Forget Redwood National And State Parks, This San Francisco Escape Has Towering Redwoods, Music, And Outdoor Fun

Sweeping along the coast of Northern California, the Redwood National and State Parks are famed for having the tallest trees in the world. But they're not the only place to see redwoods in this part of the state. Instead of making the five-plus-hour drive north, you can find thickets of the towering giants right in San Francisco at Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove.

This lovely patch of wilds lies in the southwest corner of the city on the outskirts of the Sunset District. Established in the early 1930s, Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove, or Stern Grove for short, originally encompassed just 14 acres. More land was eventually added with the founding of the neighboring Pine Lake Park, forming a nearly 65-acre combined greenspace. Small but mighty, the wooded area has all the trappings of a scenic outdoor escape, including a winding nature trail, a grassy lawn for picnics, a playground, athletic fields, and a little lake just steps away. Even your pups can have some fun in the grassy dog play area.

Stern Grove's beautiful redwoods are a big draw (literally). But the lively park, which stretches between Sloat Boulevard and Wawona Street, is also popular for its outdoor music venue that's set among all the pretty trees. As one concertgoer succinctly put it, there's "always a great show" around here.

If you've already jammed out at some of America's most incredible music festivals in 2026, you may want to add the Stern Grove Festival to your bucket list. Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove's signature showpiece debuted back in 1938 and serves as the "longest-running nonprofit music festival" in the country. Held every summer, the free event draws thousands of concertgoers each year. Its lineups span genres, with past performers including R&B singer Patti LaBelle, pop-soul icon Diana Ross, punk rocker Joan Jett, and country musician Orville Peck. Classical masterpieces by the San Francisco Opera and SF Symphony have also been performed on the historic stage.

Stern Grove's natural amphitheater sits in a sunken basin, enveloped by a lush canopy of trees. One previous visitor described how "glorious eucalyptus and redwood trees soar to meet the blue skies," providing a beautiful backdrop for the shows. The venue features a terraced slope with a grassy meadow at the base, where you can plop down with a blanket or lawn chair. Several rows of stepped granite benches rise up the steep forested grounds, with additional space to sit on the bark-strewn hillside above, dubbed Ewok Hill by the locals. 

Although admission to the Stern Grove Festival is free, tickets are required for anyone aged three and up. You can try to secure tickets through the online lottery system, which usually opens six weeks before each concert, pick them up at select community box offices in San Francisco, or pay to reserve a table near the stage. You can find more information about the music fest on the park's website. And of course, don't forget to wear your dancing shoes.

There's plenty of other outdoor fun to enjoy around Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove. The park has tennis and pickleball courts if you want to test your swing. Adults can tackle classic lawn games like croquet and horseshoes, while the youngsters can run wild on the playground. Per the park's website, the children's area was revamped in 2025 into a "forested wonderland with nature-inspired features," including tree-themed climbing structures and a short boardwalk. 

In addition to surrounding the concert meadow, towering redwoods can be found around the historic Trocadero Clubhouse, built in the late 1800s. Enjoy a walk among the various types of trees via the Sigmund Stern Grove Loop, an easy 0.7-mile path that winds around the park. Try to spot some of the beautiful birds fluttering among the canopy as you go. A variety of warblers, tanagers, thrushes, and grosbeaks call the park home. Native to Latin America, the slate-throated redstart was also seen in California for the first time in 2024, right next door at Pine Lake Park. 

Continue your stroll down to Pine Lake on the west side of the neighboring park. Along the way, you'll pass a little dog zone. Just note, the off-leash play area is unfenced, so you may want to keep the lead on if your pups tend to roam. If you fancy some more outdoor adventures and don't mind a short drive, consider a trip to one of California's most scenic parks within an hour of San Francisco, from Angel Island State Park to Muir Woods National Monument. You can also see some of San Francisco's most iconic sights on a walking tour.