Activity Guides

Looking for fun ways to explore the Presidio? Try a self-guided experience to learn more about the park’s ecology, to read a book along a trail, to enjoy a scavenger hunt, and much more!

Kids at Presidio Tunnel Tops Outpost slide

The Outpost

The Outpost is a two-acre play space (the largest in the Bay Area) inspired by the Presidio’s nature and history. It appeals to children ages 2 to 12, providing kids with a free-wheeling chance to explore swinging, crawling, and climbing on boulders, tree trunks, and other elements inspired by nature. Free. Open 9:30 am to 6 pm, April to October, and 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, November to March.

The Outpost

Field Station

The Field Station takes its name from base camps where scientists do their research in the wild. At this hands-on space, kids use their eyes, ears, nose, and touch to identify plants, try out tools like microscopes, and create their own map for park adventures. Free and open Wednesday to Friday, 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Field Station

Presidio Field Notes

Field Notes are a collection of small, wooden-hinged blocks affixed to fence posts, benches, and stumps along park trails. Each contains a hidden message inviting visitors of all ages to make discoveries about the Presidio’s natural world.

Presidio Field Notes

Presidio StoryWalks

Through a partnership with the San Francisco Public Library, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service, the Presidio is home to two “StoryWalks,” where pages of a children’s book are placed on sign panels along a trail so you can “seek, find and read” as you stroll.

Presidio StoryWalks

Geocaching

Set out on a digital scavenger hunt through fourteen geocaches hidden in the park. Each offer insights about the Presidio’s history and natural world. For information and instructions, see the Geocaching website and search for “Presidio of SF.”

Geocaching

Birding in the Presidio

Did you know over 300 species of birds come through the Presidio each year? The Presidio offers great places to learn about our feathered friends – from Crissy Field Marsh to El Polín Spring to Mountain Lake. Explore the Birds of Mountain Lake Guide to learn more about birds in the Presidio.

Birds of Mountain Lake Guide

Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk

The Tennessee Hollow Watershed is not so much a place as an experience – or rather a collection of experiences. The park's largest watershed encompasses most of the eastern Presidio, a whopping 270 acres, or 20 percent of the park. Explore the watershed with this downloadable map.

Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk

Goldsworthy in the Presidio

Between 2008 and 2014, artist Andy Goldsworthy created four installations – Spire, Wood Line, Tree Fall, and Earth Wall in the park. The Presidio is now home to the largest collection of his works on public view in North America. They’re all viewable within a 3-mile walk.

Goldsworthy in the Presidio Brochure

Presidio at Home

If you can’t visit in person, Presidio at Home features virtual content to keep you connected to the park. Enjoy videos, family crafts, and connections to online workshops and classes that are fun for the whole family.

Presidio at Home