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WATERWAY WALKS

Shaping San Francisco explores San Francisco creeks

Special offsite events at various locations (see below)

Continuing our experiments with new kinds of programming, rooted in the pandemic motivating us to pioneer our "Walk 'n' Talk" Urban Forums, this fall we are exploring San Francisco's underground waterways! All four are urban hikes, we will trace the Headwaters of Lobos Creek on the slopes of Twin Peaks first, followed by walks around Mission Creek, Islais Creek, and Yosemite Creek and Slough. Join us for these explorative adventures with old friends and longtime collaborators.

Sunday, September 8,
12 noon-2:30 pm

Thinkwalk: Headwaters of Lobos Creek on Twin Peaks

Guest hosted by Joel Pomerantz

From Forest Hill Muni Station, we’ll walk about 5k ending in the Inner Sunset District. Along the way we will see historical locations of waterways, plus some surface water that is still flowing as part of the natural hydrological dynamic. We’ll discuss how and why watersheds are harder to delineate in San Francisco. We’ll visit the Garden for the Environment, a compact but lush training area for gardening techniques in the local climate. And we’ll see an abandoned reservoir that was once a natural lake going through flood cycles.

Tours are FREE. Attendance limited. RSVP required to shaping@foundsf.org.


This is a free event, but we gladly accept donations. donate now!

Sunday, September 15, 9 am

Kayak Tour of Islais Creek

with Mark Morey of Kayaks Unlimited (attendance limited!)

Experienced and first-time kayakers are welcome to explore this waterway while learning about the history and peculiarities of this place. Kayaks and flotation gear provided. Must sign a Kayaks Unlimited waiver. Attendance limited! RSVP quickly to shaping@foundsf.org!


This is a free event, but we gladly accept donations. donate now!

Saturday, October 5,
10 am-12:30 pm

Islais Creek: Seep to Bay

From its origins in Glen Canyon and other tributaries to its once expansive wetlands under the industrial zones east of Bernal Heights and between Highway 101 and I-280, today's Islais Creek is mostly visible to us as a wide canal stretching between largely abandoned industrial sites.

Tours are FREE. RSVP required to shaping@foundsf.org.


This is a free event, but we gladly accept donations. donate now!

Saturday, November 16,
10 am-12:30 pm

Mission Creek at King Tide

Mission Creek is what we call the human-made channel that is the remains of a once sprawling Mission Bay. Learn about that history on this walk where we will see the rising King tide inundating aspects of the remarkable ecological restoration work done along the banks of the channel. Learn about City plans to reinforce and mitigate the inevitable sea-level rise impacts on Mission Bay, the most recently built neighborhood in the city.

Tours are FREE. RSVP to shaping@foundsf.org.

This is a free event, but we gladly accept donations. donate now!

Saturday, December 7,
12 noon-2:30 pm

Yosemite Creek:
Slough and Double Rock

As Candlestick Point State Recreation Area slowly comes to encircle this forgotten waterway, we'll follow the freshwater route as it falls from its source in McLaren Park to the muddy, long industrialized and militarized shoreline today.

Tours are FREE. RSVP to shaping@foundsf.org.

This is a free event, but we gladly accept donations. donate now!