Find the Wild • Tend the Wild • Grow the Wild
Join the 2023 City Nature Challenge!
Experience and enjoy nature in your neighborhood!
Connecting to nature is important for social, emotional and physical health. San Francisco is located in a global biodiversity hotspot. Our city harbors beautiful parks, natural areas, and an astounding diversity of birds, rare and endangered species, and over 500 native plants. San Francisco Children and Nature promotes equitable access to green space so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of local nature, every day.
Check out these pollinator habitat gardens in your neighborhood!
Get information and tips regarding staying safe and healthy while enjoying the outdoors in your community.
Selected Places Where You Can Connect to Nature in the City
Crissy Field
Presidio
Birds (Herons, Geese, Belted Kingfisher)
Glen Canyon
Glen Park, Diamond Heights
Trails, hawks, wildflowers, creek
Green Hairstreak Corridor
Golden Gate Heights
Butterflies, hawks, songbirds
McLaren Park
Excelsior, Portola
Trails, wildflowers, views
Heron’s Head Park
Bayview
Birds (California Clapper Rail, Black Oystercatcher)
Land's End
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Birds (Townsend's Warbler, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Bewick's Wren)
Strawberry Hill
Golden Gate Park
Birds, butterflies, turtles, native plants
*Find more natural places in San Francisco with the Nature in the City MAP!
City Nature Challenge (Homepage)
City Nature Challenge (California Academy of Sciences)
City Nature Challenge - iNaturalist Project
City Nature Challege - SF Bay Area iNaturalist Project
Events for the SF Bay Area City Nature Challenge
Exploring Nature at Home for the City Nature Challenge
City Nature Challenge FAQs
Getting Started with iNaturalist
San Francisco Children and Nature
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)
Candlestick State Recreation Area
California State Parks
East Bay Regional Park District
Green Hairstreak Corridor (Nature in the City)
Bay Nature, “To Close or Not to Close”
Pandemic Park Closures
Parks and Public Health during the Pandemic (A Virtual Gathering of TOGETHER Bay Area)
Our Hero, the Soap Molecule (Exploratorium)
National Resources
National Park Service (#SocialDistancing #KeepWildlifeWild)
Finding Nature (Children and Nature Network)
10 Nature Activities to Help You Get Through the Pandemic (Children and Nature Network)
Resources for Finding Nature in the City
Pollinator Habitat Gardens in San Francisco
Trails and Hikes in San Francisco Parks and Natural Areas
Find the Wild in Downtown San Francisco
Stories of San Francisco Species (PDF) - indigenous critters
Animals and Plants in Neighborhoods - long-term plans to restore local habitat
Nature in the City MAP
Find Your Park / Encuentra tu parque (National Park Service)
Connecting to Nature on World Environment Day, 2017
Public Native Plant Gardens - map and photographs of native plant gardens in SF
California Native Plant Garden at Berkeley - Botanical Garden at UC Berkeley
San Francisco is located in a global biodiversity hotspot.
Find the Wild • Tend the Wild • Grow the Wild
This program supports the City's ROOTS goal, for healing the planet. Learn more about San Francisco's Climate Action goals at SFClimateAction.org
