Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk

Curated by the Presidio Trust

Level: Moderate. Loop takes about 2 hours
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation change: 335 feet

map of the entire watershed, showing the flows of the creek system
Tennessee Hollow is the Presidio’s largest watershed, encompassing some 20% of the park. It begins with a natural spring, which is eventually fed by two joining tributaries to form Petlenuc Creek. Its waters then flow north to Crissy Marsh through a variety of habitats where native plants, birds, and other wildlife thrive. Ultimately Petlenuc Creek joins the ocean waters at the Golden Gate.

This walk traces a large section of the creek system where, for the past 15 years, restoration projects have brought habitats back to life. Along the way, you’ll learn about some significant people and moments in Presidio history. Feel free to start at the stop nearest you, as it forms a loop.

This tour is an adaptation of the walk curated by the Presidio Trust, which is a US government agency that stewards the park in cooperation with the National Park Service. We thought it might be nice if you could follow their brochure using the phone in your pocket, so we made it an audio tour! If you prefer their PDF map, you can use that instead.

Thank you! You’ve just explored a watershed in a dynamic state of change. These kinds of restoration efforts are not unique to this national park. Many cities are pursuing similar projects, large and small, to make a place for nature in our increasingly urban world. See credits