San Francisco
Flat bike rides from the Ferry Building
San Francisco is famous for its hills, but the waterfront is flat. These rides from the Ferry Building climb under 200 ft, with no steep pitches, and have toilets and water mapped on the way.
The 5 rides side by side
| Ride | Distance | Climbing | Bike paths & quiet streets | Busier roads | Steepest 500 m | Riding time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Park | 3.2 mi | 60 ft | 91% | 7% | 2.4% | 10–15 min |
| Crane Cove Beach | 5.4 mi | 10 ft | 99% | 1% | 0.5% | 20–25 min |
| Fort Mason | 6.0 mi | 180 ft | 54% | 10% | 4.3% | 25–30 min |
| Dolores Park | 8.0 mi | 120 ft | 63% | 4% | 2.0% | 30–40 min |
| East Beach | 8.3 mi | 190 ft | 64% | 7% | 4.3% | 30–45 min |
Distances are the whole ride, there and back (mi). Riding time is our estimate at a sporty pace and counts the climbing; allow more for stops.
Each ride
1 San Francisco to Oracle Park
- 91% on bike paths and the quietest streets
- Almost flat: 60 ft of climbing
- On the way: café, drinking water
- 7% on busier roads
On the way: 2 toilets, 3 water points, 19 cafés mapped.
2 San Francisco to Crane Cove Beach
- 99% on bike paths and the quietest streets
- Almost flat: 10 ft of climbing
- On the way: café, drinking water, beach
On the way: 3 toilets, 9 water points, 2 beaches, 8 cafés mapped.
3 San Francisco to Fort Mason
- 54% on bike paths and the quietest streets
- Almost flat: 180 ft of climbing
- On the way: café, drinking water, viewpoint
- 10% on busier roads
On the way: 9 toilets, 5 water points, 17 cafés mapped.
4 San Francisco to Dolores Park
- 63% on bike paths and the quietest streets
- Almost flat: 120 ft of climbing
- On the way: café, drinking water
On the way: 2 toilets, 3 water points, 43 cafés mapped.
5 San Francisco to East Beach
- 64% on bike paths and the quietest streets
- Almost flat: 190 ft of climbing
- On the way: café, drinking water, beach
- 7% on busier roads
On the way: 11 toilets, 7 water points, 2 beaches, 18 cafés mapped.
How we chose them
From every ride we publish around San Francisco, these are the ones that meet all of:
- up to 10.6 mi in all
- at most 200 ft of climbing
- no 500 m steeper than 4.5% on average
- at most 11% on busier roads
- toilets and drinking water mapped on the way
The numbers come from OpenStreetMap and terrain data, measured along each route by our engine (how rides are made). They are modelled, not checked on the ground, and say nothing about who should ride them: you know your riders best.
Before you go
- The Embarcadero is busy with walkers on weekends.
Questions
Is there a flat bike ride in San Francisco?
Yes: the waterfront. The flattest here is Crane Cove Beach, 5.4 mi with 10 ft of climbing.
More rides around San Francisco
Route data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: Mapzen Terrarium; 3DEP data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Catalogue san-francisco-e390be125c35c594e495.