Twin Peaks - San Francisco, California

Address:San Francisco, California

Called the "Los pechos de la Chola" (the Breasts of the Indian Maiden) by the Spaniards, the Twin Peaks are two hills with an elevation of about 922 feet situated at the geographic center of San Francisco, and the second highest point in San Francisco. They are also the only hills in San Francisco not to have been built over and remain in their original state.

From their summit, you can look down over San Francisco and the Bay and take in the vastness of this incredible city. Even on warm days, strong cool breezes blow in from the Pacific, especially in the late afternoon so be sure to bring a sweatshirt along for the hike. On the top of Twin Peaks is the popular vista point known locally as 'Christmas Tree Point', which offers unobstructed views of most of San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay.

The summits are still mostly undeveloped and were designated as part of the 31 acres Twin Peaks Natural Area, managed and owned by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Thus, these preserved areas are home to many natural resources and wildlife such as the Mission blue butterfly habitat; Twin Peaks is one the few remaining habitats for this endangered species. A wide variety of bird species, insects and vegetation also thrive here. Though these two unique and uninhabited hills are not the highest of San Francisco's 43, (Mount Davidson is about 33ft higher) they are easier to get to and offer what are arguably the finest views of the city and the Bay.