If you're looking for a relatively easy hike with a huge payoff, then look no further than the Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio.

At 1.9-miles out and back, it provides everything a casual hiker is looking for: easy parking, well maintained trails, iconic views, and the perfect beach for a nice picnic.

As you traverse sage-covered cliffs and defunct military bunkers, the trail also features edge-of-the-world views as it descends almost a mile toward the Pacific. This is our go-to hike when visitors come into town, and it's definitely a hike every San Francisco resident should have on their list. Learn more. 

Need more time outside? Check out the Bay Area's best hikes with a view, here.