The Hidden Treasure of UCSF

Neighborhood residents have known and enjoyed the Mount Sutro Open Space for decades. The relative inaccessibility of the dense 61-acre eucalyptus forest has made Mount Sutro "the most remote place right in the heart of the City."

Photos from the most recent volunteer day on Mt. Sutro. Thanks to Esurance for sending up so many hard-working volunteers!

Check out more photos from Site 1 and Site 2 on Mt. Sutro!

Watch the video!

Check out our recent award from San Francisco Beautiful!

Compare the two aerial photos of the summit. The left is from 1958, the right is current with the roadway superimposed. Both are oriented the same direction & you can see the only remaining element of the base in both photos, the gatehouse at the bottom of Nike Road. The biggest difference is the intact rotary meadow in the right hand photo. A much more hospitable hiking environment!

Several trails lead through the forest, but they need major repair. Native plant populations, including of some species that are extremely rare in San Francisco, need to be protected and restored. The summit garden, a native plant demonstration project was funded with help from a $100,000 grant from the San Francisco Rotary Club. Hundreds of volunteers donated their labor to clear the summit of invasive weeds and plant California natives.

A Surprising Discovery

One day, during efforts to repair and expand the current trail system, Mt. Sutro volunteers, while mapping out an area on the Western ridge, came climbing down a steep hillside and literally stumbled upon a previously unknown trail, buried under layers of brambles. The trail has since been unearthed and restored. We believe the remarkable trail dates back to before the 1906 Earthquake.

Volunteers Needed!

Check out the volunteer schedule and the Nature in the City Calendar. Volunteers for trail and habitat restoration are welcome to join us every 1st Saturday of the month.

The historic trail restoration is one of the projects needing more helping hands!

UCSF, Mt. Sutro Volunteers, Nature in the City and the California Native Plant Society are collaborating together to restore and rejuvenate this precious natural and cultural resource. Haight-Ashbury Stewards work regularly with the Mt. Sutro Volunteers. We hope to build support to connect the University's land and the adjacent Interior Greenbelt, managed by SF Rec and Park's Natural Areas Program into one contiguous parkland to serve the community as an oasis of serenity and biodiversity, welcoming anyone in need of peace, fresh air and a little exercise.