Touring * Fitness * Street * Historic * Slalom * Artistic *

Entering the city on U.S. 101 from the Golden Gate Bridge, just after the toll plaza, turn right onto Merchant Road, which meets Lincoln Boulevard within a quarter of a mile. Go south on Lincoln for about a half mile to Kobbe Avenue. Turn left and park at the old warehouse near the corner of Harrison Boulevard. From the southern part of San Francisco, take 25th Avenue to Lincoln. Turn right and follow Lincoln about a mile to Kobbe. Turn right and park as described above. This area is also served by Muni buses.

Some of the most spectacular urban scenery in the world is found in San Francisco's Presidio, and since the army departed in 1994, it has become a great place to skate. The Presidio was first occupied by the Spanish in the 1700s and was later acquired by the U.S. Army when California became one of the United States. By a fortuitous quirk of fate, the property at either end of the Golden Gate Bridge has since been protected from urban development because of its military importance. Only recently has the army moved out, leaving the base behind to be converted to a park.

Pick a fair-weather day to visit; this area is often windy and cold, although it's a little more protected than other places on the west side of San Francisco. Nicely paved streets wind through the pine and eucalyptus forests and almost deserted housing areas, offering fabulous views of the Pacific, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands. You could spend hours skating all of the roads here, and as long as you avoid Lincoln and Arguello Boulevards, which are the main through streets, you'll encounter little automobile traffic. If you really want to explore, bring along a city map so you can find your way back to where you started.

Unfortunately for lower-level skaters, the Presidio has a fair share of hills. The parking lots and streets around the old central post are best for easy skating. A sweet spot for hard-core down-hillers is Pershing Drive, off Lincoln Boulevard, near the southwest corner of the Presidio. Hill skaters also won't want to miss the slope on Kobbe Avenue and the view point at the north end of Washington Boulevard. Washington is also a good spot for intermediates to improve their downhill skills. Some short, steep drops can be found in a nearly deserted housing area, and the National Cemetery has great pavement and nice hills.

San Francisco's best beach, Baker Beach, is located off Lincoln Boulevard if you want to take a break after your workout. Be forewarned: clothing is optional at the northern end of the beach.