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Between food buffets, happy hours, and packed schedules, it can be hard to stay on track with your health and fitness goals during Dreamforce (have you seen the party lineup?) But being in San Francisco, surrounded by the Bay in gorgeous October weather, is a unique opportunity to explore and rack up those steps. It’s consistently ranked one of the best cities in the nation for runners and has a number of urban hikes that’ll get you further afield from the Financial District.
If you are a runner or urban hiker, don’t miss these popular San Francisco routes. Also, look out for the opportunity to connect with other fitness enthusiasts through our Dreamforce Success Community. Several groups will be holding events and challenges like Dreamforce Health & Weight Loss Challenge, Running for Success, and the Dreamforce Community 5K Run.
Not going to Dreamforce? If you weren’t able to convince your boss to send you this year, don’t worry! There are still FREE Expo+ passes available, giving you access to the Cloud Expo, select events on October 6th and 7th, the Women & Equality Summit keynote, and more.
Here are the top running and walking trails to check out:
You might have to lace up pretty early to get your runs in before the conference sessions kick off, but we guarantee you’ll hit the ground running after seeing the sunrise over the San Francisco Bay. There are innumerable fantastic running routes away from the hubbub of the financial district, but if you’re pressed for time downtown, these routes will help you get your miles in.
5.1 miles
This route can get a little crowded, but it’s a fun way to see some of the city’s main sights while staying close to the Dreampark. You can stop before Fisherman’s Wharf or extend out and around Fort Mason park to change up the mileage - it’s about 5 miles round trip to end at the Aquatic Cove pier. Start outside the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street and head north. You’ll pass the Exploratorium, Alcatraz Cruise departures at Pier 33, and the busy Pier 39 corridor. Continue along and around Aquatic cove onto the pier on the north side, looking for open water swimmers in the cove.
3.0 miles
Start outside the Ferry Building. Run south along the Embarcadero (optional photo op with the Cupid’s Span bow and arrow.) Stay right along Embarcadero when it turns into King Street at the Ballpark, then loop around and return along the water. Don’t miss out on breakfast and coffee at Blue Bottle in the Ferry Building afterward!
3.4 miles
A bit further from the main hotel stretch is a classic San Francisco run. Since it’s both flat and off the main tourist beat on Embarcadero, it’s a popular spot. Start at the Yacht Harbor and run along the San Francisco Bay Trail, staying along the water. Keep right when the path connects with Marine Drive and run to the end of the street for a spectacular view of the bridge, then return the same way.
Turn any portions of the Embarcadero runs above into a walk, and you’ll still get in those Bay views. We’ll grant you - hikes might be a stretch at a conference. But if you decided to extend your travel into the weekend, these urban hikes are a far better way to see the city than another trip to Union Square. You’ll also earn some staircases on some sharp hills.
Avoid the tour busses that skip the work, and walk up to Twin Peaks instead. From the Castro MUNI station it’s 1.5 miles to the top - one of the steepest mile and a half urban hikes you’ll find. The route turns into a staircase to get you between the switchback roads on the hillside, and the official staircase up the peak is accessed from Crestline Drive.
From the main parking lot to the (super cool, somewhat secret) Eagle Point Labyrinth takes you 3.5 miles round-trip along the rugged Northern California coastline. You can easily add on a trip to Sutro Baths, just west of the parking lot. Just watch out for crumbly rocks - a few intrepid hikers who ventured down to the ocean have needed a helicopter trip out.
The famous ‘Painted Ladies,’ intricately detailed and colorful Victorian houses, sit along the eastern side of Alamo Square Park. From Church Street MUNI station it’s less than a mile of gentle uphill to a lovely park overlooking Downtown. If you’re a fan of toast (who isn’t, really) stop off at The Mill on Divisadero on your way back.
