• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

  • Start Here
  • Explore
    • Beaches
    • Bizarre
    • Caves
    • Food
    • Hikes
    • Historical Structures
    • Natural Wonders
    • Waterfalls
  • Drive
    • El Camino Real
    • Highway 395
    • LA to Las Vegas
    • Pacific Coast Highway
    • Route 66
  • National Parks
    • Channel Islands
    • Death Valley
    • Joshua Tree
    • Lassen Volcanic
    • Pinnacles
    • Redwoods
    • Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    • Yosemite
  • Cities
    • Los Angeles
    • Palm Springs
    • Sacramento
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • Resources
    • Day Trip Ideas
    • Road Trip eBooks
    • Hotels
    • My Favorite Travel Products
    • Travel Videos
  • Browse By …
    • Map Of Locations
    • Cities
    • Counties
    • National Parks
    • State Parks

Visiting Andy Goldsworthy’s Art Pieces at the Presidio in San Francisco

Last Modified: July 8, 2020

5shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

The Presidio is the 1,500-acre park in north San Francisco that was a military base and is now a popular nature spot in the city. I love spending time there either hiking or walking, as it is beautiful, and there is so much to see. However, one of the main reasons to visit the park is the art of Andy Goldsworthy that is scattered all around the property. Recently I got a chance to see all four pieces, and here is all the information if you want to visit and hike the 3-mile loop.

Details

  • 3 miles of hiking
  • 200 feet of elevation gain
  • Parking near Tree Fall
  • Check the hours as Tree Fall and Earth Wall are not always open
  • You can drive to all of them as well
  • Information as of Sept 2019
  • Here are some of my favorite spots in San Francisco

Getting There

If possible, the easiest way to reach the Presidio is through public transit. If you are driving though, there are many places to park. I usually park in the paid area near Graham St. and Keyes Ave as it is close to two of the art pieces. You can always drive to see the other two from here if you don’t want to walk as well. After parking, here are the art pieces you can see in this area.

Tree Fall

The first spot to see if Tree Fall, but it is only open Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM – 4 PM (as of 2019).

This is one of the best pieces, and it well worth the visit.

The piece is housed inside of a small building, and it looks like the underground roots of a tree, if you could look up at them.

It was created in 2013, and it is in a domed roof building that doesn’t touch the historic walls of what was once a room that housed gunpowder. After seeing Tree Fall, head across the street to the Presidio Officers Club for Earth Wall.

Earth Wall

This art piece was created in 2014, and it is in the courtyard of the building.

The piece uses eucalyptus branches that have been curved into a half-circle and put into the historic adobe walls. It is a striking piece to see as you are walking through the building.

From here, you will have to decide if you want to walk or drive to the next piece. If you’re going to walk, you can find a map to the next spot here, which is The Spire.

The Spire

The Spire was the first installation in the Presidio from Andy Goldsworthy, and it stands at over 100 feet tall.

This piece was created from 37 downed trees that were fastened together.

It is about 15 feet wide, and it is pretty impressive to see stretching into the sky. According to their site, young trees were planted at the base, and those trees will eventually surround it as they grow.

The last art piece can either be driven or walked to; it is called the Wood Line.

Wood Line

This is probably a piece you have seen on Instagram, as it is a popular local spot for photographers.

It was put in in 2011 in the area where cypress trees were planted in the 1800s that have since died.

The sculpture is 1,200 feet long, and it uses eucalyptus branches to create a zig-zag line that runs through the forest. According to the site, it is not designed to be a lasting piece, and it will deteriorate with time.

If you are walking to visit all of these sculptures, then you can walk Lovers Lane to get back to where you parked, completing a fun few hours at the Presidio. Let me know what you think in the comments, and I hope you get a chance to visit this fun spot.

Filed Under: Art, Northern California Tagged With: San Francisco, San Francisco County

Interested in supporting this blog?

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love for me. If you have enjoyed the posts consider sharing it with your friends. I want as many people as possible to explore this state and you can help by letting them know about all of the great spots!

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe for the four day welcome series and to get the latest content every month.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About JoshMc

    Thanks for checking out the blog, I am happy to be sharing my adventures with you! You can get to know me by reading my about me, which includes a video and additional information on the site, myself and my full disclosure. Also, follow along on Twitter here or read all of my posts on this blog here.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

    Popular Posts

    The Big List of Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California
    Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip
    Top Hiking Trails in Southern California
    Fun Stops on the Drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
    24 Things to do in Downtown LA
    17 Things to do in Lake Tahoe
    Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel Hike: Old Abandoned Railroad

    Categories

    Other Resources


    Footer

    Search the site

    Additional Information

    Privacy Policy

    About Us

    Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Coronavirus January 2021 Update: Please note that some information in the posts may have changed and some places may be closed.