swimmers and pelican mascot

Crissy Field - Ft. Point, S.F. - Dec. 26, 2009

Walking Distance: 3.21+ miles
Walking Time: 4 hrs., 28 min. (12:20 - 4:48 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Crissy Field, in San Francisco, CA

Today Alec joined me on my walk. We walked NW along the beaches with the dogs running free, stopped and had lunch at the Warming Hut, and proceeded to Fort Point. Old cannon balls, and cannons can still be seen. We walked through, into, and on top of the old Fort -- watching surfers riding waves sweeping into the Bay through Golden Gate Bridge, along the way.

On the way back, we walked a slightly different route, up to the new Disney Family Museum in the Presidio, and along the other side of Crissy field - what once was an old airstrip. By the time was exited the Museum, it was raining, and we got somewhat soaked on the way back to the Crissy Field parking area, despite having umbrellas. Ah well, this was the first time I've been rained on during this Bay walk, and it probably won't be the last.

Wildlife Sightings:
12 sea gulls; 8 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 pigeon; lots of dogs on trails, beach; 22 ducks; 1 unidentified brownish shorebirds; 2 crows; 1 Loon?; 4 little/micro shorebirds (snowy plovers? sanderlings? peeps?); 1 (tennis) ball + 1 ball on a stick; 1 cormorant; and 11 pelicans.

Marina Drive, San Francisco - Dec. 25, 2009

Walking Distance: 2.82 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 32 min. (2:23 - 4:55 p.m.)
Start and End Point: West of Fort Mason, Yacht Harbor area, San Francisco, CA

Today's amble was along the Marina area of San Francisco, past the Yacht Harbor, and into Crissy Field and beach. A stroll out to the end of the jetty (wave organ), yielded more good views of Alcatraz, and boats going by. Dogs on the beach at far end of walk were fun to watch.

Wildlife Sightings:
25 starlings; 9 songbirds and little brown jobs (LBJs); 49 pigeons; 44 sea gulls; 2 Western grebes; 2 unidentified brownish shorebirds; 1 cormorant; 3 tiny shorebirds; 4 ducks (1 Bufflehead); 1 great blue heron; 1 Kingfisher; 1 unlucky starfish (see image with sea gull); and lots of dogs running around on the beach.

Fisherman's Wharf - Ft. Mason, SF - Dec. 24, 2009

Walking Distance: 2.25 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 32 min. (12:32 - 4:04 p.m.)
Start & End Point: North end of Van Ness, 4-hr. parking space, San Francisco, CA

Today the sea gulls and pigeons carried the day -- at least in terms of sheer numbers. They were feeding off sourdough bread crumbs, fish and crab bits, and tourist leftovers. The sun was out, and swimmers were stroking slowly around in the (cold) Bay waters near shore (Aquatic Park area). 

I walked (SE) as far as Pier 39 (where I'd been yesterday, at night), to see if I could see some sea lions. On the walk back (NW), The Hyde Street Pier was closed due to the Christmas Eve. holiday hours; however, I was able to stroll out to the end of the Municipal Pier. Lots of folks were out crabbing; I did pass one small (Dungeness) crab on the sidewalk, and I stopped to sketch it. It had been left (to crawl around?) because it was under the size limit. (I'm not sure why it hadn't been thrown back into the water.) Nice views of the City (Coit Tower), Alcatraz, and Golden Gate Bridge from the end of the Pier.
A short walk over a hill, and further NW was Fort Mason. It was a quiet day there due to the Christmas holiday; however, the bandshell made of car doors (pictured) was quite interesting.

Wildlife Sightings:
92 pigeons; 101 sea gulls; 12 sea lions; and 1 ball in the Bay; 3 Western grebes; 2 crabs (1 Dungeness, 1 Red); 1 cormorant; 2 crows; 4 little brown jobs (LBJs); 2 pelicans; 1 starling.

Pier 39 to Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery, SF - Dec. 23, 2009

Walking Distance: 2.32 miles
Walking Time: 3 hrs., 10 min. (4:00 - 7:10 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Fisherman's Wharf Parking lot, San Francisco, CA

After walking east, out to the end of Pier 39 and back, I walked by a Wax Museum (with a replica of actress Elizabeth Taylor, dressed as Cleopatra I believe, out front); countless t-shirt and souvenir shops; cotton candy, hot dog, chocolate and candy sellers; camera/electronics stores; huge steaming pots of crabs; and fishing boats decorated with holiday lights and decorations. Lots going on, and lots to see. Because of my dawdling, to buy a new camera and take numerous pictures, this short jaunt turned into a three + hour walk. And the only reason why I hit the 2 mile mark, is because I followed all the piers and walkways as far out to the Bay as I could on the way back.

Despite all the attractions, and clear views of Alcatraz and night lights, the wildlife count was fairly low -- due mostly to the fall of darkness. There were no sea lions to be seen or heard. They usually congregate on docks just north of Pier 39.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 Western Grebe; 21 sea gulls; and no sea lions out this evening.

San Francisco - Pier 7 - Pier 39, Dec. 19, '09

Walking Distance: 1.67 miles
Walking Time: 2 hours (3:51 - 5:51 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Parking Lot, San Francisco, CA

Yes, another day of wonderful sights and tastes, and hardly any headway on the mileage/kilometer front. San Francisco, with its dramatic landscape, and so many points of interest, is an amazing place to walk and take pictures (and a great place to eat). Today's walk, north along The Embarcadero, straddled daytime and darkness (given that it's December). I passed restaurants, a local chocolatemaker, dinner theater/circus (Teatro Zinzanni), tour boats to Alcatraz, pedicabs, and glimpses of the Bay itself.

My turn-around point was Pier 39, a popular destination for visitors. On the walk back to the car, I stopped at chocolatemaker TCHO, on Pier 17. They had great hot chocolate; it was not too sweet. By the time I left TCHO it was dark, and I took pictures of tugboats, lighted skyscrapers, and antique rail cars and cable car buses zipping by. However, without a tripod, I ended up with a lot of blurry, artsy shots. (I no longer notice people's puzzled expressions while I take pictures of leaves on the sidewalk at night or teeter my little camera on top of a metal can.)

On a more serious note, I took some pictures this evening in honor of ex-colleague, and talented photographer, Neil Kelly, who died in a car accident on Highway 101 yesterday. Neil, you left us all too soon.

Wildlife Sightings:
12 sea gulls, 2 pigeons, and tourists/holiday revelers buzzing around Pier 39 area.

SF Ferry Bldg - Pier 7 - Dec. 18, 2009

Walking Distance: 1.44 miles
Walking Time: ~ 3 hours (12:15 - 3:15 p.m.)
Start & End Point: Embarcadero 4 Parking Garage, San Francisco, CA

Today we managed another slow crawl through the San Francisco Ferry Building -- and odd-numbered* Piers North of this foodie paradise. (Well, we got as far as Pier 7.) There were too many fun and interesting new sights. We were lucky to cover a mile or so today. In addition to views of Coit Tower (see image) and antique rail cars going by, there are several public walking areas on the Bay that are not visible if you're driving by on Embarcadero. The Port of San Francisco building (Pier 1 area) also has on display interesting old photos and historical information for those interested in stories about the San Francisco waterfront.

Thank you to Toni, who provided good company, helped uncover new places, and patiently waited while I took photos of sea gulls.

Wildlife Sightings:
26 sea gulls; 28 pigeons; 2 Western Grebes; 6 cormorants; 4 ducks; and 3-4 parrots** in tree in park near Justin Herman Plaza.

*Years ago, the piers south of the Ferry Building were given even numbers, and the piers north odd numbers.

**See Judy Irving's award-winning documentary "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" for more information on this local flock.