Worth the climb: Spring is a great time to tackle SF’s parks and peaks

It’s April, with warmer temperatures, wildflower blooms and clear skies. Spring beckons visitors and those who simply want to spend time outdoors in some of San Francisco’s great recreation areas. The following is a list of parks and peaks with elevations, stairs and trails that will get your heart rate up and meet app-related fitness goals—step counts and then some. With the sun rising at 6:30 a.m. and setting close to 8 p.m., there’s plenty of daylight—and time—to make the climbs and take in the spectacular views. 

Venturing up Folsom Street and onto Bernal Heights Boulevard will get you to Bernal Heights Park. There’s a wide paved walkway around the lower perimeter of the park, with the option to take stairs or a gravel path upward to rocky, narrower trails above. The park offers stellar 360-degree views, revealing how the city’s 47 square miles cover a lot of ground.