Tucked in a little canyon between residential neighborhoods, Glen Canyon Park is a small open space parcel, but a delight for local dogwalkers and nature enthusiasts. Red tail hawks are frequently seen soaring above the park, and raccoon, skunk, and possum paw prints smudge the dirt. On my last visit, I spotted a northern alligator lizard basking in the sun. Although nonnative plants and poison oak are prominent, you also might see monkeyflowers and coyote brush. The biggest surprise (and most significant reason for keeping this canyon undeveloped) is Islais Creek, an actual stream running through the canyon. It may be the last naturally occurring, unobstructed creek in all of San Francisco.
     Most visitors walk to the park from surrounding neighborhoods. The other significant park access is from the back end of Christopher Playground, near the Safeway on Diamond Heights Boulevard. From here a trail descends steeply to the rock outcrop at the end of the trail, and another path bisects the hillside and heads east. The main Bosworth entrance is preferred, and easiest to find.
     Unless you're taking a leisurely walk with a dog, you won't find much here to keep your attention for more than a 1/2 hour or so. (Note: what really drew my attention on June 15 was a flock of goats munching vegetation near the rocks above the end of the trail. I stopped at the Safeway parking lot and snapped some photos of them as the sun set. See the photo to the right.) Two parallel trails and a road depart from Glen Park Recreation Center, and begin to climb out of the canyon on a dirt trail. This is classic "disturbed vegetation," with eucalyptus the dominant plant, and blackberry, broom, elderberry, and cotoneaster in the understory. A day camp building sits on the left; bear right on one of two bridges and then look for the start of the nature area on the left. A few sycamores and alders thrive near Islais Creek. After a few steps through a thick stand of willow, an elevated boardwalk crosses over the delicate terrain around the creek, where you might see curly dock, and the yellow blossoms of seep monkeyflower. Soon the trail splits (both rejoin at the top) and climbs steeply via some steps. At the top you'll be rewarded with nice views out of the canyon to the east. The scoreboard up the hill at the high school is visible. Wild mustard and radish bloom along California poppy and dudleya. A few coast live oak provide shade off to the side. Rock outcrops and poison oak block further access to the western portion of the park (the property runs all the way to Portola). You can try to scramble up some rocks, but it really exceeds any standards for a hiking trail, and the poison oak is unavoidable. Retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
     UPDATE: It's now mid-June and for the last few days goats have been eating their way uphill west toward Portola. It's now possible to scramble up the rocks (at the end of the official trail) and continue west on a easy-to-follow, vegetation free trail. As of June 16, the goats blocked any further progress uphill, but you can loop back around on a narrow trail that follows along the creek. To find this path when you're travelling west, from the area around the day camp, cross the boardwalk, and where the trail splits, bear left. Just before the steps, continue straight on a narrow but obvious path. Willows, ferns, and blackberries shade the trail. There's even a pink-flowering currant bush. Where the trail narrows, look right for a path, then climb up into the grassland, make your way back down to rocky outcrop, and then down the steps and back to the trailhead.

Distance: 0.90 mile (or more)
Last hiked: Friday, June 8, 2001

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